At a time when most of us...
At a time when most of us are having trouble finding one car to build, Kevin Tennis from north of the border in Winnipeg, Manitoba, scores two cool Chargers.
There's no doubt the hobby of collecting, driving, and racing classic Mopars has grown over the years, with more and more enthusiasts trying to score a deal on a car of their own to build and enjoy. And as more of these cars are discovered and dragged from their hiding places, fewer and fewer are left to find. At least that's what we thought before we received this month's Hidden Treasures submission from Kevin Tennis up in Manitoba, Canada. Kevin found not one, but two Chargers, a 1968 and a 1969, right in Winnipeg, the capital of Manitoba.
Like many Mopars our readers find, Kevin discovered these cars by word of mouth and admits he's likely a Charger fan because he watched The Dukes on television. The '69 Charger was the first of the two cars he heard about, and he discovered the car's location while having a conversation in a coffee shop. Warned that the owner was “a little off the wall,” Kevin and his wife drove by the house regularly to check on the car. Finally catching the owner in the garage, Kevin says the gentleman agreed to show the car to Kevin and his wife, informed them the car sat while he was in prison, and that he lived in it for a while once he was released. He then went into the house and came out with a foot long butcher knife to cut the ropes holding a tarp on the car.
So far, Kevin has cleaned...
So far, Kevin has cleaned both cars up and has driven the white ’69 Charger around. Like many of us, he’s been busy with other projects and family, but plans to start restoring the ’69 Charger soon. We can’t wait to see it once it’s finished!
A little nervous about the knife, Kevin looked the car over, agreed on a price, and the car's owner found the paperwork the next day so Kevin owned the white '69 Charger. Sometime later, at a local Mopar shop, Kevin heard of a red '68 Charger sitting outside a garage on the north side of town. Eager to score another good deal, Kevin rode by and found the car, finally catching the owner one day while out riding his Harley. Dressed in leathers and looking more like a biker than Mopar enthusiast, Kevin made small talk with the owner who also agreed that his Charger was for sale. Even though it had sat for some 31 years, with 1974 girly magazines in the trunk to prove it, the '68 was in pretty rough shaped so Kevin made an appropriate offer for the rusty Charger. Needing body work from rust, a liquor store parking lot door dent, and a run-in with a deer, the owner agreed to Kevin's price and the car was his.
Both of Kevin's Chargers are 318 automatic cars, but that will change because Kevin has a 383 HP out of a Plymouth VIP he's building for the '69 car. Planning to keep the '69 white, Kevin will likely change the color of the interior simply because he doesn't care for green and has already got the car running and driving with the 318. Since the '68 Charger has severe frame and body rust, it will likely be a parts donor to get the '69 in better shape. We thank Kevin for sharing his Hidden Treasures with us, and can't wait to see the finished Charger he builds from the pair.
Kevin found the white '69...
Kevin found the white '69 Charger first, purchasing it from an owner who had been previously reluctant to sell. He’d also lived in the car for a short time, but that’s another story entirely…
The red Charger is a '68,...
The red Charger is a '68, and although it sat for some 31 years it is in far worse shape than the white '69. Even so, Kevin is on the fence about whether to try to save it or use it for parts.
With severe frame rust, flat...
With severe frame rust, flat tires, and a bent rim the '68 was a little more difficult to get on the trailer.
Fortunately, Kevin’s son was...
Fortunately, Kevin’s son was around to help. With both cars
Both of the Chargers are 318...
Both of the Chargers are 318 cars with automatic transmissions, and Kevin has gotten the ’69 running.
The '68 turns over but hasn't...
The '68 turns over but hasn't started because the throttle blades in the carburetor are corroded shut. Planning to restore the '69 first, the '68 will likely be used for parts because the frame is so rusty.