By Bob Berry
It’s Woodward Dream Cruise Weekend in the Motor City, and we couldn’t be more excited! Excited to see old friends, re-tell old tales, and celebrate the very essence of why we are The Motor City:
The cars! The ones we owned, dreamed of, restored or in the case of my friend of 55 years, Bob Karakashian, the ’69 1/2 Dodge Six-Pack he bought at 19 and never sold!
There’s an emotional, almost spiritual, tie to these cars, and while we’re spotlighting the great Keener generation muscle cars; those same feelings can be stirred at the sighting of a chopped and channeled ’41 Willys, a ’59 Cadillac, or yes, a “Little Deuce Coupe“!
So here we go, five favorites (actually 4 more) that always turn your head, and make you wish it was yours!
The Boss 302 Mustang. Sure, the original Mustang invented a category, captivated millions and inspired The D’s Sir Mack Rice to write “Mustang Sally“. And a fave of Keener’s Scott Westerman.
But ask a Ford guy or gal, they’ll tell ya, you can’t beat The Boss! The classic fastback, nice engine combo, Trans-Am racing superstar, and most importantly, The Answer to a Z-28 Chevy Camaro!
The Pontiac G.T.O. Inspired by the great “Royal Bobcats” of Ace Wilson’s Royal Pontiac. Inspiration for one of the great garage band car tunes of all-time, “Little G.T.O.”. The place where John DeLorean found Jim Wangers, and with the help of “3 deuces and a 4-speed and a 389” (and a lot of talented Pontiac people) created the car that defines the term “muscle car”.
Put a Tiger in your tank, baby!
My pal Lynn Henning of The Detroit News suggested this one: The 1967 Dodge Charger. In Lynn’s words, “My cousin got one right after he got out of the Navy. Canary yellow, with black vinyl top. Car absolutely smoldered“. Hidden headlights, full fastback. And since Lynn didn’t specify, we’re gonna go with a 440 Magnum engine smoldering under the hood.
It was the original Dodge Boys’ leader of the Dodge Rebellion.
And finally, one close to the heart of this born and raised Chevy Guy.
The 1969 Chevy Malibu SS. The “squarish” Chevelle look was long gone. Front fenders flowing to the kicked up rear, merging with the semi-fastback roofline. Cool wheels mounted on BF Goodrich T/A’s. And while it’s nice that the Beach Boys sang about the “409” that was old school.
My SS has the 396/325 horsepower Big Block with 4-speed thank you.
See you at The Hunter House, and we can “discuss matters”! 🙂
Leave a comment and tell us about your favorites. And drive safely, everyone!
