Dream Catcher – Mopar Action Article Extra

The suspense builds to a crescendo pitch as George closes in for the kill (so to speak). It was so nerve-wracking, that we told our publisher that we needed a 2-week vacation in Hawaii just to recover from the suspense. We’re sure most of our readers would feel the same way (a 2-week vacation in Hawaii on our publisher’s expense. Just present a doctor’s note showing Mopar Action-related stress syndrome.)

This is the actual (not a facsimile) 1971 340 ‘Cuda convertible that appeared in the story. George bought this very car, sold it and bought it back again (hey, you can’t make that stuff up).

140,000-mile ‘Cuda’s engine compartment remains surprisingly quite original down to the radiator cap. A few service items including the PCV valve/hose/grommet and plug wires obviously have been replaced, and electronic ignition was added somewhere along the line.

So who’s this old lady? Why that’s Sue Horn, the original owner’s widow. She poses by the car when George brought it by to show her. Even though she hadn’t seen the car in 30 years, she still recognized it by its sound. She told George that she got her first speeding ticket while driving the ’Cuda. She couldn’t remember where she got her second.

This is all the original (not copies) paperwork, including temporary California paper license plate, Chrysler IBM punch-cards, window stickers, build sheets that George had kept all the years he had searched for the car. He had offered it all to various owners in exchange for the right of first refusal in the event they ever wanted to sell the car. None took him up on his offer. So much for the perceived value of documentation.

American Indian Dream Catcher amulet made into a keychain, from which our story gets its title. Legend has it that hanging the amulet over your bed makes your dreams and nightmares come true. And if you keep your car keys on it, your car won’t get stolen (unless it gets stolen in your dreams).