The Cuda

a picture of a completely restored 1965 barracuda

Driver: Dad
Make: Plymouth
Model: Barracuda
Year: 1965
Engine Type: 273 V6
Transmission: Hurst Four-Speed
Color: Red
Type: Valiant-Barracuda Fastback
Known History: Ted Lefar bought it for $300 (which he still hasn’t paid the previous owner), painted it, had the engine bored out and put it on craigslist. We thought it was a steal at $1800 and, while at school bought it, delivered, from Ted for Dad’s birthday. Dad’s birthday came and went, Lefar didn’t deliver the car, told us he couldn’t manage to deliver it, and we needed to pick it up. When we told him we weren’t able to do so he relisted it on craigslist, keeping our cash, so we had to go after the car. It was rough, we ended up with the car. Lesson learned: next time we buy we may look to Massachusetts instead of the Northeast Kingdom. (Ps. Never buy a car from Ted).
Years Owned: Spring 2009-Present
Work Done: Parts inventory
Info: This car needs a lot of work. We need to weld valiant corners where there is rust under the paint job, drop in the motor, assemble the interior and maybe put a decent paint job. But this is one of my favorite project cars because these 1st generation Cudas are one of my favorite cars ever made. She’ll be amazing when she’s done --Henry

Jaguar

Driver: Mom
Make: Jaguar
Model: CJX
Year: 1976
Engine Type: Chevy Crate 350 V8
Transmission: Automatic
Color: White/Brown Leather
Type: Four Door Sedan
Known History: About 20 years ago someone converted the engine to a Chevy V8. Sadly, the rear engine mount is tearing loose. Consequently the engine is hanging very low, the transmission is awry and hard to shift and the universal joint behind the transmission grinds against the frame on bumpy roads. We suspect the previous owner knew this because he cut out a small piece of the frame under the universal joint so the car wouldn’t make noise during our test drive. Fixing the engine mount will not be difficult, only requiring an hour or two with a welder once the engine is jacked into place because it is simply a rod from frame to frame attached to the bottom of the engine.
Years Owned: Spring 2010-Present
Work Done: Detailing
Mom’s always wanted a Jaguar and I’d say this car was a great find on dad’s part. Sadly, even before we found the engine mount issue mom and dad all but gave up driving her. Dad said she’s “too fast for the likes of us,” which in my opinion sounds perfect. This beautiful car has great power and is a lot of fun to drive so it’s definitely worth saving. --Henry

Xander - 1972 Plymouth Duster

My car does not have a name. In my idealistic youth I attempted to personify it but found the task fruitless. It's moniker was denoted by the article 'The' and a lack of an adjective. Thus, 'The Duster' was distinguished from 'a Duster' or 'the V8 Duster'.

Driver: Xander

Make: Plymouth

Model: Duster

Year: 1972

Engine: 225 Slant-Six

Transmission: '3 on the tree' - 3 speed manual with the shifter on the column

History: Car started it's life in the mid-Atlantic where it accumulated significant rust on the driver's side frame. It was brought to Hanover, NH where the owner (Phil Phillips, I believe) expected to have it inspected. But the rust was too extensive; the frame rail was missing from the torsion bar mount to the upper control arm. It was given up for dead and sold to my father, who pulled the engine and parked it under a tree. ~11 years later I pulled it out and managed to fix the frame, starting the slow but steady restoration.

Years Owned: In family: mid 1990s-current, Xander: 2005-current

Work Done: Fresh engine, full brake job, bearings, PST suspension kit

Modifications: None to speak of.

Slideshow of Our Cars & Some of our Favs

Henry's 1964 Dodge Dart GT--"Stella"

Stella Blue

Driver: Henry Cesari

Make: Dodge

Model: Dart

Year: 1964

Engine: 225 Slant-Six

Transmission: Push-Button Automatic

Color: Custom Midnight Blue

Type: 50^th Anniversary GT Coupe

Known History: Bob Totz bought the car in Memphis drove it North, sold it to John Cesari.

Years Owned: Pulled from the barn fall of 2005

Work Done: PST front end suspension kit. Brakeline replacement and conversion to 2-cylinder system. POR-15 coat on floor to stop rust and strengthen. Carb rebuild. New exhaust. Engine rebuild in progress.

Modifications: You’ve got to be kidding. Do leather Volvo seats or Bob’s old chrome-reverse rims count?

Info: Nicknamed this car Stella and love her to death. Promised Xander I won’t upload the rewrite of the Grateful Dead song I did for her here, on account of this being a serious blog and all (notice, I linked to my, much less serious blog). She's a much loved daily driver and work in progress. --Henry

From V8 Valhalla From V8 Valhalla

From V8 Valhalla

Am looking for: Someone to patch and restitch the stock bucket seats. Stereo equipment (rats chewed through the AM radio's wires at some point). Any components of a better exhaust, maybe laker pipes. New rug for this style A-body.

LaFrance

Henry at the wheel, Xander navigating.

American LaFrance chopped down fire engine, now a speedster.

Welcome

Welcome to V8 Valhalla. My name is Xander, this is kind of a 'back burner' project for me. This blog will detail the projects and stories of all of my motorized pursuits, mostly for the benefit of friends and family. Other contributors will be my brother, Henry, and perhaps even my father, John. We all have our favorite vehicles, but if it has an engine and wheels we're usually willing to take a look.

My notable vehicles:

1972 Plymouth Duster - 225 slant six

1074 Plymouth Duster - 360 V8

Henry:

1964 Dodge Dart GT 'Stella' - 225 slant six