Originally posted by Captain Virgil Hilts
snip
1964 Impala SS 409-425HP (had that one in school, couldn't afford the gas @ 6 MPG)
While I was still in the car repair bidness, I had a 1963 convertible Impala SS with that dual-quad 409 setup as part of my clientele. Sweet car.
Funny story, the guy bought it (restored) at a car show in Pennsylvania, and had it shipped here. Thing is, he lives across the river in Mexico (Reynosa, Tamaulipas). He didn't plan ahead enough to have it registered by the time it got here.
So, *REALLY* hot to take it home to the hood and show it off, instead of storing it until he could get plates, he took plates off his driver and put 'em on his dream toy.
And proceeded to try to drive across through Mexican customs

Anyone who knows how Mexicans are knows they *LIKE* cars. The guy pulling this handsomehunk stunt is a prime example. He shoulda thought this through, LOL! Of *COURSE* this shiny fire engine red convertible with white leather interior in immaculate condition attracted interest. It took 'em about 15 seconds to figure out the plates belonged to a 1989 Taurus

So Jaime's heart is crushed as he watches them take the keys from his hand and drive it to the impound yard (ROTFLMAO at the thought of the look on his face!)
Good thing he was one of the elite in that city, and thus knew exactly whjich judge to go grease. It only cost him a couple of thousand $$$ to get his car back - pretty expensive bridge toll, eh?
Will have a brand new $75K Superformance Cobra in the shop
next week. The 600HP 427 Windsor goes on the dyno Thursday. The engine is around $22K, including the polishing and powdercoating. Customer bought a $75K trailer to keep it in because his wife keeps her cars in the garage.
Now that would be a dream car for me. Even better, same engine in a GT40 chassis. Wow. Shades of Le Mans 1966! (Ford = First On Race Day, bay-bee!

I'd also kinda like to have one of these for a daily driver. I actually did have one for about 3 years, sold it in 1980. It was pretty damned fast for an automatic-transmission air-conditioned comfy ride. I never found a place to open it up, got it to 140mph a few times before I chickened out and was only at 5200rpm - could turn 7500rpm in lower gears, do the math - it did low 14s @100mph in the 1/4, 6300rpm in second gear at the trap. That was all stock except for the .030 I cut off the heads and the valve springs for a 67 model 389 Tri-power I installed.
1971 Trans Am 455HO
I kick myself in the bellybutton for selling it every time this kinda discussion comes up
culero