Winged Warriors/National B-Body Owners Association
Special Feature Car - Bill Hoehn

Introduction by Sue George
Other Text and Photos (Except As Noted) by Bill Hoehn


It isn't often you can say that you're the original owner of an old musclecar, especially the likes of a Daytona, which are known to have typically changed hands many, many times in their 30-some years. For quite a few years, I'd heard about this Daytona in Missouri that had been put away in a garage so long that full grown trees had grown up in front of the door. I figured it was another of those "barn stories"! Much to my surprise, at the 2001 Monster Mopar Weekend in St Louis, I had the pleasure of meeting the gentleman that this fabled Daytona belongs to-Bill Hoehn of Chesterfield, MO. I was even more surprised to learn that Bill is the Daytona's original and only owner! Here is his story:

In the fall of 1969, I went to Florissant Dodge looking for a new car to replace my 1964 Plymouth Savoy which was a 426 wedge with a 4-speed. On the showroom floor, I saw the 440 automatic Daytona, F6 green with a white interior (it was also featured in an issue of Playboy magazine). The list price was $4,638.20 and the final price negotiated was $3,962.00.

A photo from 1969 of the brand new Daytona.

I left a $100 deposit and excitedly went back to get my new car later, but discovered from the title that it was a 1969 model, instead of the 1970 as I had thought. Upset, but in love with the new car, I went ahead and purchased it.

Shortly thereafter, it was deeply scratched with obscenities. Because I didn't care much about the green color, I had the car repainted in Pearlescent White and added Thrush pipes and a pair of racing mirrors (remember, it was 1969/70-customizing these cars was common practice back then). I also added a trailer hitch and used it for hauling-including 28' 10" steel bar-joists on the roof and wing! We also hauled a five foot solid copper kettle that we pulled out of the bottom of the Meramec River.

After this, I got caught in a hailstorm with the usual damage resulting. The insurance company supplied me with many replacement parts which I never used and still have. Bored with the white color, I then switched it to Radiant Blue metalflake, which is it's present color. At that point, I stopped at a strip mall auto parts store, parked in front and went in to get a set of spark plugs. The young man behind the counter looked out, saw the car and said, "I love that car. I've only ever seen THREE of them-a green one, a white one and now a blue one!" (All "three" were the car in it's different colors!)

The car did attract police and tickets for such offenses as speeding and excessive noise while getting up to speed. Of course, this was occasionally necessary for emergency hospital or house calls. After accumulating ten points (you lost your license with twelve in Missouri), my wife informed me that she would not be my chauffeur and that I could take a cab if I lost my license.

It did not happen, but instead, after 85,000 miles, I decided to store the car in the new home we were building. This required an 8' sliding door and removal of some trees to put the car in the basement for long-term storage with all of the pertinent recommendations followed. That was in 1975. For the next 26-plus years, it made a perfect winter storage place for the cushions from our porch furniture. Early in 2001, noting the approach of my 70th birthday in April, I decided it was "now or never" (a few friends were betting on NEVER!). On March 10th, after removal of the 8' door and some trees that had grown considerably, we winched the car out of the garage for mechanical restoration. Working day and night like a teenager, with the help of my sons, grandson and friends, the job was completed.

We were able to restore the car 100% mechanically and drive it for parade laps at Gateway International Raceway on September 8, 2001. This is where I met Sue and Ed George and joined the Winged Warriors. The body will remain the same for now as we will drive it and enjoy it as is. The new signs which my son designed and printed state "YOU MAY TOUCH THIS CAR!"

Note from Sue George: In mid-February, 2002, Bill was in the process of getting estimates to have all of the bodywork and paint redone on the Daytona.



Click On A Photo To View The Full-Size Version

This is the Playboy magazine ad that featured the F6 green Daytona with white wing and white interior.
The Daytona after it was painted Pearlescent white. Note the loaded trailer it is pulling! This car worked for it's keep.
A side view of the Daytona in Pearlescent white with the side pipes.
The Daytona wearing its Radiant Blue paint.
Through all of its color changes, the engine compartment remained the original F6 green. Here it is freshly restored with attention to correct details. The sign that you can just barely see on the latch tray has a crossed out stop sign and says: IT'S OK TO TOUCH THIS CAR! Photo by Sue George.
At the St. Louis Monster Mopar Weekend in September, 2001. Photo by Sue George.


UPDATE

Dr. Bill Hoehn's New & Improved Daytona
Text by Sue George and Bill Hoehn; Photos by Bill Hoehn


This member's Mopar has already been featured, after I met Dr. Bill Hoehn at the Monster Mopar Weekend in September, 2002 and got to see his Daytona there. At that time, he had just finished restoring all of the Daytona's mechanics. For those of you who are newer members, here's a brief history on the car. Bill is the original owner, having purchased the Daytona to replace his 1964 426 Wedge Plymouth Savoy.

Shortly after Bill took his new car home, it was scratched with obscenities by vandals, and the car was repainted Pearlescent White. Side pipes, racing mirrors and a trailer hitch were added at that time also. This Daytona didn't lead any plush life inside of a dark garage-it was used, among other things, to haul all kinds of construction stuff!

Then the Daytona suffered more cosmetic damage when it was caught in a hailstorm. At that time, Bill had the car repainted in Radiant Blue metalflake, but did not install the many replacement parts the insurance company had purchased in the hailstorm settlement.

Today, the Daytona is proud and gleaming in its original F6 Green and looks like a brand new car again. Here is Bill's story:

"Last winter, after having completed my original Daytona mechanically, I decided I had to go all the way. After being told it would take $50,000 to $150,000 and about one and a half years, I said, 'No Way!,' and started on another route.

Having done the engine compartment while it was empty, I now stripped, primed, painted and clear coated the bottom of the hood and trunk and both door jambs. Next I stripped one inch at all seams so I could get the plastic media blasting done with everything sealed.

The only rust found was on the rear lower quarter panels and under the bumper directly behind the wheels. These areas were replaced and about seven weeks of body work later, it was ready for paint. A fantastic job was done by John's Auto Body of Arnold, MO and Kenny Neuman was the artist with the metal. Don't believe what all the current "dent men" say about not being able to work with this old, thick steel. It can be done!

After reassembling everything at home, I had the original headliner replaced, finishing the job. Since I don't have a lift and I didn't get a chance to clean it thoroughly before the Monster Mopar Weekend (2002), I was happy with my Third Place trophy.

Total restoration costs ended up being under $25,000. Now it looks, runs and rides much better than it did when purchased on October 2, 1969 for $3,962!"

A very big THANKS to Bill for sharing the follow-up story on his Daytona. Bill told me there were a couple of hail dents missed by the bodyshop that he noticed after the car was finished. So he hired one of the "paintless dent" guys to come out and remove them. He reports that the results were incredible-you cannot tell where the dents ever were, and there was absolutely no damage whatsoever to the car's brand new paint.

Click On A Photo To View The Full-Size Version



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