The trade-in value of one car for another can never be underestimated.
It really comes down to this—you have a car another guy wants more—and vice versa.
That sums up the plot behind this two-owner, 1967 Charger 440 big block.
Jerry Sutherland
John Starling is the proud owner of this rare 100,000-mile, Mopar fastback thanks to his former car—a 1965 Rambler Ambassador convertible. John owned the Rambler, but he was drawn to the Charger because he liked the car and more importantly—he knew the original owner. The car was originally purchased at Chinook Chrysler in Calgary, Alberta Canada.
John was a fan of these cars since the day they were introduced because he was drawn to the lines of the first-gen Chargers. They have compound curves unique to this specific car. The massive rear window glass is also unique to the ’66-67 Charger. John is also aware of the impressive NASCAR record these Chargers had, thanks to their unique airflow profile.
John told the owner he was very interested in the car, but the answer was always the same—”it’s not for sale”. Then the owner told John he wanted to downsize, so he was thinking of selling the car in the States where the dollar was better–plus there was a much bigger market in the U.S.
John’s ace-in-the-hole was his ’65 Rambler because he knew the Charger owner really liked the car. They came to an agreement and swapped cars—”plus a little cash”, said John.
The Charger was his so that made John happy and the previous owner was happy with his newly-acquired Ambassador convertible. That’s the kind of trade car guys dream about.
John started his new ownership by adding a clutch fan and shroud to the Charger because he didn’t want it to overheat. He lives in an area where temperatures can soar, so John wanted to protect the factory 440 engine.
John reported the gauge barely moves, even on the hottest summer days and it, “doesn’t burn a drop of oil”. That’s an investment you want to protect because it shows years of careful ownership.
The Charger was repainted, but it still has its factory interior. John appreciates how nice the car is, and he gives credit to the former owner. These Chargers were higher-end models, but the big block hemis and 440 versions typically had a very rough–and short life.
John likes many things about his Charger and the interior is high on his list. He loves the four-bucket seat setup—especially when the back ones are folded down. John said he can haul a 10-foot piece of lumber in the back of his Charger. That’s a bonus—especially if he needs to get it home fast.
John doesn’t drive it all the time because he limits the Charger to car show duty to protect its original miles status. He respects the car and the original owner, but he does say it drives “really well”.
The key to this story is the old-fashioned bartering system because without that Rambler convertible, this Charger would have headed south.
Jerry Sutherland
. By: Jerry Sutherland
Jerry Sutherland is a veteran automotive writer with a primary focus on the collector car hobby. His work has been published in many outlets and publications, including the National Post, Calgary Herald, Edmonton Journal, Ottawa Citizen, Montreal Gazette, Saskatoon StarPhoenix, Regina Leader-Post, Vancouver Sun and The Truth About Cars. He is also a regular contributor to Auto Roundup Publications.
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