Collecting-it's a hobby for some and an addiction for others. Yet there are a few creative souls who make a living by collecting items other people don't want. Tony D'Agostino of Harrington, Delaware, began collecting things-most importantly, all things Mopar related-in the early '70s, and it has since become his full-time job. Throughout the years, Tony's parts business has afforded him the opportunity to find a myriad of cool items and even complete cars. This is a good thing for the rest of us who are now looking for that final cool piece of our personal Mopar puzzle.
Some of the things Tony has collected in order to ensure their survival are significant or simply interesting Mopars. His first two cars-which he still owns-are a '70 Road Runner convertible that he bought in 1977 and a '6911/42 Six Pack Road Runner he purchased in 1982. But the piece of his collection we focus on here is his '70 Cuda convertible. The car may not be an O.E. Gold-certified winner, but as far as Tony is concerned, that just means he can have more fun with it.
Tony told us why he bought this particular car. "In 1998, I had a similar car that I [had] owned for about 15 years," he says. "Someone made a good offer [to buy] it from me, but it wasn't for sale at the time. I [suggested] the guy come to a show with me and I'd help him look for a car. We found this car, and I told him to buy it. He said, 'I don't want a four-speed.' So I said, 'I'll buy it, and then you buy my [green] car.' So I got rid of my Lime Green automatic convertible and got an orange four-speed convertible." Sounds like a fair trade to us.
What Tony received in the trade that day was a 'Cuda that had been-in Tony's words-incorrectly restored. The car's previous owner, Wayne Harty, began the restoration process in the late '80s, but after the car was painted, it sat until the mid-'90s before assembly actually began. Resto problems arose when Wayne needed to rely on other people to do the restoration work. Assembly and detailing was haphazard at best in some areas, while other portions of the restoration that Wayne assumed were done, were not. Tony began to realize these shortcomings when he first put the 'Cuda on his car lift.
For example, many of the bolts and nuts had not been properly tightened, meaning the car could literally come apart while driving. The alignment-which Wayne had paid to have done-was not even close to being correct. In addition, the detailing under the hood was not up to Tony's standards. So, he spent the next couple of weeks correcting these little problems.
However, even with its minor pitfalls, the 'Cuda was in respectable form. During the previous resto, the body had been nicely covered in the original shade of EK2 Vitamin C Orange. The interior of the car sports the factory-covered seats and door panels, but the convertible top and carpeting have been replaced. Tony was told the engine was rebuilt to stock specs, so it's in service the way he received it.
Tony is quick to point out that because his car is not a concours-type restoration, it affords him the ability to climb in and go for a ride whenever the urge strikes. Because his collection of Mopar motorvation also includes a couple of unrestored survivor cars, the responsibility he feels to preserve them and their heritage dictates how seldom they are driven. That's where the 'Cuda comes in. But, when Tony does feel like placing the 'Cuda in a show atmosphere, the repop Polyglas tires come off and correct rubber is installed.
As he's done with his parts business, Tony has proven that when it comes to cars, he's still willing to buy the right one if somebody else doesn't want it.