TA 340-6 comes full circle after 50 years

[mccannix]

Hope not to bore everyone but thought I'd share this story.
In 1973 a friend and I were in upstate NY one Saturday morning cruising the boneyards.
I had starting going to this yard in Adams Center called Dobbins Wreckers and told my friend to drive down there for a look see.
I asked Gordon the owner, if he had any performance cars come in lately.
He said "We got one of them tri-power Dodges down there, T-boned on the drivers side, is a standard shift car but if you can get your ass seated you can drive it around the yard, has a sticky valve".
So down we went where we saw this orange TA Challenger hit pretty good on drivers side.
I got in the passenger side, sat best I could with my rear half on the hump, half on the seat, started the car and idled it around in first gear, sticky valve and all. Hit it a couple times and it responded well....I almost hit a couple other wrecks.
All was there but air cleaner was missing.
Went back up to the office where Gordon said $300.00 will buy that motor, $75.00 for the hood, $75.00 for the 4 speed trans.
He said "You better act fast if you want the motor cause one of the yard guys says he has a friend who's gonna come this upcoming Friday with the money and is putting the motor in either a Datsun 240-Z or an Opel, I cant remember".
My friend and I talked about it on the way home and all week, thinking 'yeh, whats the likelyhood of that happening' and decided to go back the next Saturday which we did with $350.00 US dollars and my dads truck.
Got there and Gordon said "Too late lads, the kid bought the motor and its gone"
So I asked about the trans and hood, which were still there and I bought the hood for the $75.00 and got the tranny out and paid $50.00 for it since the kid had taken the pistolgrip handle.
Fast forward 50 years October this year, talking to my friend just across the Ontario/NY border here who told me he bought this Opel GT that came with a 340-6 motor in it.
Of course I had to go, so the next day I went to his place and this is what was there, the Opel, the standard bore 340-6 motor, all original carbs, intake , even the air cleaner ( may have been in trunk of the TA)
Here's some pics, you can see the 340 mounts, straight axle front.
The old body is suprising very solid,set up for automatic and has a 9 inch Ford rear
This thing must have been a terror in its likely short lived life on the street.
Anyway pretty neat that exactly 50 years later the deal I missed out on re-surfaces.

[RUNCHARGER]

Uh, Um, Er, ah. Maybe buy the guy an LS for it so he can "upgrade"and trade you the LA.

[anlauto]

I always, love your stories....Did you end up buying the motor now ?

[mccannix]

Between myself and another Mopar guy....everything is here now,
with the exception of the Opel.
You should buy that Alan for the $900,00 asking price, hotrod it and take it to your nearest sand dune.

[blown motor]

Great story. Thanks for sharing.

[Jay Bee]

What are the odds, go and get a lottery ticket. You didn't bore me at all.

[Ricomondo]

That is amazing! Just when you think the world is big, it's actually pretty small.

[larry4406]

So what's the plans with the reunited parts?

[mk]

Very cool story .......... thanks for sharing !

[mccannix]

Classic air cleaner cut, original carbs/intake.
Rounding up a few of the missing pieces and will see from there

[anlauto]

I know it's likely sold ten times over already, but the guy that bought my last AAR project is still looking for a T/A motor for it..

[cuda hunter]

Did the original body get crushed at the yard?

What is the vin stamp on the block?

That is an awesome story and interesting situation. 

[Cuda Cody]

That's awesome!   

[RUNCHARGER]

Nice! I bet Alan could swap that into a new style Challenger!

[anlauto]

Nice! I bet Alan could swap that into a new style Challenger!