You Can't Make This Stuff Up!

[Lee Stewart]

The Topless Charger began life as a standard 1968 Charger R/T. Chief stylist for Chrysler Corporation Elwood P. Engel used the roofless Charger as an evaluation in styling. The Charger's roof was cut down to the belt line, while a short windshield kept the debris from the occupants faces. In order to maintain a sleek clean image the door handles were removed and the rear seating area was covered with a roadster hard-shell boot. The white with blue trimmed Charger had its bumpers de-chromed and painted body color (white). The hood and trunk lid were both painted non-glare black. Additional sport features included perforated stainless alloy steering wheel, cone-styled side view mirrors, custom racing wheels, finned side pipes, locking hood pins, and dual quick fill gas caps.

[Lee Stewart]

1966 Mustang with Illuminated Mustang Grille Emblem (Dealer Installed Option)

[Lee Stewart]

[Lee Stewart]

[Lee Stewart]

1970 Chevelle SS 396 - Special Order Paint - Carolina Blue

[Lee Stewart]

I owned a Mustang. Bought it brand new too. I didn't want to . . . I had to. For a couple of reasons I will get into.

I have mentioned before that I owned a brand new 1973 Formula 400 Firebird. Bought in September 1972. I was seriously considering getting a 1973 Mustang Convertible except literally right across the street from my apartment building was a Pontiac dealership while the Ford dealer was miles away. This was going to be my first brand new car so having the dealer 100 feet from my doorstep was to me a selling point.

Well, in February 1973 I joined Ford Motor Credit Corp . . . went through 3 DAYS of extensive interviews, tests and whathaveyou. And the very last question posed to me by the Branch Manager was; "what if we told you to go out late one night a steal a car for us?" So I responded; "is it legal?" To which the BM replies; "oh yes . . . no issue with that." So I grin at him and say "SURE!"

So my 4 years at Babson College getting a degree in Management with a minor in Finance, I am hired by FMCC as a Management Trainee who as part of his responsibilities . . . goes out at night and repossess cars where payments are seriously past due.

Anyways . . . back to my new Mustang story. So I am getting a lot of heat about being a Ford employee who drives a Pontiac. Not a word of this was discussed during the interviews though they did ask me what car I drove.

And to make matters worse . . . this happened:



So I am driving a high peformance car that gets about 12 MPG and I live about 20 miles away from work. . . and the price of gas goes through the ceiling when you can find some. One morning in October 1973 my boss calls me into his office . . .

"Lee, how's that Pontiac you drive doing on gas mileage?" To which I respond; "not too well." He then says; "well I really think I can help you out here Lee. Kill two birds with one stone so to speak and we can do it today." So I ask him; "what do you have in mind?"

My Boss tells me he is a very good friend of the local Ford dealer and he can get me a brand new Mustang for dealer cost AND get me top dollar trade in for my 1 year old Firebird. PLUS . . . FMCC will hold the paper on the financing and because I am an employee I get lower than standard rates and the payment is automatically deducted from my paycheck.

"Lee - take the morning off and go over and pick out a BRAND NEW MUSTANG!" So off I went to get . . .



Mine was loaded just like this one except it was Baby Blue with a Blue interior . . . a 1974 Mustang II.

I have the dubious distinction of being the person who repossesed the 1973 Massachusetts Million Dollar Lottery Winner's car.

A young (19 years old) sailor gets off his ship, buys a single ticket and and wins the Mass. $1,000,000 Lottery. Payout: $50,000 for 20 years. He decides he wants a Lincoln Continential - brand new. I will never forget the conversation (by phone) between our Finance Manager and the selling dealer (Neponset Lincoln Mercury) over his credit worthiness. Our FM is going nuts yelling that the "kid" now has no job and he is going to blow through the money so fast he probably won't make his second payment.

And guess what . . . it was worse! This kid bought into every scam offered him and blew through the first $50,000 in 3 weeks. He never made his first payment on his new Lincoln.

We had a policy at the Branch - miss your first payment and we reposses the car. Normally this wouldn't happen until you were 3 payments behind. My Boss asks me into his office, tells me what happened, hands me a key to the car and says; "go get it Lee."

[Lee Stewart]

[Lee Stewart]

1963 Chrysler Turbine Car Promotional Photo

[Lee Stewart]

1911 Kelsey Model M Motorette

[Lee Stewart]

1906 Queen Model E