WM23M9A284078-BJ 2001 sold for 65,000

Posted By: A12RTX2340

WM23M9A284078-BJ 2001 sold for 65,000 - 06/18/08 03:52 PM

Anyone have any info on this car such as tag/owner? Car is a V2 4spd ordered from "The New Bill Strange Dodge" in Alabama. Salvaged from a junk yard in 92' in Hennager Alabam followed by a 8 year resto. The resto was followed by numerous Best of Shows nationally-Mopar Nat's, Carlisle, Chrysler Classics, OH, Norwalk, Kansas City, MO. Also featured in at least 4 mags including muscle car review. Also was said to be the #1 leader in the nation on the MCG series...It's said to be #'s matching as well...

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Posted By: A12

Re: WM23M9A284078-BJ 2001 sold for 65,000 - 06/18/08 05:39 PM

Calvin Smith in Ohio owned the car and had the resto done. Joel Cox did the paint and body work.........Calvin has since sold the car and I don't know where it is today?

Posted By: A12

Re: WM23M9A284078-BJ 2001 sold for 65,000 - 06/18/08 05:41 PM

also said to be one OF TWO with a 3.54 Dana "from the factory"

Posted By: A12

Re: WM23M9A284078-BJ 2001 sold for 65,000 - 06/18/08 05:46 PM

Mopar Action article on Calvin Smith's Six Pack Bee ((((((click here))))))

Posted By: Dave Watt

Re: WM23M9A284078-BJ 2001 sold for 65,000 - 06/18/08 06:07 PM

I find it interesting that the article states that he has located another A12 car ordered with 3.54 gears. I brought this up a few years ago and few guys were

because of it. All I was doing is repeating what the magazine article said.

Posted By: Kidsixpack

Re: WM23M9A284078-BJ 2001 sold for 65,000 - 06/18/08 06:46 PM

I spoke with Calvin in depth when he finished that car and I used his car as the blueprint for my resto. (a bit overrestored). I was there when it was judged and spoke with him shortly after the sale. He lost $10,000 on the sale. If I recall correctly he did a F8 Hemi Bee next, but that's the last I heard of him and I've not seen the car since he sold it.
KIDSIXPACK
www.sixpacksuperbee.homestead.com

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Posted By: A12

Re: WM23M9A284078-BJ 2001 sold for 65,000 - 06/18/08 08:04 PM

Quote:

(a bit overrestored)

Steve, that's a little bit of an understatement. I was at the Nat's when Calvin first showed the car and it was sitting in the display field (getting dusted baddly) when I first saw it. Calvin hadn't entered it in the judging but was talked into it by the editor of Mopar Action, who walked by and yelled "Calvin you need to get that car in the (judging) tent it's too nice to be sitting out here". Later that day it ended up there and the judges were crawling all over and under it and a good friend of Calvin's came over and said "there's too much paint on the radiator support to read the number and they're saying the coil bracket is mounted in the wrong place". I had a copy of the Lynch Road Assembly instructions with the coil bracket location with me and showed it to Calvin and he got real concerned

. and asked "where did you get this?"

Then his friend said the judge wanted him to find the trunk drip rail number instead and told him it was on the right side

and I told him "no it's on the left" and showed him where and again there was so much paint that it was going to be a crap shoot hitting the right spot but I said "hey, no problem it's under the weather strip and it will be hidden". He pulls out a pocket knife and starts to scrape away at the paint where I guessed it might be when the judge came over and yells "It's on the right side not the left". He looks over at Calvin, who's reading the Lynch Road Assembly instructions, for what to do and Calvin nods and tells him to keep scraping on the left side and bingo there it was

The judge was

but glad at the same time. Calvin then introduced me to Vic Mills who was there who later introduced me to Joel Cox who later came to my house and checked out my Y4 A12 and talked me into finding some original sheet metal to start the resto............and that's how I ended up with a '68 Road Runner, but that's another story.

I saw Calvin at the Quaker Steak & Lube cruise about two or three years ago and he had a '70 RR and Joel Cox around the same time at another local cruise and he still had a '69 Daytona. Calvin I heard sold a bunch of his cars. His A12 Bee was one of the better restorations I had seen up to that point but it was also the first time I understood what "over restored" meant too. There should be a couple of members on here that live close to Calvin that should know what he's up to lately, anyone?

Posted By: gtx6970

Re: WM23M9A284078-BJ 2001 sold for 65,000 - 06/18/08 08:48 PM

Last I heard Calvin was going thru a nasty divorce and sold everything - or at least was trying to sell everything he had

Posted By: Kidsixpack

Re: WM23M9A284078-BJ 2001 sold for 65,000 - 06/19/08 02:10 AM

A12
I can't remember who was judging the car (Someone that I know knew Mopars), but I remember them arguing over several points on the car, but I found it all to be quite tiresome. I remember hearing the many stories on the resto. how things were going over budget and parts getting lost. Almost scared me out of doing my resto.. Man I just can't recall who the judge was....
KID

Posted By: A12

Re: WM23M9A284078-BJ 2001 sold for 65,000 - 06/19/08 02:15 AM

Kid, I'll have to dig deep for the photos from that day but I know I have them some where? I don't know why they thought the drip rail VIN was on the right? Which Mopar has the VIN on the right drip rail?

MikeR

Posted By: lmn6pack

Re: WM23M9A284078-BJ 2001 sold for 65,000 - 06/19/08 02:30 AM

That car may have set the stage or the bar that started this crazy frenzy on car judging. That car was extrememy nice. I personally know all parties involved. Vic Millis worked on these cars
when they were new and has forgotten more than most of us know. Joel Cox is an extremely knowledgable Mopar enthusiast as well. Vic has done some work on some of my cars and he is the only guy that touches my cars. Top notch guy!
He is locally known as "Hemi" Vic. Vic did everything but the paint on that car as well as all the reserach required.

Posted By: Dave Watt

Re: WM23M9A284078-BJ 2001 sold for 65,000 - 06/19/08 02:35 AM

I wonder if someone has a copy of the Broadcast sheet to verify the 3.54 gears being ordered, not that I doubt it, but would like to see it. I have a lot of A12 sheets on file but have never seen this. It's an interesting topic.

Posted By: Kidsixpack

Re: WM23M9A284078-BJ 2001 sold for 65,000 - 06/19/08 04:38 AM

Quote:

Kid, I'll have to dig deep for the photos from that day but I know I have them some where? I don't know why they thought the drip rail VIN was on the right? Which Mopar has the VIN on the right drip rail?

MikeR

I think I have pics. of the car, but i too would have to dig! I was taking a lot of Videos in the 90's and did a little of both nearing 2000.

I won't believe the 3:54 gears without a sheet! It would bee pretty cool to have those! I've never seen one?
KID

Posted By: DPelletier

Re: WM23M9A284078-BJ 2001 sold for 65,000 - 06/19/08 04:28 PM

Quote:

I wonder if someone has a copy of the Broadcast sheet to verify the 3.54 gears being ordered, not that I doubt it, but would like to see it. I have a lot of A12 sheets on file but have never seen this. It's an interesting topic.

It would be interesting.

Dave