Keith’s Blog: To Gatorland and Back, 700 HP Later

The weekend was fast and long, with me flying to Kissimmee and back in the span of just a few days. It was my first time attending Mecum’s mammoth Florida auction. With over 2,000 cars on offer, I’d liken the experience to wrestling with a porcupine – there was no way I was walking away without something to show for it.

The American Car Collector editorial gang has insisted loudly that the magazine needs its own swagger-worthy set of wheels, and I had a feeling Mecum would be the place that it would happen. When I glimpsed the 1963 Dodge 440 with built 700-hp Hemi, tubbed wheelwells and roll cage built to 9.9-second regulation, I was barely able to calculate my maximum bid before the red mist set in.

For $35k plus commission, the car was ours. Aside from the long list of drag-strip customizations, the car retained much of its original character, including factory paint and interior. It had an incredible presence in the room, and I knew that the car would be unforgettable. (You can read Mecum's description of the car here.)

In ten days or so, it will be rumbling off the Reliable transporter and into our garage, where I know the ACC crew will be lined up for test-drives.

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