Meet Mike Pt. 2: Boy Meets Challenger
Aug 27, 2007 at 3:14PMThis is the second in a series of notes from Mike Accavitti (here’s Part 1) on his path from childhood Mopar fan to key member of the team that is producing the next generation Challenger. Today we look at Mike’s first brush with the Challenger. Next time, we’ll take a look at his career path leading him to live out his childhood dream. — RLD
I’ve loved Mopar cars for as long as I can remember. I can’t really attribute that passion to any one thing; they were just the coolest cars. I thought they had the best styling, the most power, and the best sound…the things that make a kid stop peddling his bike and stare in awe when a great car goes down the street.
I remember the day I saw my first Dodge Challenger. It was July 1970. I was riding my sting-ray bicycle down Tall Oak Drive, a street near my childhood home in suburban Detroit. It was just a sunny, pleasant Midwestern summer day when I first caught the profile as it turned right on to the street.
“Holy Cow!” I thought, in my 11-year-old vocabulary.
As the Challenger approached I almost drove my bike into a mailbox. I can still see it: Hemi Orange and Black. This guy has already replaced the factory wheels with a set of Cragar S/S Mags. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.
After he parked on his driveway I tore off to my best friends houses to drag them over to see this awesome sight!!
It was 1970. Truly the summer of love for a group of kids and a Dodge Challenger T/A. We admired that car from near and far. The owner used to let it roll down the driveway a bit before firing the engine up. A cool trick that we all — no surprise — picked up 5 years later when we began to drive.
That wasn’t the start of my Mopar mania, but it was the beginning of a beautiful relationship between me and the Dodge Challenger. It was the king of the street. An American icon. A dream machine that inspired me to a career in this industry…an industry that can create machines that capture the imagination.
It was a love affair that lasted through college and into adulthood. And finally, 28 years after first laying eyes on it, I bought my own: a 1970 lime green metallic Dodge Challenger T/A.
…I love that car.
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8 Comments
Mike, I had the priveledge of owning a 70 Challenger. I had B.F G. radial 50’s on the rear and 60’s on the front. I used monroe air shocks to keep the body fender from rubbing. I cut the duals exhaust and slanted them in front of the rear tires, the sound was incrediable the 383 mopar was the best. I too was the guy driving up the street but I was doing it in TX. Lime green and a black vinal top, the car had clean lines and turn heads every where. I understand your passion and can’t wait for 08! With the tech that Dodge has get ready for more driveways and head turning.
hi i´m from mexico and i´d love to know if the new challenger is going to be available on mexico and when because i´m bored of mustangs and i´d love to own a challenger
I WOULD LIKE A TO SEE A LIST OF PLANNED COLORS AND PAINT SCHEMES THAT DODGE HAS FOR THE UPCOMING CHALLENGER. DOES ANYONE HAVE A URL ADDRESS WHERE THIS IS TALKED ABOUT, OR BETTER YET, COULD BE SEEN? SEND ANY INFO TO KYLE AT: ADMIN@AGREATSMILEDC.COM THANKS
Will the 392 hemi be an option?
Hey Mike I’d like to give you guys a slap on the back in apreciation for actualy comming out with a modern mucle car. I bet you guys could here the whole nation groan when we found out the new Charger was a 4 door. I’m gust sorry it took Ford comming out with the retro mustang for you guys to wake up! Those of us that weren’t around untill the mucle car era was well dead have had dreams about a resurgeance. My dad had a 69 Chevell SS. and more Importantly my cusin has a 72 roadrunner and a 68 (I think) Cuda.
I hope ther is also a new Cuda in dodges future butn I can make due with a new Challenger for now. Just promise me you won’t screw it up buy only offering it in a Automatic. WE WANT MANUAL!!!!
I remember a similar experience….my uncle hung out with these 2 brothers; one had a red ‘70 (I think) Challenger with black vinyl roof - 440 magnum with a 6pack, his brother had a sublime superbee (do not know the engine)…will never forget how my heart raced. actually got to drive the Challenger a few years later when i was about 14 years old…still remember how my hands shook….driving a magnum RT today…cannot wait to drive a challenger again…
Ok everyone together now. This will only work if we all do it together!!!
CUDA CUDA CUDA CUDA CUDA CUDA CUDA CUDA CUDA CUDA CUDA CUDA CUDA CUDA!!!!!!!
Can you hear us down at the headquarters Chrysler. Maybe we weren’t loud enough or maybe some of you didn’t join in.
Mike, I wanted a ‘Cuda or Challenger since I rode bikes as well. In my opinion, mopar engineers are the luckiest guys on the planet. I was so gung-ho for E-bodies, I eventually got one each - a ‘71 Cuda, and a ‘72 Challenger. They are both gone now - I sold the Challenger about 19 years ago to buy diapers and formula. The kids are grown now and the Challenger concept is all I can think about now.
I was wondering if Mopar had forgotten about guys like us. I see now that they haven’t.