Kids restore dad’s 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T in memory of late mother | Classic of the Year
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- čas přidán 17. 10. 2017
- Hundreds of Hagerty employees spend their days speaking with clients about their cars. Several years ago, we decided to collect these stories and each month we let the entire company vote on their favorite, which becomes our Classic of the Month. At the end of the year, those 12 cars are put to the ultimate vote to claim Hagerty’s Classic of the Year.
Our 2016 Classic of the Year is a 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T convertible, bought new by Richard Schmidt. The car served as the ultimate cruiser for Richard and his late wife Kitty, though soon its needs were overshadowed by the needs of their growing family, and Richard tucked the car away… for 40 years. Richard’s story is proof that despite the ways life sometimes kicks you around, being surrounded by people who love you is enough to move mountains. And restore an old Dodge.
Video produced by FREE AGE - / freeageproductions
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How to make a car guy cry 101
I tried so hard not to cry
that for sure 😥😥
pray to god not satan
Yay i am the 1k liker
I'm not crying... I'm cutting onions 😢😢😭
Thank you everyone for your wonderful comments! This car means so much to our family and we are so proud to share our story with everyone! The folks at Hagerty produced such a great video and now we have it to watch over and over again.
Thank You!!
Thank you sir for sharing with us your story!
Thanks for sharing your story with us! Wish all the best for you! Greetings from Hungary, Budapest :-)
Life, back then, happened on 2 or 4 wheels and an open road. Memories, like my own, started behind the wheel with my favorite gal at my side. Kits memory lives within you all. God Bless you and yours. USN Retired. Zip~
I wanted to cry because of this phenomenal story, but my body would not allow me to produce tears! The best I’ve heard in a long time sir! I pay great respect to you people! Bless Kitty and that great man!
Brian Schmidt I’m glad you made it home.
The man put his life on the line for his country, in return he he got a beautiful wife, beautiful family and a beautiful car. Thanks for defending our country.
People don't understand how important classic cars are. They beautiful, it's history, sad and happy memories you can't replace that.
Dodge should gift him a hellcat and have a cool badge called bad kitty as a reference to the car and his wife
No. As a widower who lost my wife to cancer in 2012 after 47 years together (and also a vietnam vet), he has exactly the car he wants, and knows he is lucky to have it. Betcha and give you big, big odds he wouldn't trade it for any other car in the world.
@@geraldmyers221 sorry for your loss. But i bet he wouldnt give it away for even a million dollars
@@geraldmyers221no no no, we said GIVE him a new car. not trade in his car.
Gerald Myers hey may I ask you a personal question why more and more cancer nowdays compare to 1987 not many cancer like nowadays there more and different type of cancer now why is it the air we breathe or the food we eat or is it the radiation on the phone computer tv
@@geraldmyers221 you're right.
God I got all choked up watching this. Happy for the man. Gorgeous Mopar.
Couldn't have said it better, man.
Same here. It's nice to see a story about a family that still cares about sentimental items. I hope that car gets handed down through the generations and more memories are made in it.
I too hope it gets handed down. Props to the family to think this much of their parents & making a memorial to their mother.
yeh me too
Wow, choked up indeed. Phew.
"Lets get you a car for your birthday, any car you want. Just as long as it's a convertible". That was o e hell of a good woman right there. I'm sorry fir your loss. My sincerest condolences to you and your family.
My brother passed away in Florida and had this same car,same year also a convertible.had it fully restored.hauled it back to Michigan.all along the way back got a lot of honking and waving from other motorists.the car is back home.very proud of it.thanks big bro!miss you.😤
Sorry about you brother! Its nice that you have his car and pay tribute to him.
Damn onion cutting ninjas.
Zundfolge right
Ikr
Lmfaooo
lol yeah they were here too, sneaky little b...
to everyone watching from overseas.. THIS is what us Americans are all about. Nice Mopar buddy!
Us Americans ? 300 Million of you are like that ? u must be too much of a Nationalist to rationalize your ridiculous affirmation
No idea why this showed up in my recommendations today but I have no regrets taking 6 minutes out of my life to watch it.
Beautiful car, beautiful story, beautiful people.
I clicked on it because of the car I didn’t expect to leave almost wanting to shed a tear. Great video
Beautiful story. Beautiful family. Sorry for your loss. Thank you for your service. Now where are my tissues? Take care.
I like how it's tastefully modified, it looks so good!
Actually I'm pretty sure that's all factory stock.
@@darrenheadrick3669 no it's not factory stock. It's got 17" yearone rallye wheels. looks really nice and stock!
Perfect wheel and tire setup. The car is made for that stance.
Very very touching. This is not about the car, it's a story about love. First the love of a woman for a man and then the children that this loved created. So happy for you, although your "kitty" is no longer with you in body you had something that most of us never experience in life, "True Love". Continue to love your kids and grandkids.
Wow! So happy i stumbled on this. I'm 57 and my late brother who would be 72 had a purple Dodge challenger. I remember it as a kid... the rumble was awesome. Unfortunately he passed at 45 when I was 30. We were very close but by then he was married raising two kids and the car was long gone. This video brings back amazing beautiful memories. Thanks for sharing. Comes at a time that I need some positive. God Bless!
I have plans to do this to my dads 2011 Chevy Camaro SS!
Just went out on him back in 2016 and has been in our garage ever since. He’s all tied up with 4 other kids and a grandson rn so I’m saving up in hopes of giving him this same satisfaction one day. Thanks for inspiring !
Did you do it? it's been 11 months since you posted this coment
@@Alonsooooooo I would like to know as well
How is it even possible to dislike this ?
Right!
Because its a convertible ☹️ but its clean thoe
I was thinking the same
Daniel M. Cus there's always gonna be hating ass bitches and hating ass losers bro
eeemanyo and the ugly wheels
Came across the sort of by accident - got to me. Lost my wife of 47 years to cancer in 2014, was a Vietnam era vet. I have our house we built together as we built our marriage and family, and many of her paintings on the wall. It's nice too have something to help hang your memories on.
Sorry for your loss! God Bless! and thank you for your service as well.
Beautiful family, beautiful wife, beautiful car...what more could a man ask for?
Can’t beat a classic, regardless which car it is🤷🏻♂️🔥
Thanks for your service and thanks for Kit's service to you and the family. While I am not a Dodge guy, I am a human and that car as well as you all, make a wonderful HUMAN story.
Thumbs up and love you all.
Mike
Hahah same here man, had to throw in the not a Dodge guy which cracked me up because I'm 100% a GM/Chevy guy haha
Car guys shouldn't have boundaries. You can prefer a specific brand as each does their own take. But true car people acknowledge all cars of all makes and models unless it truly is a POS.
Mustang for life!
r u a robot
I always appreciate a good story about what a car means to a family regardless of the brand
Dang it. Way to make a 65-year-old man's eyeballs start to leak at 2am on a Sunday night. What a beautiful backstory. And what a great family you have to do this for you. The love of family is greater than all the riches in the world.
Absolutely gorgeous Mopar, well done fellas....and from this Army combat vet, tell your Dad thank you for his service....Hooah
Now i understand why this is my older brother's dream car...such a nice challenger and i also want to say that i hope that the challenger stays within the family until the end of time.
I honestly wish we had something like this in our family, like a car passed through generation to generation, especially a challenger or charger
Ah..another car thats part of a family..not just a mode of transport...seems kitty knew where her place was in your heart a truly special woman....seems high school sweet heart made a bad choice...but hope she lived to regret it... but you found love and its so nice the connection you have with your late soul mate through your dodge challenger...i hope it stays in your family for generations to come..
i lost my father all in a sudden 8 months ago. i still drive his car from 2001 and maintained it nearly spending %10 of its value. everybody tell me to sell it but as he says in the video "it is full of memories."
And that's why...cars...are part of our family.
Memories!!
And that Challenger is just beautiful.
i dont remember getting my slip signed to go on this feels trip. the longer it went the more sad but wholesome it was. im glad you were able to have this done
Now that I got tears in my eyes, God Bless your lovely wife, and Hod bless you sir, enjoy that Mopar cause she's riding with you.
That baby blue 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T convertible was beautiful. If I bought the challenger, I would keep the picture of the mother’s picture on my dashboard just as a memory and honor for her.
Remarkable. This is, EXACTLY, my dream car. Respects to Kitty. American beauty in its finest.
What a great love story, all the best to Richard and his family. May Kitty guide you down the highways......
Such a touching story, with a beautiful droptop Challenger. And thank you for your service to our country, sir.
Best car restoration video I've ever watched. RIP Kitty.
Sir,as one vet to another you made me cry, your story is one of pure love both for hour beloved wife and your lovely car, your story has touched me god bless you and Kitty thank you for your service sir
When I saw the plate and read Misukit, I was thinking "is that Japanese or something?". Then he said it meant miss you kitty and I just couldn't hold back my tears. Damn ninjas cutting onions everywhere.
I like that car.
Me to
You're a simple man, I like you.
Free Wheeling who wasn't? i love it
DO YOU LIKE???
HIS CAR?!?!
Dig Bick lol ur random af😂
if your dads around take the time to do something like this , or time will run out and the window closes forever. its a joy ill never know.
When I watch these videos I'm nostalgic for what I never had but should have, there are some parents that only love what they think matters and actively discourage children that have other ideas. These vids are really about the family bonds that are the result of great parenting. We should all be so lucky.
Awesome story, Miss Kit would be so happy.
Thank you for your service. Yes I got all choked up too. My brother Jeff was in the Marines in Viet Nam, 1969 to 71 and I just found out he's suffering heart trouble from Agent Orange and he just told me last weekend, his first day in country his unit suffered a mortar attack. After almost 50 years he still barely talks about Viet Nam But has told me all my life, despite all the carnage he experienced there, it doesn't compare to how the damn hippies attacked him when he came home. As a "survival prize", my Dad ordered him a new MGB, British Racing Green of course.This video is Petrolicious quality. HUGE thumbs up!!!!!
Beautiful car. Beautiful story. Beautiful people. Rest in Peace Kitty.
Good for u brother. Kit is looking at u smiling. Ty for serving and ty for being an American Hero. God bless . god bless ur wife.
And it’s a one owner! Amazing story and car. Thanks for your service ✌🏻🙏🏻
This man deserves it, God bless
You Kids Are AWESOME. Children Raised Right.
Its so great to see a mans children loving him and honoring him. This man has riches beyond anything physical such as a car, but oh what a car.......
What a sad sweet story. Love from up north in Canada.
ITS SOOOOO CLEAN
That license plate is the perfect finishing touch. So sweet. 🥺 If i pass before my boyfriend, I want our kids to do the same for him with our ‘20 r/t challenger 🤍🤞🏻
The cars from the 70's and older era have sooooo much soul, The cars built nowadays don't have it.
A had tears welling up! I am 37 and i have so much respect for anyone who has served in the military i myself served in the airforce. This story was great im happy to see such a beutiful car go back home to a man that deserves it!
Thank you for your service.
God bless you and I know that car will be there for another 48 years cause she’s watching it
It's nice to see one of these "son gives dad car' video that's about the dad, not the son. Touching story.
Brian I'm sorry for your loss. I can relate. I lost my wife in October 2000 to stage 3 & 4 metastatic breast cancer. She was 35 yrs old. I love your license plate. Her name was Lisa. Not a day goes by that I don't think of her. I've never remarried. I wish you &your family the best. You'll be in my prayers. Absolutely a beautiful Challenger. One of my favorite cars.
Beautiful story of a beautiful car. I'd love to own one some day in my life.
Great story! Also, I like the editing -- especially the way the engine starts at the same moment he talks about meeting Kitty for the first time.
Cancer is such a bad disease we have all lost our loved ones I am sorry for your loss sir, she is in a better place and I am glad you have a piece of history to cherish forever 👍 love and regards from NAGALAND
Love the cool guy pic back in the day with a brew on the car and a grit in his mouth.
Heart wrenching story. Such a nice decent family. Your Mum would be so proud of you all.
I'm glad you made it back and had a wonderful life and have the car that created so many memories with you wife. As being from Illinois originally I can see how it was getting rusty after only being six years old with all the salt they use on the roads in the winter.
60's 70's muscle cars have soul, like no others.
This man was definitely the cool guy then and still is now.
What a great story, such a great guy.. gorgeous car!
How the hell does someone watch this video and think: “nah I’m gonna give it a thumbs down.”
Lovely Car but for me it all goes back to Kitty she was one beautiful lady inside and out. Glad the car is back where it belongs on the road.
The car is a scrapbook full of memories, beautiful.
My great uncle served in Vietnam and his gift to himself when he got back was a 383 4 speed challenger that was dark green metallic although he wanted plum crazy purple but his wife wasn't letting him buy a purple car!
That's awesome!
Your aunt had good taste. Good for her !
God Bless our veterans.
Such a beautiful story... & A great man with a beautiful family. R.I.P mrs. Kitty
Wow that picture of him sitting on the edge of the door of the car with a cig in his month tells it all about that era! What a beautiful car and great guy with the memory of a great girl!
Such an awesome car but an even more amazing story! ❤️
How could anyone give a thumbs down ?????
Only a dad can appreciate this story Great looking family and his wife was very pretty thanks for sharing your story.
She's not looking down she's sitting in the passenger seat. Beautiful car your mom and dad couldn't have picked out a better one glad to see she's back on the road
Thanks for sharing your amazing story ...all the best from us in the UK
That looks stunning 👀
I was ‘muscle car’ binge viewing until I clicked on this video. Such a beautiful story and I’m in tears. Thank you CZcams
This story is so sad, I can’t believe how nice the car means to them and how beautiful it looks
deserves a million views
Thank you!
how about 100,000,000? A million is too little!
tears!
This is what CZcams is for. Screw the stupid cat videos, we need more of these. Thank you for your service sir and may you have many more miles of enjoyment.
Wow - that story will make anyone a little misty-eyed. You’ve got an awesome car and an awesome family.
Beautiful video.. Gorgeous car and family.. You should be proud and she would be too! Whoever disliked this video you should be ashamed of yourselves. Mopar
The people that disliked it are probably the people that thought the car should be restored as factory original with no mods.
..back when women were actually capable of having love and compassion for a man.
Towallomee sgel but I still love that old car smell...the simplicity...the uniqueness....many American Men are refusing to marry American Women...the feminist movement ruined them...there are still some traditional ones out there but rare..then again we could always give up cars and turn Amish...
Jeff Polaras I have a couple of classic cars, and you're correct- the smell is a large portion of the appeal. That doesn't mean the new cars are lacking..l have to keep an eye on the gauges on my classic cars. I stress out when people get too close to them because you can't just go out to the nearest dealer and replace them. These new cars are reliable as hell, and will handle the older muscle cars in every possible way. I do still love the crude-ness of the old cars, but kicking ASS and not worrying about breaking something is simply AWESOME!
Towallomee sgel pronounced"Fott"
Towallomee sgel Stands for "That Hoe Over There"
Bunch of virgin losers.
Thank you for your service. Kitty was a beautiful woman. Great kids.
I ain’t a mopar guy at all but this is a beautiful car and beautiful story behind it.. thanks for serving our country
Beauty
You never said who did the work on the car? They did a good job.
Custom Classics in Island Lake IL www.customclassics.net
What a great story. I have a 2014, Dodge Challenger R/T Plus, in TorRed. I can't believe that the 2014, Challenger R/T, resemble the 1970, Challenger almost identical. What a classic American, muscle car.
These cars become a part of us over time, I feel this way about my Cuda! Had it refinished a few years back she's my rolling psychiatrist!
Kuddos to the kids!!!
I'm Viet Nam! :(
As soon as he mentioned the license plate, I lost it. Such a beautiful story, and what a beautiful woman.
Sir, sorry she's gone. So glad you you still Cruise with her! Yea, I'm fracking crying, 😢
It's a kit car.
???
A kit car is a car build buy your self, build not bought, you buy it, choose transition for the engine and some other bs, then put the body together.
MR. VCtool no it’s an inside joke. The plate says miss u kit
Beautiful touching story. Oh how I wish car makers understood that the consumers still want cars built liked this
What a beautiful story about a beautiful person and beautiful car. Can't help but get choked up. I liked that he said it would never be sold - it's just got too many memories. I'm imagining this car in its 4th and 5th generation still passing on the story of Kitty.
Thank you for your Service,& Thank God It brought you Ms Kitty! Beautiful Love is Such a Gift,& your family is certainly wrapped in it's arms! Betting that car sees many more generations to come!