I have experienced the same thing. Although I've likely owned far
less cars than most everyone else on the list, its always the Mopars that people
have trouble with. My 72 Impala is always recognized as a Chevy product,
and usually as an Impala (although Caprices and Bel-Airs were essentially the
same car, so a guess on any of those isn't too unusual). When I had my 57
Dodge, it was anything BUT a 57 Dodge. The closest guess I ever got was a
DeSoto...which considering the car was completely covered by snow at the time
and I was out front cleaning it off, that's not a bad guess. One of my
favorites was I believe someone called it a 58 Chevy...I know 57s were so
popular, so that guess makes some sense, but I'm not sure about the 58
guess. I think it was someone who thinks he knew cars...probably saw it
wasn't exactly a 57 so he just guessed a year he didn't know. My 78 Dodge
Magnum had just about NO badging on the outside, so when most people
complemented it, it was "Hey, that's a sweet car." I don't think anyone
ever screwed that one up on me...aside from the occasional Monte Carlo
remark. Having worked in retail the past 6+ years, I have long since come
to realize that there are a LOT of 1D10Ts out there, so I usually just smile and
thank people for the complement rather than try explaining things.
Besides, I do enough explaining at work and the less time I spend talking (or
explaining things) to people I don't know when I'm off the clock, the
happier I usually am.
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, February 03, 2005 2:00
PM
Subject: Re: [FWDLK] RED PLYMOUTH
FURY
Tim & all,
I also have experienced this type of person.
Usually I get the story when I have one of our Letter Cars out at some event
and it goes like this. Wow, my Dad (insert who ever works for you) had
one just like this except it was a four door and had a different colored top
and had a 440 Hemi in it. Also there is usually something stated by them
about driving the car 150+ MPH and smoking the tires at 100+ when it shifts
into high gear. Over the years I usually try to end the conversation
quickly as this type really irritates me.
A special story I like to tell is one that occurred
several years ago. Wayne Graefen and I had gone to Pierce College in the
San Fernando Valley to a Mopar Swap Meet. That time we took my Tango Red
C300. After a while we returned to the car to put some items in the
trunk that we had purchased.
I had my key inserted into the trunk to unlock it
when I was approached by a Chap who said "is this your car"? Being the
wise guy I am I wanted to say NO I'M JUST IN THE PROCESS OF STEALING IT.
I did answer yes and his immediate reply was "why did you ruin it"? My
reply was what do you mean? He responded with "everyone knows all of
them where WHITE". I had documentation in the trunk to show him he was
wrong, but I simply closed the trunk, looked at him with a glare and walked
away.
John Lazenby
Southern California, just minutes
from Disneyland
1955 Chrysler New Yorker Deluxe Town & Country
1955
Imperial Newport
1955 Chrysler C300
1956 Chrysler 300B
1957 Chrysler
300C Coupe
1960 Chrysler 300F Coupe
1963 Volkswagen
Beetle
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, February 03, 2005 10:36
AM
Subject: Re: [FWDLK] RED PLYMOUTH
FURY
Do only Mopar owners have to deal with this phenomenon?
I meet person after person who owned a Dodge D500 that had a dual quad
Hemi engine only theirs had the 392 or better yet the 361 (obviously the
rarest of all Hemis). Sadly there seems to be no way to defuse this
perpetuation of total fantasy. I personally believe it is far more
pronounced in the Mopar lines. I have owned a lot of other makes and do not
recall being approached by so many people that new more about my car than I
did and set upon educating me about what I "have". Seems pretty odd
because more often than not these people started out by asking what type of
car it was. I always feel lucky when I get to talk with someone who is
not from that "other planet" where not so long ago Furys lined the
streets in every color and body style and the 392 Hemi was more common than
a 57 chevy. Tim in Golden
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