Black Ghost sells for just under $1m at Mecum

[Daddyfink]

49 minutes ago, catpack68 said:

Apparently Dodge is making 300 2023 “Black Ghost” Hellcat Challengers.

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a41318672/2023-dodge-challenger-black-ghost-last-call-details/#sidepanel

 

This is turning into "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" 

"The Challenger Black Ghost is based on the 6.2-liter V-8-powered Hellcat Redeye, and it honors a legendary Challenger that used to dominate Detroit street racing."

 

"This look mirrors that of the original Black Ghost, a 1970 Challenger R/T that gained a mythical aura in the Detroit street racing scene. Only 300 2023 models will be built."

[BlackSheep214]

10 hours ago, Maindrian Pace said:

I do believe that the owner went out and whupped up on other cars beating them handily - 383 Roadrunners, 396/325 Chevelles, 390 Fairlanes, and the like. He knew what to avoid.

That is a very good possibility. Article did say the Black Ghost would appear at certain nights to race and then disappear for a spell.

Seems like he randomly shows up whenever he feels lucky. Again, it did mention Black Ghost did get beaten... but rarely. 

Was it a legend of folklore? Or was it just a local legend on Woodward Ave.? 

A lot of money for an automobile in my opinion but I get it if it was a one of a kind with the options. I am curious what the buyer will do to the Black Ghost. Race it? Daily driver? Cruiser and/or show car?

[Ace-Garageguy]

You have to remember that a well-optioned original Hemi Challenger in clean-one-owner "survivor" condition is worth a ton of money anyway. Having some murky street-racing backstory just sweetens the pot.

Remember also that what you choose to race determines a lot of your "rarely beaten" status.

If I were to "street race" my '89 GMC pickup with a 2bbl 305, 5-speed, and only pick on 6-cylinder trucks with automatics, I'd most likely be "rarely beaten" too.  

[Tabbysdaddy]

1 hour ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

 

If I were to "street race" my '89 GMC pickup with a 2bbl 305, 5-speed, and only pick on 6-cylinder trucks with automatics, I'd most likely be "rarely beaten" too.  

I haven't even seen it, but I already like your truck. I have a 93 and 99 OBS, but I wouldn't mind getting one with a stick. 

[1972coronet]

Even street racers knew to stick within their 'class' (e.g., power-to-weight ratio), just like the sanctioned classes. 

The Silver Bullet , Wangers's Black Bird ,  the Sudden Death , Tom Hoover's "King of I-696" Coronet Hemi, and some others whose names and cars I can't recall, were in a class all their own. 

[fairlane1320]

There were probably 100 cars on the streets of Detroit that could and did blow this car's doors off. It's a stock Hemi, and the hype over this car is complete BS. ??

[1972coronet]

None - and I mean none - of those cars were quick/fast (distinction with a difference) in as-delivered, factory-fresh shape. Maybe the small-displacement-powered cars - L79, LT-1, 340, 360, 343, etc., etc. - were more capable due to their mild nature (and high-winding properties). However, all of the really radical equipment required some 'massaging' to make them run properly; recurving distributors, phasing cams, carb re-jetting, headers/exhaust, and outright intake swaps/upgrades -- the 426 Hemi was no exception (regardless of "bench racing" embellishments and folklore) , especially the earlier iterations (1966-1969 with solid lifters). 

One needn't look any further than period magazine testing. In 99% of the cases, final drive / differential gearing was changed; "10 finger tune-ups"; headers; slicks; spark plugs ("cold" plugs); etc., etc. 

[Daddyfink]

My friends older brother used to street race with his 57 Chevy, and yes, he was the Fastest 57 Chevy in town! But that was the thing, there where faster Camaros, Mustangs, Chargers etc. etc. 

When he raced other tri fives, he won almost every time, but it was a bit different when he went up against newer muscle. 

Again, this thing is a nice car, but, not a Legend or Mythical, to anyone but the locals and friends. And as someone who has been in some fast cars, it takes quite a bit to make them that way. 

[Daddyfink]

But wait! There's more!! 

 

[Scott8950]

11 minutes ago, Daddyfink said:

But wait! There's more!! 

 

Have you seen the video where this guy on youtube blows a gasket on Tony? I don't want to post the video due to STRONG language. 

Edited May 26, 2023 by Scott8950

[BlackSheep214]

10 hours ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

You have to remember that a well-optioned original Hemi Challenger in clean-one-owner "survivor" condition is worth a ton of money anyway. Having some murky street-racing backstory just sweetens the pot.

Remember also that what you choose to race determines a lot of your "rarely beaten" status.

If I were to "street race" my '89 GMC pickup with a 2bbl 305, 5-speed, and only pick on 6-cylinder trucks with automatics, I'd most likely be "rarely beaten" too.  

Great points and no arguments from me. I agree with the first statement above. No truer words spoken.

[89AKurt]

12 hours ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

[...]

If I were to "street race" my '89 GMC pickup with a 2bbl 305, 5-speed, and only pick on 6-cylinder trucks with automatics, I'd most likely be "rarely beaten" too.  

? Hmmm...... I have 2 c.i. more, 2 more barrels, and 1 less speed than you with my '68 Chevy C-10. ?

Interesting story, only proves people have more money than sense nowadays.

[Ace-Garageguy]

1 minute ago, 89AKurt said:

? Hmmm...... I have 2 c.i. more, 2 more barrels, and 1 less speed than you with my '68 Chevy C-10. ?

You would win that race, most likely.  

[Ace-Garageguy]

The "Sudden Death" Mustang II is really pretty trick, serious engine setback, all kinds of cool stuff...and the only Mustang II I ever looked twice at. I think I feel a hankering for another kit coming on...  

[Daddyfink]

Is it a coincidence that Sudden Death and Bullet are both Silver? 

10 hours ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

The "Sudden Death" Mustang II is really pretty trick, serious engine setback, all kinds of cool stuff...and the only Mustang II I ever looked twice at. I think I feel a hankering for another kit coming on...  

[Mike 1017]

In the Skips Fiesta Drive Inn, Melrose Park, IL there was a rumor that a blonde girl had a 1970 Hemi Charger. White vinyl roof, white interior and Pink Panther Paint.

As the story goes, she painted a sign on the side of the car If You can beat me. You can eat me.

Guys swear that they saw it and raced her but never beat her. Most of us didn't believe it.

Maybe this car will emerge from a garage and sell for $1,000,000

Mike

 

[1972coronet]

4 hours ago, Mike 1017 said:

In the Skips Fiesta Drive Inn, Melrose Park, IL there was a rumor that a blonde girl had a 1970 Hemi Charger. White vinyl roof, white interior and Pink Panther Paint.

As the story goes, she painted a sign on the side of the car If You can beat me. You can eat me.

That "invitation" was a once-common licence plate frame or bumper sticker. First time that I saw one it was on a licence plate frame of a 1968-1972 Corvette (I don't know the year-to-year differences -cosmetically- between those years) , with some blonde chick driving it. I asked my parents, "Why would someone want to eat that lady ?" Their - mum's - response after a moment of awkward silence was, "It means that if someone races that car and wins, she'll buy dinner for them."

Good explanation to a 4 year old who took everything literally ! 

[junkyardjeff]

15 hours ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

The "Sudden Death" Mustang II is really pretty trick, serious engine setback, all kinds of cool stuff...and the only Mustang II I ever looked twice at. I think I feel a hankering for another kit coming on...  

I have one just waiting to be built and it will be of this car,forgot all about this car.

[1972coronet]

Restored! That Infamous Ruggirello-Roush Mustang II (motortrend.com) I positively LOVE the Sudden Death Mustang .

1968 Pontiac Firebird - The Blackbird Flies Again (motortrend.com) Jim Wangers's Blackbird  [R.I.P., Mr. Wangers]

Tom Hoover's 1966 Hemi Coronet The Terror of I-696 

[Mike 1017]

19 hours ago, 1972coronet said:

That "invitation" was a once-common licence plate frame or bumper sticker. First time that I saw one it was on a licence plate frame of a 1968-1972 Corvette (I don't know the year-to-year differences -cosmetically- between those years) , with some blonde chick driving it. I asked my parents, "Why would someone want to eat that lady ?" Their - mum's - response after a moment of awkward silence was, "It means that if someone races that car and wins, she'll buy dinner for them."

Good explanation to a 4 year old who took everything literally ! 

Where did you live? At least you saw some evidence of this urban legend. We only had rumors. Gotta LUV moms. The first time I saw a Grand Prix " I asked my dad what is a Grand BLAH_BLAH_BLAH_BLAH. Mom looked at dad and dad looked at mom. Then I was told the correct pronunciation. The things that one can remember. 

Mike

[Mike 1017]

Just now, Mike 1017 said:

Where did you live? At least you saw some evidence of this urban legend. We only had rumors. Gotta LUV moms. The first time I saw a Grand Prix " I asked my dad what is a Grand BLAH_BLAH_BLAH_BLAH. Mom looked at dad and dad looked at mom. Then I was told the correct pronunciation. The things that one can remember. 

Mike

BLAH I had a grand thorn "BLAH_BLAH_BLAH_BLAH" me in the finger

[1972coronet]

1 hour ago, Mike 1017 said:

Where did you live? At least you saw some evidence of this urban legend.

Whittier, Ca. , west part of town (near I-605, just east of that). I was privy to the cruising scene when I was young (see the PM I'd responded to). That licence plate frame was probably the least-offensive thing around at the time (albeit, quite tame by today's "standards"). One of me personal favourites was the "Grass, Gas, or A--, Nobody Rides for Free !" ?

Then there was all of the van humour which was also lost on me - again, taking things literally - such as , "If This Van's Rockin', Don't Bother Knockin' !" ?

[ChrisBcritter]

I'll admit to making a contribution to that genre of humor; I had a license plate frame made for my '72 Chevelle Super Sport that read "NICE PIECE OF SS"! 

[Chuck Most]

People keep saying the economy is in free fall. And yet, record numbers of people are remodeling perfectly good houses they already paid wayyyyy too much for, paying well over MSRP for vehicles that wouldn't have left the lot without a 5k rebate just a few years ago, and paying a million dollars for a Challenger because... it was owned by some knob nobody ever heard of? Who street raced it? Like everyone else who owned a muscle car in the 70s? Okie dokie...

Stuff like this is why I drink. ?

 

[Ace-Garageguy]

9 minutes ago, Chuck Most said:

...Stuff like this is why I drink. ?

It's sure as h. why I used to.