UK Wingcars in Memory lane

[aerolith]

Just found a great pic of the 'Brighton Run' 1983 in the UK!

I took my first Mopar there, a 1969 Plymouth Barracuda RHD convertible...(38 years ago)

I had seen several Wingcars around the UK in the late 70's and early 80's.

Alan Gould's Superbird was near my house in London Town in the late 70's, (middle pic) truly remarkable at that time...

The Birdie in the foreground on a 'Q Plate' was re-registered as MFL 197H and was in fact a very rare Petty Blue 999 code Birdie (I think?)...

Five spoke 'Daisy Mags' were all the rage back then!



Still one of my favourite wheels...

[aerolith]

Also saw this mystery 'air-grabber' bird?

My car is in the background, not really in the same league an 'English Ford' (next to a Winger) ...

Now without Air Grabber PLR 440...?

[nascarxx29]

The orange superbird had carsten printed  on the side I think

[aerolith]

MFL when Pete owned it. (my memory ain't so good now)

Some guys on this site are very 'upset' that TOO many Mopars were in Europe and elsewhere!
But some others said that ''Container ships go BOTH ways'' lol...

I heard a great story about a Black Daytona, back some twenty years ago.
I think RPM shipped it to the UK for Carlos M. and it was 'sold back' to an American buyer, before it even landed in the UK, DOH...

We are only 'custodians' of these wonderful cars in our care...

[mozz at rpm]

The black Daytona came to England and was here as part of the Monteverde collection for a number of years. It was sold around 2014 to Tom Lembeck in Chicago. Well known car, genuine four speed Hemi, black with a white interior. Car was bought new by Henry Watkins jnr who was only seventeen at the time. The car has a continuous history and some interesting paperwork including the broadcast sheet. Rare Performance Motors purchased the Daytona from Greg Joseph in California and bought it to the UK around 2000.

[aerolith]

Many thanx for the update Mozz!

Carlos certainly bought some wonderful cars over in the early 2000's!

I remember seeing this B5 Birdie at Goodwood, totally 'Blue me away' lol...

[aerolith]

I had a 70 GTX 'burnt orange' needing a resto, (at that time) so I was going to do a 'Carlos B5 hemi Clone'!

Glad I didn't now as Darren beat me to it with his GTX... (heard he regrets it now)?

Burnt orange Superbird would have been 'very unusual' though?

[mozz at rpm]

Hi Aerolith (John)
That blue Superbird was super nice, another Hemi four speed car. From memory it was very low miles as well. I remember driving that car across the Sussex Downs to Goodwood early one morning on a beautiful summers day with hardly any traffic on the roads. That was special ! The car was bought in Missouri and shipped to the UK although it is now back in the US. I need to change the user name, Mozz (Maurice) is my brother.
All the best
Martin @ RPM

[aerolith]

You are ONE lucky guy Martin!!!

I had not driven any hemi cars myself (in the UK) until I went to California and met Julius!
He knew I was a ''hemi virgin' so let me drive several of his cars around the streets of San Fernando Valley.

The coolest being a 'one owner' Hemi 67 GTX, Triple Black four speed!!!
I felt like the King of the valley for a few hours lol...
I imagined being there in the 60's and going to a drive through or diner...

My Moparmate also let me drive his No.22 Rossi Replica, 426ci Daytona clone in the Valley.
It was so fast I crapped my pants lol...

Great times indeed and this was one proud Limey...
Many thanx to Julius and Peter, my forever Valley-Pals for taking me 'under their WING' lol...

[aerolith]

I heard that Carlos had also bought himself a Hemi C-500 too.

White with red interior, or is this another 'mixed-up memory'

Found this lovely Daytona picture at Brooklands as well.

White Wingcars and White Charger 500's are really 'growing on me' with 'poverty caps' (like ROSES)...

I would call this ''old English White'' unlike the 71 Bright 'fridge' white.

Got to be a 'RED stripe' for me though...

[mozz at rpm]

Yes, Carlos did own a White, black interior Hemi Charger 500 auto.We (Peter Jordan and myself) bought it on his behalf in Michigan, probably in the late nineties early 2000s. Again really nice car that came to the UK but is now back in the States. I did see it come up for auction a few years back where it sold for not a lot of money for a Hemi car, if I remember rightly around $150k ?
The white Daytona clone at Brooklands belonged to Peter Jordan, his dream car, sadly he didn't get that much time to enjoy it before he passed away. There was a big build thread on that car, beautifully done with a strong Hemi fitted from For Hemis Only. The car is still in the UK and belongs to Andy Robinson.
Martin @ RPM.

[DonC1]

Also saw this mystery 'air-grabber' bird?

My car is in the background, not really in the same league an 'English Ford' (next to a Winger) ...

Any known ' history ' on this Bird?

[aerolith]

OMG Martin.

I knew about Peter's sad death, but not about the beautiful Daytona clone!
I will find out the 'back story' on this build.

I was over at Marshall-Dickson's place (near me) in Kent and we was 'reminiscing' about my 1970 GTX. (Dec 2002)
Tony had imported it back in the 80's along with JC's Superbird!

It was a few weeks before Christmas '02 and I was picking up parts for my race-car.
I told him I was thinking of doing a Superbird clone (with the GTX) and he said ''just fly over and buy a real one''!


He had been feeling unwell and was 'off to the hospital' that day, for a check-up...
Think he only just 'made it there' as he was 'more ill' than anyone knew...
He didn't even make Christmas, we were all very shocked as you can imagine...

So I sold the race-car in 2003 and FLEW OVER to California in 2004 and found a Charger 500...

Thank you Tony for the 'wise words'...

The 'GOOD OLD DAYS' in the UK, Superbirds, parked on every street lol

The red Birdie is the ex Tony Dickson and the black Birdie is now the B5 Blue one (I think)

[hemi68charger]

MFL when Pete owned it. (my memory ain't so good now)

...

There's my Daytona.. :-)

[hemi68charger]

Here's my Daytona when Pete W. owned it... At Brooklands....... The world's first built-for-purpose race track......

[mozz at rpm]

Hi Don
Reference the yellow Bird with the air grabber hood. That car has been in the UK for around forty years and was owned by a chap called Dave Melbourne. Somebody modified an air grabber hood from a scrapped 70 Roadrunner and fitted it to the bird. I know the car well, in fact Pete Jordan and I took the air grabber hood off for Dave Melbourne and fitted an original hood at Dave's request. The air grabber hood was put up for sale and Pete and I crated it up and shipped it to the States where I believe it was fitted to another bird, this all happened around 25-30 years ago. It's a bench seat, 440-4 barrel, four speed car, registration number PLR 440 and is believed to be matching numbers. I do recall the fender tag was missing, probably lost when the car was painted in the eighties. Believe it or not Galen Govier has seen the car around 1998 and was going to authenticate it so a reproduction fender tag could be made but I don't believe this happened. Galen was in the UK at the time looking at another car. Owing to bereavement the car was put up for sale at Anglia Car Auctions in Kings Lynn on the 21st October 2020 but didn't reach it's reserve. Hope this helps.
Regards
Martin @ RPM.

[moparstuart]

Also saw this mystery 'air-grabber' bird?

My car is in the background, not really in the same league an 'English Ford' (next to a Winger) ...

l love the yellow bird with the air grabber   , if the hood shipper to the states i wonder if that hood ended up on Milts car that burnt  ?  It was the inspiration for me to build my hood  .

[DonC1]

Thanks for the info Mozz.
Stuart I was thinking that exact thought about Milt's bird-

[aerolith]

Or this one in San Fernando?

Think the guy was called Randy?

I did a lot of work on this car as the 'new' nose-cone was a MARE!

Black cars always give me the 'Colly-wobbles' (Aussie slang)

[aerolith]

MFL and an unknown Hemi Daytona leaving for warmer climes!

(I told them 'angry peeps' the ferry goes both ways)...

[aerolith]

Got to LOVE an ORANGE BIRDIE!

[aerolith]

One wild paint scheme!

Certainly looks like the UK, ever seen this Birdie???

It seems to me that most UK Superbird owners were 'car-painters' by day and Mopar fanatics at night!
That's why it was hard to 'keep up' with Superbirds and their current/past guises?

Found some more that I 'sort of' remember...

Another Birdie picture with my 'English Ford' in the background lol (MK-1 Cortina).

[aerolith]

I think Alan Gould's Green birdie was up for sale in 1984 for £5000?

No one wanted it back then and I didn't know it was sale at that time 'boohoo', so Tony Oksien (RIP) paid him £3,800 for it? (bargain)

Most folks back then thought it was a KIT-CAR or a CLONE!

[DonC1]

Or this one in San Fernando?

Think the guy was called Randy?

I did a lot of work on this car as the 'new' nose-cone was a MARE!

Black cars always give me the 'Colly-wobbles' (Aussie slang)

Great pics Aero! That's Rand's bird.
Small world...Peter J lent me his Daytona molds years ago. Incredibly well made, and used for the race clone and joe dirts clone and others.
I was in the UK for a spell in the mid 70's, was never fortunate enough to see any wing cars back then..only the occasional chevy.

[aerolith]

Thanx for the kind words Don!

Saw this one day on the way to a UK Mopar MEET probably Brighton!!! (mid 80's)

4 Superbirds 'all in a row' lol...

Not my picture, taken from inside one of the Birds!

Possibly Alan, Andy, Big John and Stuart, the Plymouth 'POSSE' terrorising the roads of Surrey lol...

If that don't, 'bring a tear to your eye' then you is either a Chevy guy or very weird indeed...

[aerolith]

Saw this at the POD a few times, very nice indeed!

[aerolith]

There have been several Birdies flying over and back again in recent years.

Not sure what the 'real' total is, some say seven was the most, at any one time?

Some 'clones' have been built and some 70 runners and 70 GTX's have been 'uncloned'...

Always a 'great sight' on the drag strip...

Nine second 'street cars' and a six second 'Voodoo Bird'.

[aerolith]

A few more I'm not sure about?

OOPS the files are protected?
Must be 'stealth Birdies' working for the Feds...

[aerolith]

APR building a birdie...

Problem is they is ALL whites ones OOP NORF, so I can't tell which ones are which???

[aerolith]

NICE!

Looks like UK with all the sheep, grass and a soccer net (football goal) plus wonky 'dog-poo-bin' lol !
Never seen this car and still on USA plates...

[aerolith]

Time machine wanted in any condition please!

Only has to work for a pre-set date of 1970 California...

[aerolith]

Texas Big Bird up for sale in the UK (Europe)

Folks just don't get Wingcars even NOW!!!

Some of the comments on 'A-bods only' are 'disgraceful' to say the least!!!

A bit tricky if you have to run in the LEFT Lane... (what tree)

[aerolith]

Here is a much nicer UK Birdie story indeed...

Saw one and bought it 'TUX 133H' Birdie!!!

Wish he was MY (long lost) DAD!

(Sorry Step-dad, I know you would have bought us one too, if the cancer hadn't have got to you first, RIP and boohoo)

[aerolith]

Secret shoot?

Lots of nice Birdie pictures of the Northern Clones, but you have to 'pay to view'...

Still its so nice to see folks are still building this iconic Plymouth, even now!!! (in the UK)

Nine second HEMI Superbirds, wow I am seriously shocked and in total awe...

[aerolith]

Still my favourite Birdie after ALL these years!

Nearly 40 years ago and still brings a tear to my eye!

Air grabbers were 'all the rage' back then?

[aerolith]

Hope you all enjoyed my 'trip down' UK memory lane?

Superbirds were always a part of the Mopar scene in London Town in the 80's.

Kings Road, Battersea, Trinity road, 'aka the CUT' and most Saturdays somewhere!
The glorious days of street driven Superbirds, but very few Daytona'ers if any?

Bob Brown's 'yellow terror' Daytona was always being drag raced, from 'Detling to York' for 30 years or more!

I like many others 'implored him' to STOP!
The thought of such a rare car being rolled or slammed into a guard rail gave me Nightmares...

So I approached our wonderful guru that is/was Tony 'O' for a solution?
He said that Bob was never gonna sell, as the price was always too high for any prospective buyer!
Bob would never set a price and if you gave a price, it was 'not enough'.

So I thought that 'we the MMA-UK' should start a fund and purchase the Daytona for Posterity...
It was laughed 'out of the court' and dismissed as 'total madness'...
(I think the plan was ''everyone interested, donates a £1000 for a 100th share' in the purchase/restoration of a 'CLUB' Daytona!)

Thats when I gave up all hope of ever purchasing the longest and rarest UK Wingcar of all, even a 100th share.. .

So sad for us Limeys and a lifelong yearning to be a UK Winger was finally gone...

Oh well, should have bought a Superbird (Cheap as Chips) and never set your 'sights too high'...

[held1823]

thanks for taking us along on the trip down memory lane

[aerolith]

My pleasure HELD!

I'm not an expert or a member of the MMA anymore (long story).
After shipping 'back' over the 'Troy' Daytona and the Petty Bird, things went a bit 'pear shaped'...

MFL arrived in England with a bad purchase agreement and left with one too...

I put my reputation on the line an overseas Wingcar officionado, 'for Julius' and then was totally 'found out'!
It appears my knowledge was rather limited, when giving an appraisal for $250,000 worth of Mopar's finest.

To me, just having two of the rarest Mopar's complete and 'running' was a 'sight to behold' in the UK!
But this was a business deal and I was 'overawed' by their magnificence and wonderment.


Anyways, Julius was very forgiving and TEN years on, we is all 'mates again' I think?

Lesson learnt for me, stick with the easy stuff 318 Dodge Darts and Plymouth Scamps...



I was 'on the list' for the purchase of MFL for many years (1980's).
But the day the sale was announced I missed out by 10 minutes to another buyer!!!

That was 1989 and I never got the chance again, but I did get to ship her home with the Daytona for Troy...

I did try to buy one of the three Daytona's that Galen was selling in 1990 too...

But he said ''NOT LIKELY, no Limey is getting a Daytona''...

Life is full of missed opportunities indeed.

[TiMopar]

Also saw this mystery 'air-grabber' bird?

My car is in the background, not really in the same league an 'English Ford' (next to a Winger) ...

Now without Air Grabber PLR 440...?

PLR 440 was owned by Ahmet D. in the 70s and 80s in north London, who did the air grabber hood. As stated elsewhere, it is a 440 4v 4speed bench car.

[mozz at rpm]

Hi Tim
I'm not sure who fitted the Air Grabber, I suspect it was done before Dave Melbourne bought it. It was Dave who had the Superbird painted and 'semi restored' but I only knew the car after that. I do remember putting a clutch in the car and as said earlier taking the Air Grabber hood off and crating it up with Pete.
All the best
Martin.

[mozz at rpm]

Sorry Tim, just re read your post it was Ahmet D who obviously fitted the Air Grabber. Must pay more attention !
Martin.

[aerolith]

Hi Tim and Mozz,

You guys know the real history of the the UK Wingcars...

Me, I was just a wannabee lol.

[tan top]

 good lot of pictures ! thanks for sharing 

[aerolith]

The Wingcar era was the HIGH-LIGHT of many a MOPARMAN!

For two glorious years, the Wings were Kings...

They are a very 'MARMITE' kinda deal even for Mopar FOLKS!!!

50+ years on and they still cause a STIRRING of the blood and mind...

It was even TOO much for Mario...

[aerolith]

Mario Blu wasn't quite the same.

But Mario Azzurri would have worked...

A very rare 'four wheel drive' Charger 500, with smoking front tyres at Daytona...

Shame the Charger 500 didn't get a 'super speedway' name like the Daytona?

For us Brits the 'Dodge Darlington' would have been perfect lol...