I am torn here, a VERY tough decision to make about my 2 C bodies.

strokerpost

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I have come to the conclusion that its just not practical to keep both of my C bodies, my 68 300 and my dad's 66 Fury III. This decision may sound like small potatoes and insignificant in the grand scheme of things (life) but it is a very sentimental thing for me. The Fury was my Dad's pride and joy, both he and my Mom loved cruising around in it getting all the headturns and thumbs up and the 300 was a gift from my Dad so that we could both have a cruiser in addition to our drag cars. Well, in the 6-7 years that I owned the 300 I never got to enjoy it, never even tagged it. With spending my time and $$$ on the racing thing and the necessary time for work and raising a family, I just never fixed the few little quirks it had and it just sat in my garage till just recently. I decided that I needed to do with it what Dad gave it to me for, or sell it. I decided to fix everything and drive it. However, when he passed 2 years ago I inherited the Fury, which is equally as nice as the 300 or better, but it is a bare bones, power nothing, no a/c, poly 318 car which is not near as desirable as the 300, but...it was my Dad's and that is the attraction for me, all the pix of he and my Mom enjoying time together cruising in it. The thing is, I just cant justify keeping and tagging and insuring both in addition to the family's 3 daily drivers, it just doesn't make good $ense to me. My decision ...which one to keep. To make the Fury a REALLY good, comfy cruiser for the family would require adding a/c to the car at the minimum, not the easiest job but doable. Dad had plans for the Fury which he never got to do and I'd kinda like to tweek the car in the direction he wanted to go, but at the same time, I don't want "sentiment" to dictate everything I ever do to this car. I was just about to start on the disc brake swap on the 300 before I had back surgery, but now I'm wondering if I shouldnt just do that upgrade to the Fury instead. If I'm correct, all the 73 disc stuff I got should work on the 66 as well, yes? I know I'll never be able to afford all the upgrades and minor resto type stuff I want to do to both cars, but I just cant decide which to do. The 300 is a very nice, cool car, but the only attachment with it is that it was a gift from Dad, he never drove it, he just saw it, thought I'd like it and bought it, but the Fury was his and Mom's baby, just not as cool a car I guess. I know you folks cant make that call for me, but I just felt like talking about it. Feel free to comment. Thanks.
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That is a tough one for sure. If it's definitely an either or situation, and you cannot afford to keep both, I would probably lean toward keeping your father's car for sentimental reasons but it's never been that easy for me to turn loose of really neat cars. How about you take the pictures of your Dad and the Fury and mount them in the garage and sell it and restore the car your Dad bought for you to enjoy and restore? Any family members that would be interested?

If your dad had it to do over and both the Fury and the 300 to start with which do you think he would choose?

Appreciate you sharing and wish you the best in your decision. Can you share some interior / exterior pics of both cars?
 
It is a tough call and one I am glad I dont have to make. Either way you'll regret it. In Jersey, antique insurance is cheap less than 200 a year and antique registration is a one time fee. I presume thats not the case where you are?

Keeping both is the only way to go
 
Thanks for the pics ... I'd put a cover on the Fury if you don't have room to store in inside and can't pay license and reg (Dave has a good point about classic car ins and reg) somewhere and drive that 300. I see a swing set so future generations could enjoy the Fury and the 300 ;)
 
Tough call indeed... But it seems to me you kinda want to keep the fury. I know you dont want sentimental reasons to play the only role. But i think thats a key part with these cars. They will never be "big" $$ cars.. Gotta go with the one your heart calls for.

Just my $.02
 
Very tough call, both very nice cars and both with there own sentimental ties to your dad and because of that I think you have a little more freedom to keep the one that you like better. Is your mom still living?
 
That is a tough decision. Sometimes you just have to say that "It's only a car" and move on with your life. I know that goes against what others will say, but sometimes sentiment and practicality are not going to work together. It won't honor your Father's memory if either car sits and deteriorates. Sometimes it's best to let go and let someone else make some memories..

My wife told me when I sold a car I had for 34 years. "The car is gone, but you still have the memories and that's what counts".
 
Well said Big John.
 
Hate to sound like I have ice water running through my veins but when faced with I initially perceive as a tough decision, I eventually become clear headed and realize that the car couldn't care less.
 
I read what you said there. One question? What is the absolute bottom line reason why you feel you can't keep both? Dollars to work on? Or, dollars to insure? What?

I happen to have 8 cars and a family. I actually move steadily with my cars. My friend John has 13 cars and a family. John does not move that steadily with his cars even though two of them are $100,000 plus cars when restored. So to me 2 old cars is very doable and easy to own when you do your own work. Also insurance is cheap as I insure 3 with Hagerty for $198/year.
 
Your father must have thought very highly of you to gift the 300. I bet it made him proud and happy to see your face light up when you received it. In my eyes that is what he wanted for you.

I'm sure he was proud of the Fury also.... But the 300 seems to be the bigger bond between the two of you. That said..... enshrine the Fury in pictures and memories and then find a good home for it. Someone who will love it as well. Then use the money to upgrade the 300. A good professional restro shop should be able to bring it up to safe use standards if your not able to due to health...


Whatever you decide is a win...win.
 
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It is a tough call and one I am glad I dont have to make. Either way you'll regret it. In Jersey, antique insurance is cheap less than 200 a year and antique registration is a one time fee. I presume thats not the case where you are?

Keeping both is the only way to go

same here in pa.......no state inspection due and can fully insure an antique for 10K and it's only abt $100/yr
 
As you say yourself, you don't enjoy the 300 anyways, in that case I don't think your dad would want you to hold on to that obligation you made to yourself and keep it, or what do you think, knowing your dad first hand ?
 
I think for myself in this situation I would go with my fathers car. Personally I would love to have an old car that my grandfather or father used to own and love. And to me that would sway my decision...regardless of options, and condition.

Add on A/C is relatively cheap. Universal under dash mount A/C box, two lines out to a new A/C compressor on the motor, new condenser and drier, a little wiring, and your pretty much done. Probably be into it for under $1000.
 
Appreciate you sharing and wish you the best in your decision. Can you share some interior / exterior pics of both cars?
I believe on page 4 or 5 of this link http://www.forcbodiesonly.com/mopar...s-are-there-for-a-66-Fury-with-poly-318/page4 there are some pix of the 300, don't have any of the Fury interior, but I can tell you this thing is one sweet original honey, interior , except for the mold that showed up while not being driven, looks like it had never been sat in. car only has 92,000 miles on it and garaged everyday of its life.


Detmatt, no my mom died 2 years before my dad. I'm kind of inclined to agree with Stan on this one, the cars don't care, and I cant look at this too much as if I'm trying to please a man (my dad) who will never know what I do anyway. He and I just enjoyed drag racing together and going to cruises and such, he wouldn't really care one way or the other. He'd say.."you're the one that has to drive it, do what you want". it wouldn't hurt his feelings at all if I chose one over the other.

Several of you guys mentioned the specialty types of insurance, would you please give some more details on this, I never really considered that as a possibility. I know here in Missouri I can get Historic Vehicle plates which is a one time only safety inspection, but you are allowed only 2500 miles a year (supposedly). This would probably not be a problem, but tell me more about the insurance you guys have.

Thanks so much for all the input and ideas, definitely something to think about. :sSig_thanks:
 
I have 3 vehicles currently insured with Hagerty. It's excellent, full coverage, agreed value insurance with no mileage limitations. Just call them for a quote.
http://www.hagerty.com/
 
I have 3 vehicles currently insured with Hagerty. It's excellent, full coverage, agreed value insurance with no mileage limitations. Just call them for a quote.
http://www.hagerty.com/

X2...... I have three insured with Hagerty, Low rates, no deductables, no mileage limits.
They require you to have a secure place to park your collector cars and a "everyday driver" insurance policy for your daily driver vehicle.

I had a rear axle bearing fail in my 65 Coronet on a road trip. The axle slid out and caused some minor damage to the 1/4 panel and wheel lip molding. Hagarty wouldn't cover the mechanical repair but did cover the repairs to the car with no questions asked.

 
I have three cars with Hagerty and two with American Collector.AC costs me more for two than Hagerty so tomorrow I'm calling Hagerty about those two other cars. Policy is up for them on the 13th and want to see if the two are much less than the $219 to AC right now.
 
I use J.C. Taylor Antique Insurance.....min cost is $100/yr for the first car but that's with full coverage.
 
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