Superbird in the Barn: TJ's front yard.

I worked my way out to TJ's near Carthage, IL. The drive out there takes about an hour from Macomb. I knew if everything was going as it was, I wouldn't make it out to Keokuk, IA. So I resigned myself that Keokuk was for another day, and proceeded to my friends.

The weather was above freezing and the fog had lifted. So the drive wasn't a problem. Pulling up to TJ's house, the driveway was a skating rink. The Challenger was a bit of a challenge getting up the drive. Once I got there though, I was greeted by a little cat that was too damn adorable (I admit it, I love cats).

Knocking on TJ's door, I saw he was home and welcomed me to his home. We chatted for a bit, telling each other what had been going on for the past six years. He had an issue with his previous work and had to basically stop everything he was doing to deal with this issue, so the only thing he had really done was consolidate all his projects into a few certain areas.

He gave me full permission to document the cars and tell their stories. He had mostly B-body Mopars, so I will try to remember all the details. His home had quite a bit of land in which he put the cars he wasn't going to restore at the time. Except for his fun cruisers. He also had 2 other properties loaded full of cars.

Walking just out his door was one of the coolest cars he had. a 70 Coronet, 225 slant six with a three speed manual on the column. Triple green car, green interior, green exterior with a light green painted roof from the factory. It only had 40,000 miles on the odometer and it showed.









The next few cars was just the standard faire, a 74 Charger SE 440, auto car, Nova race car, an 82 Imperial with 318 early fuel injection model. At the end of the row was a first generation Dodge Magnum that had a warmed over 440 sitting between the fenders now that TJ enjoyed playing with.









Along the side and back there was even more, there was a old school racer, a Dodge Truck used on the farm and a Magnum close together. The racer was drivable up until a year or so ago. The Magnum was parts for the other and the truck was still used on the farm. There was also a home made truck that one of TJ's friends built. That friend died unfortunately and TJ bought it to get running and fix it up. It is soon to get fixed up.









There was a large group of cars in the middle of this area and the walking area went around it. There was a bunch of cool muscle cars in the middle. A 73 Charger dirt tracker, a 70 Road Runner that once had a 383 and 4-speed. Along with a 71 GTX parts car.











In the next bunch or cars, the B-body Mopars continued and a few older Mopar classics. He even threw in a Rampage and 80,000 mile Diplomat into the mix.













The next car is/was famous. It was originally a Nascar 71 Hemi Road Runner driven by Ramo Scott. Won a bunch of races with it. Unfortunately his more famous 70 Superbird was found and restored. Here are before and after pictures of the car.

Before


Currently


In the back of TJ's yard was some A-bodies. They were some of the best ones he owned. Both Dusters, one was a 318, the other a 225 Slant Six. One had hit a telephone pole. Along with a 72 Road Runner 340 and 68 Charger.













I asked TJ if we could go hit up the barn and his place in town. He said no problem. Since he had never been in a new Challenger, we jumped in my car and headed into town to one of his storage areas. After that, THE BARN

To View ALL of the pictures, click here.

CARS IN BARNS PICTURES