Fast cars get Grosse Pointe man all revved up

[Mr.DJ]

Fast cars get Grosse Pointe man all revved up

~ Speed aficionado can't choose favorite between Plymouth Barracuda *** Dodge Challenger. ~

Bob Lees loves fast cars. *** the Grosse Pointe resident owns a couple of them: a 1970 Plymouth Barracuda convertible ('Cuda 383) *** a 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T 440-6 Pack.

The Cuda is blue; the Challenger is green. Lees, a George Washington University alum, would have a lot of trouble choosing a favorite.

"That's like asking a person to name a favorite child," he said.

The Cuda had been a company car before Lees bought it in 1973.

Lees has had the metallic blue Cuda -- which has a Slap Stik automatic transmission (for better drag racing) *** a creamy-white vinyl convertible top -- restored twice. It has a small Tuff steering wheel, shiny chrome hood latches, louver-like fish scaling on the rocker panels *** a bored-***-stroked engine that now offers 431-cubic-inch displacement.

It also has a hot cam *** special heads, he said.

"The name 'Cuda refers only to Barracuda performance models, which could be ordered with one of several engines including a big Hemi," he explained.

The base retail price for the '70 Plymouth Cuda convertible was $3,433, he said.

The Challenger is no slouch. If the "sublime green" paint doesn't make you blink twice, its performance will. The Challenger's 440-inch engine is ably assisted by a 6 Pack: three two-barrel carburetors.

But Lees' car family doesn't stop there. The enthusiast has a yellow 1969 Barracuda 340S with black convertible top that he bought in California from its original owner around 1990. This Cuda needs restoring, said Lees, who is thinking of selling it.

"Because it is smaller *** lighter than the later models, it runs like a scalded cat," he said.

Lees has a 1957 DeSoto that is being restored *** someday will emerge as a beautiful black-***-gold mid-50s finned beauty.

His 1959 Chrysler 300E convertible is another restoration in progress.

There's also a Triumph TR-8 in the Lees automotive family, *** his everyday driver is a stunning new pewter-colored Chrysler Crossfire convertible.

Name: Bob Lees
Age: 73
Home: Grosse Pointe
Favorite wheels: 1970 Plymouth Barracuda convertible 383-4 *** 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T 440-6 Pack
Favorite road to drive: Out to Eddie's Drive-In in Harrison Township

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Source: TheDetroitNews.com
by Jenny King / Special to The Detroit News
Wednesday, August 02, 2006

[Ragamuffin]

Yeah,, those ' good ol' days'.... cars look great...seats are so comfy with not the cumbersome headrestraints of today's *** just imagine that base price...now add a zero !!!!!!!!!!!

[Apro4x4]

Bring me back to the goog ol days...