Dad was into cars, and his pride and joy from his youth was his ’52 Desoto coupe with the Firedome Hemi. He kept the car till he was gone, even though my older brother rolled it with me in it in 1967. Unfortunately, Dad was never able to fix it.

I think due to my dad, I was into learning, identifying, model building and match box plus Hot Wheels cars like others, but what sealed the deal for me at 13 years of age in 1973, on fast Mopars, was an 850 mile ride in my cousins 1969 Charger R/T with several memorable moments along the way.

In 1977, my first car was a ’70 300, 2dr w/440 and console shift 727, 3:23 limited slip that I had to repair due to a blown engine (hole in piston). Bought a short block. Still have that engine actually. It served duty in that car, a 69 D100, a 78 D150, and lastly a 75 D300 crew cab.

I looked at, test drove and wished for many of the “Muscle Mopars” at cheap prices in the late 70’s and early 80’s, as I tried to get into it in my early adulthood, but have managed to only own one muscle, but many other Mopars over the years. That very 69 R/T, of that memorable ride, is the one I have owned since 1984.

I guess I could count my 2012 SRT8 as my second muscle Mopar. Bought 30 years to the month after my 69. Suppose if I had more time and money, there would be a whole long list of them. There are far more on my bucket list than I will ever own. I suspect this is true for many, if not most of us.

P.S. Maybe, in a very loose definition, my 78 D150 that sported a built 440 along with an A833 qualified as muscle.Sure had a lot of fun building it and driving it.