The Escalantes '70 Challenger R/T "EL HEMI"

[el hemi]

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LOL...I din't realize that it was a family picture...I thought it was a Chevy ad

How cool!

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It is an ad for what was then a new 1978 Monte Carlo stationwagon. I happen to be in the picture . Check the "old street pictures" thread on the Lounge section and you'll see where I am standing. My remark about importing the stationwagon to tow El Hemi was a "come back" to a comment one of our colleague member made earlier in the thread.

Changing gears...now that we are in the middle of winter How about the picture below? myself - December 1969. First snow fall for the Escalantes. Dad had not had the car for more than a couple of weeks. Picture was in Ann Arbor, Michigan where dad was attending University of Michigan.

[Mr70]

Great pic!

[PeteLeathersac]

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Great pic!

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Ditto...and needs a set of those cool 1/2 tread snow-tires like you have Rick!.


~ Pete

[gb70]

Your story really reached out to me on so many levels. I have always been a BIG "E Body" Mopar guy. Have had my share of them. Bought my first 1970 Cuda from the original owner back in 1979 at 16. Lost my dad to pancreatic cancer in 1988, he was just 56 years old. Gald to see EL HEMI in the family and so well taken care.

[hvychev]

This is one of the coolest stories I have ever read on this website.

[XXXGoldL34M20]

what a fantastic story,nothing better to restore a car in honor of your dad.
i have been a chevelle guy all my life until i bought a 1970 challenger a few years ago,they are such a great looking car and man do they go like stink when a hemi or 440 six pack is tuned and running great!
attached is a photo of my 70' chally R/T S.E. 440 six pack 4 speed car.
all the best and i cant wait to see that hemi car finished

[el hemi]

Thanks for all your wonderful comments. I happen to be visiting Caracas this week. El Hemi spent 24 yrs in Venezuela. Earlier today I drove around the city. Talk about going down memory lane! Anyhow, I am posting more pictures to show you how the car started evolving through the years.

Picture below is the earliest recorded picture we have. This picture was taken just days after my father took delivery of the car Dec 12, 1969. I am not sure if it precedes the picture where I am sitting on top of the fender posted earlier. Notice the car does not have the rear window louvers. Taillight panel is body color (as it should be). Look at the bottom part of driver side fender...you can see dad had already put a blue Chrysler insignia decal.

This picture is circa March 1970. Just a few months after getting the car dad started making changes (very much the way many people did back then). He puts a set of rear window louvers (courtesy from a close friend that worked at Chrysler's design dept at the time). Taillight panel is now painted black (just like T/A did). Take a look at the THRUSH MUFFLER decal on the rear bumper. Yup, out with the OE resonators...in with a set of Thrush Glass Pack part#3163 (I have the original invoice form the shop he purchased mufflers from). Last...check out the back seat. Its myself and brother Gus. Looks like mom is warming up the car and dad took the picture.

Green '70 Challenger SE next to El Hemi was purchased by a fellow Venezuelan college student and car enthusiast. Car went to Venezuela. Original owner sold car in the mid seventies. Car passed through several hands. Car´s fate is unknown.