The Chatter the Headliner 1983 Dodge 400 Convertible
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The Chatter A Publication of the AACA Capitol City Chapter Volume 19, Number 5 September-October 2020 The Headliner (Featuring a vehicle belonging to a member) 1983 Dodge 400 Convertible Article by Debbie Freed Photos by the Freeds & Kim Gardner (Story begins on page 4) Page 2 THE CHATTER September-October 2020 From 2020 Board Members & Committee Chairs The President: Joan Frisk 763-784-7698 [email protected] President Vice-President: Rita Jutz 651-777-5461 Hi, Secretary: Jo Ann Buhl There is not much going on in the car world because of the Covid-19 virus. We have seen a few 651-777-8056 [email protected] friends, but mostly are just staying home. Treasurer: Toni Ferch I talked to Minnie McMonigal’s sister and 612-861-6302 she told me that Minnie is at home and doing well after a short stay in the hospital. Senior Board Member: Bill Krings I have heard that the church may not be 651-488-6032 [email protected] open until January, so we probably won’t have any Intermediate Board Member: Eldon Frisk meetings until that time. We are planning on keeping the same board members for 2021. 763-784-7698 [email protected] The tour this past Saturday went great. Junior Board Member: Mike Buhl There were quite a few car club members and their 651-777-8056 [email protected] cars. We did not get home until mid-afternoon. It was Sunshine Committee Chair: Faythe Oberg nice seeing so many car club members and visiting the places Mike Buhl had on the tour. 651-739-9754 Hope to see you all soon! Editor: Kim Gardner Joan 651-772-1565 or 717-507-8842 (preferred) President [email protected] Webmaster: Brian Freed 952-884-3997 [email protected] Chapter Website: http://cccaaca.com Welcome Back!! The AACA Capitol City Chapter’s monthly meetings are held the second Friday of the month, usually at Adam Ford and Ryan Calvin have rejoined the Hazel Park UCC Church, 1831 Minnehaha Ave. AACA and we are thrilled to welcome them back to East, St. Paul, MN, beginning at 7:30 PM. Social Capitol City!! hour begins at 7 PM. Contact any officer for more Contact info: information. We hope to see you at an upcoming meeting or event. Adam Ford / Ryan Calvin 78 10th St. E., # 1201 St. Paul, MN 55101 Phone: 612-310-7247 (cell) email: [email protected] 1923 Durant A-22 1928 Ford Model A September-October 2020 THE CHATTER Page 3 From Sunshine The Report Rumble Seat Sympathy cards have been sent to Adam Ford and Ryan Editor’s musings Calvin on the passing of Happy Fall! Adam’s father on September 12 and to Mary Gray on the passing of Steve Gray on September 15. I hope everyone is safe and well. This will be short and sweet. Right now, I do not have a If you need a card or know of another chapter Headliner vehicle for the next issue or for any member that needs a card, please let Faythe Oberg subsequent issues. I know there are vehicles out know - 651-739-9754. there that have not been featured, so please consider providing an article. I know we are all missing getting together. Hopefully, in the new year, things will be better. Big thanks to Mike Buhl for the great tour Parts & Literature Sale on Saturday! Somehow, he always has great weather and a wonderful tour! Check out the Minnie McMonigal is cleaning out her website for more photos of the tour! garage and has lots of treasures for you to buy!! Come to Minnie’s house on Friday, September 25 Stay safe and I’ll see you down the road! at 1:00 PM to find that item that you just can’t live Kim Gardner, editor without! There will be car parts, books, literature [email protected] and more. Minnie’s address is: 223 Bellwood Ave., Maplewood, MN 55117. Let’s all support Minnie and add to our collections! Chapter News President Joan has been in touch with Hazel Park UCC and they told her that group meetings in the church are limited to 10 people. Given that we usually number around 30 at a meeting, we will not be holding any meetings for For Sale the rest of the year. 1979 Dodge Lil’ Red Express Truck And, following the lead of the National AACA and the Minnesota Region, we will not Treated to a frame off restoration a few years ago, have a Nomination Banquet or election this year. has a 360 CID engine generating 225 HP. The The 2020 officers will remain for 2021. Hopefully, body is in very good condition, mileage: 29,958. It in the new year, we will be able to meet together runs and drives well. There were 5,118 of these again. built. Asking price: $ 29,990. Your dues renewal is enclosed with this Contact Rami or Heidi Derhy @ 651-470-7390. issue. Don’t forget, you need to belong to the Ad received from Becky & Gary Isaacson. National AACA and the Minnesota Region in order to belong to the Chapter. Page 4 THE CHATTER September-October 2020 1983 Dodge 400 Convertible The car is in original shape. The convertible top has been replaced along with some By Debbie Freed minor parts that chose inopportune times to break, I was introduced to the old car hobby as a fail, etc. That usually would happen along some very young child. My folks joined the Minnesota freeway in the Twin Cities area. And, there you sit Region around 1961. I remember my folks working until AAA can get to you with a tow truck or flatbed on the 1915 Model T Omnibus in the basement of truck! our duplex where we lived. We traveled on lots of region tours, parades and events in that Model T. We loaded it up with the six of us and camping gear for some trips. We could fit a large tent, cooler, camping cupboards, sleeping bags for the six of us, tent heater, and any other equipment we might need in the back of the omnibus body along with the four kids. Sometimes, we had to put our feet up on the sleeping bags as the floor was covered. We had a lot of fun with that car as kids. Fast forward to today and the 1983 Dodge. My dad purchased the car in July 2018. Brian and I had just discovered that our 1967 Ford Galaxie’s frame was rusted so bad that one good Straight on view of the Dodge (bad) pothole or bump would have split the frame in half. We had arranged to sell the car to fellow club member, Bob Elliott and had set a date for Since the car arrived from Michigan, we him to pick up the car. Right about that time, I told have replaced the convertible top, the sending unit my dad that we had to sell the Galaxie. He and my for the gas tank, a headlight switch, rebuilt the mother, Nancy Garwick, had purchased the carburetor, replaced other parts that needed repair Galaxie back in the late 70s. or replacement and given it a good tune-up. My dad and my brother, Peter, get together most Saturdays and explore eBay®, mostly for parts for the 1915 Ford Model T Town Car my dad was having restored. Somewhere along the line, they started watching the Dodge. It sounded like a good deal for a nice car. He sent me a note about needing garage space and why. I asked my brother if this was one of those “I’m leaving for overseas and I need to sell the car before I go” scams, but he said it was a legitimate sale. OK, there goes our recently found garage space!! Looking in the passenger side - super clean interior! When new, the car was purchased at Siemans Chrysler Products in Bridgman, MI. The cost new was $ 11,358.00. A copy of the original window sticker came with the car. Add-ons at the time of purchase were AM/FM stereo, power September-October 2020 THE CHATTER Page 5 steering, wheel covers and steel belted radial tires. News From National It was rated for 27 miles per gallon on a 2.2 liter, four cylinder engine. The car has air conditioning Where are the NEW AACA Members? and a luggage rack on the trunk lid. It also has a By Mel Carson - VP - Strategic Planning warning light when a door or the trunk is open. The hood release is inside the car and it has front wheel drive. The Antique Automobile Club of America wants more members – your help is needed! A little scenario happens almost every day in my part of the country when I am out and about –I see riding down the road an antique car or truck that is new to me! The driver is often going to the grocery store, the gas station, or just out for a ride. Does this give you an idea to talk with the driver? Sometimes we can catch up with the driver and admire their vehicle and strike up a conversation about the car. Your personal conversation can lead to inviting them to visit a Region or Chapter meeting and let them know about the benefits of joining AACA. Looking in from the driver’s side, those seats look comfy! Of course, this worked better before COVID -19 came along, but we can still use our masks and We use the car mostly for fun.