Well, I finally decided that I needed a new toy of my own (in the spirit of Christmas and all- nice excuse, right? lol). So, I went out and sprung for a new Dodge Magnum RT (can you say “Hemi”?).
I gotta say- having driven trucks for most of the last 15 years, and being away from the performance market (and Chrysler in particular), this thing scares the bejeezus outta me. 340 rear-wheel horsepower in a 4,000 lb chassis? The Hemis of the 60’s and 70’s couldn’t boast that from the factory. Add electronic stability control, leather interior, 4-wheel disc, traction control, 6-speaker Boston acoustics sound with CD, satellite and MP3, and a ride like the Mercedes is was engineered from. And 25 MPG highway? Last time I saw that was, well, never…..lol.
Ahh…fun at last…..and no one asking to borrow my truck to make a run for lumber anymore….lol.
Bob
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"The Hemis of the 60's and 70's couldn't boast that from the factory."
The mid-sixties 426ci hemi's were rated at 420 horsies for the insurance companies, IIRC.
Rated at 420 for the insurance companies, and dyno tests showed more like 450. The rating back then were "flywheel HP"- you could easily lose 75-100 HP between the flywheel and the rear tires. Loose trans, sloppy clutch, etc.
Of course, I doubt these Hemis will ever command the prices that the oldies are. A 70 (or 71?) Hemi Cuda convertible recently sold for $2 million. It was one of only 4 built with that particular group of options.
" Loose trans, sloppy clutch, etc."Especially with a Mopar product
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Now, now, Piff- the 69 Camaro and the 66 Mustang I had didn't exactly have top-notch trannys either......lol.
LOL, but their rear ends didn't go "CLUNK" and allow 60° of free play when you shifted into gear either.;)
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Hmmm....I'd forgotten all about that telltale Mopar "CLUNK"....lol
But I'm sure they've got it worked out by now, right?
A clunk would look out of place on that beauty
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Oh, yes....the new one is "clunk-free".....lol
Good. High profile estimators and PMs shouldn't be driving 'clunkers'
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
One of my favorite shows on the tube is the Barrett/Jackson auctions. They have some of the greatest of the true muscle cars go through there.If I only had an idea of what some of the cars I had back then would be worth now. One of the stupidest things I ever did was drive my 64 Impala SS ragtop to the local dump and pull the plates off. Basically un-blemished, I hated it because of the 283 w/slushbox auto. It burned soooo much oil, I had to carry spare plugs on long trips.
I know the feeling. I want to throw up when I see what some of those cars are worth now. I remember passing on a mint 68 396 Chevelle that I could have gotten for $500 from someone who needed cash quick. At the time, I didn't "need" the car (and didn't have a spare $500), so off it went. Dangit.....
Had an '71 Olds 442 convertible w/455V-8, traded it for a Ford Ranger. Maybe you shouldn't mention 'Hemi' when filling out the insurance forms.lol.I DIDN'T DO IT...THE BUCK DOES NOT STOP HERE.
"Maybe you shouldn't mention 'Hemi' when filling out the insurance forms."
I wish it was that easy- when I called the insurance agent to add it to my policy yesterday, she asked for the VIN #. After she popped it into the computer, she said "OK, it's an RT with the Hemi, right?" Dang computer tells them all that stuff.....lol
Actually, it's only $170 a year more than my 2000 Ford pickup was. I guess I can't complain about that.
Bob
I know the feeling. I want to throw up when I see what some of those cars are worth now. I remember passing on a mint 68 396 Chevelle that I could have gotten for $500 from someone who needed cash quick. At the time, I didn't "need" the car (and didn't have a spare $500), so off it went. Dangit.....
Dad always bemoaned selling his '54 Corvette. He had parked it at his Mom's house just prior to being shipped out (air force). After a year or so, he and his Mom decided to sell it rather than just letting it sit for the next 3+ years. I think it sold for $400 (with $300 of tires/etc on it that he'd put on prior to shipping out).
Dad never was good with $$.
So that is the car he wished he'd held onto so that he coulda sold it as a collectible. But ironically, the Corvette wasn't his favorite. If he'd had his choice of one of his 'old' cars back to drive, he said he'd want the Pontiac Starchief ragtop (maybe '55 or '56, but I can't remember).jt8
Well I'm jealous and that's that.
Wally
BobK, how about a few under the hood and interior pics?
I'll try and add some tomorrow. I've got a wedding to go to this afternoon. I just shot the one pic in a hurry to get it posted. Not fun snapping pics when it's 40 degrees and you're wearing shorts.....lol.
Bob
Nice wheels!
Where's the lumber racks?
You could be doing the fastest runs to pick up materials with that<G>
" Where's the lumber racks?"
Actually, they had another RT with the roof "luggage rack". God only knows why anyone would want to sling ANYTHING onto the roof of such a car, but I guess to each their own. Of course, if I bought that one, it would give people an excuse to try and make lumber runs....lol.
Bob
when I first started out here, I was hauling lumber in my 66 mustang convertible with the top down...made the yard guys laugh...it was a beater, but sure a fun little car...
Looks nice, but kind of small as station wagons go, isn't it?
Rich Beckman
Another day, another tool.
Shweet ride....my FIL was tellin` me `bout them things. Can`t for the life of me figger what he`s gonna do with one...but he claims to be lookin` at em.
Bought a new Ram 1500 with the Hemi Magnum about a month ago....my vehicle remains the talk of the lumber yard. At least now its a positive talk though...they used to bust my horns over the '89 Dakota. I only hope this one lasts as long.
Best of luck with the new wheels!
J. D. Reynolds
Home Improvements
"DO IT RIGHT, DO IT ONCE"
Edited 12/4/2004 11:20 pm ET by JAYBIRD
It's pretty funny that you mention the Hemi pickup. I parked in the lot at the wedding I was going to last night, and as I was closing the rear hatch, I hear my brother yell "Hey- that thing got a Hemi in it?" I turn around, and there he is in a new Quad Cab 2500 with a Hemi. He bought his truck the day before I bought my car....lol. We both just started laughing.
My older brother has had a Hemi Durango for a few months, so now we need to get them all together for a photo. Maybe send it in to Chrysler, or at least into Mopar Muscle magazine or something....lol.
Edited 12/5/2004 10:18 am ET by BobKovacs
I was looking at the 2500s....almost bought one with the Cummings deisel...couldn`t find a Quad Cab with an eight foot bed (who`s buying a 2500 with a six foot bed?!)....decided the 1500 was truck enough for my line of work.
But I hadda have the Hemi!
If ya ever take that pic of you and your brothers, be sure to post it here!J. D. Reynolds
Home Improvements
"DO IT RIGHT, DO IT ONCE"
Gonna have a heck of a time getting the extension ladder, compressor, and scaffolding into that.
But its probably kinda neat to get up on the Interstate and PUNCH it!
The only "tools" being hauled in that car will be a laptop and a cellphone....
And yes, it's already EXTREMELY fun on the interstate.......lol