Tony is from New Zealand and is Phil Caliva’s Kiwi mate. I got to meet Tony and his wife Tina at the Golden Cove “British Car Show” that meets on the 3rd Sunday of the month and is located in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA. Where Tony and Tina were totally enjoying themselves.
When Tony got home and settled in he sent me an email stating that he will try his best to send us of photos of local car event in NZ. He took the time to included some photos of his cars and his mate Bryce’s car. These guy do 80% of all the work on their restorations efforts themselves. This is Tony’s Cuda and his mate Bryce’s Challenger.
Bryce’s car is the 1970 Dodge Challenger, Western Sport Special, that he found in Los Angeles, CA 15 years ago. It is finished in Plum Crazy Purple with a black interior. Bryce is powering his Challenger with a 400/451 stroker mated to a 3 speed Torqueflite A727 automatic transmission. The Western Sport Special was a $199.50 option that was a regionally-unique option in both the Los Angeles and San Francisco areas. It is mostly an apprearance package that was available on the Challenger Highline models.
Tony’s 1971 Plymouth Barracuda, is finished in metallic blue (B5 ) with a black interior and a black vinyl top. It is powered by a 385 hp, 440 cu in, with 3-2 bbl carburetors (6 pac) mated to a 4 speed manual transmission with a 3.54:1 gear ratio. He found the car on a USA on the E Body forum in 2018, The car was located in Indiana. Tony, brought the car sight unseen as a project car. Tony and his mate Bryce flew to Indiana, loaded car onto a car trailer towed behind a U Haul truck which was loaded with parts from the car plus 2 donor Baracuda’s. They drove for 9 days to LA where Phil helped them take it to car shippers warehouse in Compton.
.This is the rest of Tonys collection including the 1971 Cuda which you just read the writeup from above. He is a Mopar man for sure, but more on the Buick later.
The 1970 Plymouth Roadrunner, finished in factory Vitamin C, with a black interior and a black vinyl top. It is powered by a 335 hp, 383 cu in, with a 4 speed manual transmission. Tony found the car locally in NZ in 2013. It was a running, but not legal, and had lots of rust. He believes the car originally came from a humid state in the USA due to the rust. He finished the car the day before they took it to the Whangamata Beach Hop, which is an annual rock and roll festival and big car show in NZ. Sounds like fun.
The 1973 Dodge Challenger is finished in Top Banana yellow with a black interior and a black vinyl top. , it is powered by 383/438 stroker with a 3 speed Torqueflite A727 transmission. Tony found the car in 2010 on Craigs List in San Bernardino, LA, had it shipped to NZ along with the 383 engine that he brought from Phil. He restored it over 2 years and was driving it in 2012.
The 1959 Buick Electra is finished in a custom color close to the original color but, with some metallic added, it has a white top and matching graphics and pin striping. The custom interior is finished in mint green and white. it is powered by 401cu in Nailhead with factory 2 speed automatic transmission. Tony found the car in LA when Phil took them to a mid week car show. The car belonged to Phils mate Larry and was in mint condition. Tony just had to put better seat belts in for his wife. Tina said keep it for 2 years and have some fun with it. But, there is NO way that Tina will part with it now. It has been used a few wedding. Tina has a real head turner.
Tony just brought this 1965 Lincoln Continental out of Yuba City, CA while he was here on his last trip. He expects it to arrive in NZ around early March.
Thanks for riding along and welcoming Tony into the FCITH family. Frank