Multi What's the most unique vehicle you've owned?

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PNWGuy

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I've been obsessed with motorized vehicles ever since I got my driver's license and have always been attracted to cars/trucks that defy popular opinion.

When I had to choose my first car back in 1985 with $500 in my pocket it came down to between a `74 2dr Chevy Malibu with a 350, or a `70 Ford Torino coupe with a 302.

The Chevy was a better car, in retrospective, but the Ford had lines that spoke to me. When my buddies in auto shop began bagging on the Torino for being a Ford and a grandma car, it sealed the deal. Bought it for $300...

Scannedpics013


Thus began a rebellious history of buying and owning vehicles that others found not all that attractive. I've owned close to a dozen Torinos and Rancheros over the years in various performance iterations from 1969 to 1972. Love them still today!

But one of my most unique vehicles was one I bought in 2007 in Arizona.

It was a 1987 Ford 14-passenger van converted to 4x4 by the Pathfinder conversion company. It was used as a church van to get to a mountain church camp for many years. They sold it and someone bought it and lifted it and installed a fresh 425hp 460 V8 in it.

I bought it and added 35" mudders, some off-road enhancements, and owned it for two years.


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Sany0009


It was the most unreliable vehicle I have ever owned. It literally spent more miles on the back of a flatbed tow truck that I actually was able to drive it.

Everything that could go wrong with it did. Plus, it got an amazing 5 miles to the gallon.

I still miss it...

What unique vehicle have you owned?
 
DG Rider

DG Rider

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My 1st car was a 10-11 year old 1979 Dodge Ramcharger with a 360. Gas gauge moved faster than the speed-O. I'd LOVE to have this now...

Prob the most "interesting" was a 1984 Dodge Rampage (FWD K-car based el-camino type vehicle). As...em, s***ty, as it would seem, this was one of the best driving cars I've ever owned. Absolutely ate up the miles...right up until the transmission, an automatic, locked up.
 
P

PNWGuy

Guest
My 1st car was a 10-11 year old 1979 Dodge Ramcharger with a 360. Gas gauge moved faster than the speed-O. I'd LOVE to have this now...

Prob the most "interesting" was a 1984 Dodge Rampage (FWD K-car based el-camino type vehicle). As...em, s***ty, as it would seem, this was one of the best driving cars I've ever owned. Absolutely ate up the miles...right up until the transmission, an automatic, locked up.
One of my dream "lottery builds" is to find a `74 to `79 2wd Ramcharger and tub it out with a built 451 stroker motor (400 Chrysler block with a 440 crank), paint it hemi orange, and remove the top.

I actually did own an `87 Ramcharger that I lifted and modified... I've owned A LOT of vehicles over the years...

Scannedpics012
 
DG Rider

DG Rider

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Casa Grande, AZ
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One of my dream "lottery builds" is to find a `74 to `79 2wd Ramcharger and tub it out with a built 451 stroker motor (400 Chrysler block with a 440 crank), paint it hemi orange, and remove the top.

I actually did own an `87 Ramcharger that I lifted and modified... I've owned A LOT of vehicles over the years...

View attachment 83808
When i win the lotto, i will pass the time by trail riding and restoring old Jeeps and Dodge trucks.
 
P

PNWGuy

Guest
Yep. Winning the lottery for me would mean moving about 15 miles away into the country, building a custom log/stone off-the-grid home with a huge shop, and building some vehicles that offend the liberals in my area...
 
djracer

djracer

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Jun 2, 2017
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I have owned a few crazy ones. I converted an 87 half ton suburban to a full 1 ton dually. killed the small block pulling big trailers so I swapped it for a warmed over 454.

I now have my dream truck. I bought this one already built. I have a 2004 Yukon Denali Xl. it was swapped to 3/4 ton Chassis then had an Lbz Duramax and Allison 6 speed installed then was lowered a few inches. it is selectable 4x4

This pic is in the hotel parking lot after going to Ride Royal Blue Last week.86a3fa94defc2b1cd9d2869e4aacb7a9

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk
 
P

PNWGuy

Guest
I have owned a few crazy ones. I converted an 87 half ton suburban to a full 1 ton dually. killed the small block pulling big trailers so I swapped it for a warmed over 454.

I now have my dream truck. I bought this one already built. I have a 2004 Yukon Denali Xl. it was swapped to 3/4 ton Chassis then had an Lbz Duramax and Allison 6 speed installed then was lowered a few inches. it is selectable 4x4

This pic is in the hotel parking lot after going to Ride Royal Blue Last week.View attachment 83809

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk
My current daily driver is a 2005 Yukon I've mildly modified...
IMG 20180707 205017350
 
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trigger

Old Ironsides
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My brother had an old dark green Torino in the early 80's that had no grille and was beat to hell. Don't know what he paid for it but it had a 351 Cleveland in it which made it the perfect sleeper. Never saw him lose a race, even against newer Z-28's and Mustangs. That car could flat out fly!
 
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lee

lee

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When I was in high school my older brother got a Porsche 912 (911 body with a 4 cylinder mill).
To match that I picked up a 1971 Abarth 1300 OT (Fiat 850 coup with a Fiat 124 engine).
Thease where pretty grey market low volume imports.
1600 lb and 100 horse power, fast but not muscle car fast, but very agile.

The car was a nightmare on the freeway, it would not maintain a straight path.
But on a twisty road it was a blast.
If i was paying attention I could stay in front of a 5.0 mustang (Kalifornia smog), they where just out at the time (early '80s).
There was a VW Karmenghia that just walked away from me one time (note to self, VW that is willing to try has somthing up his sleeve) .
Car was super unreliable, the engine doubled the power of the stock Fiat.
Had several parts cars and somthing else to drive to work.

When I met my (now) wife I sold the Abarth to buy her a ring.
When they recently reintroduced the Abarth name she would hold out her ring and say 'I have an Abarth'.
It was probably a good trade on my part (most days).
 
J

JTW

Guest
Ive got a 48 Jeep Willy’s.. that’s about as unique as I’ll probably ever get. I like cars, trucks and Jeeps but just never really been my thing to do the 6 month trade. I usually buy a decent practical vehicle and put miles on them. But I was born in 85 so it’s not like I grew up in the muscle car days.
 
Tuco69

Tuco69

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Typical southern boy, first car in 1979 was a ‘69 Camaro. Worked three summers an after school for it. Also had an ‘85 Monte Carlo SS an a ‘69 Triumph Spitfire.
 
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Bad_bowtie

Bad_bowtie

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Had a few interesting rides but nothing too crazy. Mostly square body Chevys from stock to hot rod to off roader. Not any digital pics of most though.

87 with built 350/465/205 disk break 14 bolt. 6" Suspension and 38x13-16 TSLs
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Wifes 81 with 350/465/np205 6" suspension 3" body and 38x14.50 SX's.
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My 1st gen 4runner that I just sold a couple years ago, man I miss that thing.
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84 Straight axle Toyota with 5.29 gears, 33" TSL's and Aussie Lockers from and rear(same company that make P500 locker now)
Screenshot 20180814 060730 Photobucket
 
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Yankee

Yankee

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Apr 29, 2016
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Had a 81 f-150 woods truck one time i gave 500$ for. I put some 35s on it and got stuck in a pond. When I was hooking the chain chest deep in water i couldnt tell what I was hooking to long story short we pulled the front clip off of it but i welded it back on with angle iron and used barn door latches to keep the hood shut. Friends of mine said if Grundy county had an award for afro engineering I would had won it lol
 
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