 Those of you that know either me or Sarah will know that Sarah has a passion for Dodge Chargers, no not the orange one but the black one from Bullitt, or Blade or even from that other film (you know the one I mean).
Anyways after months of looking and secrecy we did the deal and purchased one for her. After much discussion about it not mattering which engine was fitted she settled on a 440 R/T. Keeping with the it doesn't really matter theme it had an uprated cam, poly front end and Holley double pumper carbs. Neither of us was quite sure what any of that meant but since picking the car up at the port we have learnt.
Basically it means you have 2 speeds, almost stalling and very fast, wave goodbye to the licence fast! Oh and also means that petrol is used at almost the same rate as you pump it into the tank!!!
We collected the car from Bristol Docks at 11am on the 29th of October. Was an amazing sight pulling into the docks and seeing it sitting there alongside all the imported limo's and pick up trucks. Looked strangely ominous and very intimidating.
This was further improved by the fact that during shipping its battery had not been disconnected and was now totally dead. Quick call to Britannia Rescue and a charge later it roared once again into life. There is no other word for the sound of the exhaust, it has a fantastically slow rough idle and when you press your foot down it definitely makes its presence felt. I am thinking that perhaps ear plugs may be in order - or an amp for the speakers!
Driving home was interesting, the Speedo did not work but we had a new one ready for fitting so that was not a problem. Was simply a matter of me acting as a pace car - we had walkie talkies so everything was taken care of.
Until the caravan. There it was tootling along at a breath taking 45 miles an hour. I said to Sarah that I would pull out into the middle lane, drop back and let her pull out before over taking her and letting us both back into the inside lane. It made sense in my mind as I said it, a car she was unfamiliar with and without any mirrors on the passenger side to help her pull out….
A few seconds later I was passed by a streak of black that rapidly disappeared into the distance, small birds flew from trees and children burst into tears. Sarah had discovered wide open throttle and she was flying. For legal reasons I wont tell you how fast I went in order to try and catch her but lets say it wasn't fast enough and the Charger had a lot more to give before she eased off! (me thinks she may be down the ¼ mile soon!)
The rest of the journey was quiet compared to that but was reminiscent of Bullitt as I kept seeing this black charger driven by a blond following me!
Once safely home we had the car MOT'd but that is another story...
Paul Hastie
Secretary AmericanV8
Check out our member's page for more cars...
| 
