HK41 12/72
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Vinz Klortho
Well-known member
Looks like I'll need to work more overtime 
GuntherRommel
Well-known member
Its no 71 hemi cuda
Vinz Klortho
Well-known member
I have a Hemi Cuda Convertible story...
So back in the mid 80's I was station at Laughlin AFB in beautiful Del Rio, Texas. I drove a 69 Superbee. Some locals told me about a guy who ran a garage there (Rio Brake and Alignment) and owned a 71 Hemi Cuda Converrtible. His name was Warren Wallace. He was a neat old guy and took a liking to me. I'd go to his shop after work. We'd drink beer, I'd sweep up the place. After about a year he asked me if I wanted to see the car. He took me over to his little house and there, in the garage, was his black on black on black 71 Hemi Cuda Convertible. He was the original owner. It was up on jack stands. He had replaced the 15 inch Rallye wheels with some Keystones (the stock wheels were in the corner of the garage still wearing the Goodyear Polyglas tires). The car was loaded in 1971 terms and the original sticker (which he still had) was a smidge over $5000 IIRC. The car was beautiful, had less than 40k miles on it. A Hemi 4 speed 'Cuda! That's a holy grail car guys, not some COPO Camaro. I think it was a 1 of 7 car or something like that. We became pretty good friends I think. He would give me shit about still having a Carter carb on my car. I would sweep up his shop, he would buy the beer. When I went to see him for the last time he gave me the last license plate he had for his car. I got kinda sad. He said the KK stood for King Kong...
I rode my motorcycle thru Del Rio a couple years ago on my way out to Big Bend (and points farther west). It took me a while to find his old shop, a lot had changed in 30+ years. It looked like it had been closed for quite a long time.
I've always wondered what happened to him and his car. He wasn't in the best shape and smoked like a chimney. I always hoped he sold it to some Leno-esque asshole for big money and got to retire.
(How's that for hi-jacking a thread?)
So back in the mid 80's I was station at Laughlin AFB in beautiful Del Rio, Texas. I drove a 69 Superbee. Some locals told me about a guy who ran a garage there (Rio Brake and Alignment) and owned a 71 Hemi Cuda Converrtible. His name was Warren Wallace. He was a neat old guy and took a liking to me. I'd go to his shop after work. We'd drink beer, I'd sweep up the place. After about a year he asked me if I wanted to see the car. He took me over to his little house and there, in the garage, was his black on black on black 71 Hemi Cuda Convertible. He was the original owner. It was up on jack stands. He had replaced the 15 inch Rallye wheels with some Keystones (the stock wheels were in the corner of the garage still wearing the Goodyear Polyglas tires). The car was loaded in 1971 terms and the original sticker (which he still had) was a smidge over $5000 IIRC. The car was beautiful, had less than 40k miles on it. A Hemi 4 speed 'Cuda! That's a holy grail car guys, not some COPO Camaro. I think it was a 1 of 7 car or something like that. We became pretty good friends I think. He would give me shit about still having a Carter carb on my car. I would sweep up his shop, he would buy the beer. When I went to see him for the last time he gave me the last license plate he had for his car. I got kinda sad. He said the KK stood for King Kong...
I rode my motorcycle thru Del Rio a couple years ago on my way out to Big Bend (and points farther west). It took me a while to find his old shop, a lot had changed in 30+ years. It looked like it had been closed for quite a long time.
I've always wondered what happened to him and his car. He wasn't in the best shape and smoked like a chimney. I always hoped he sold it to some Leno-esque asshole for big money and got to retire.
(How's that for hi-jacking a thread?)
Last edited:
GuntherRommel
Well-known member
That's a great story , I hope he got a lot also. Cheers and Happy 4th
I came across this post and I thought you’d like to know that Warren did sell the Cuda and got a pretty penny for it! He’s doing well today. Still owns the shop even though it’s been closed since 2016 I believe. I read him your story, sadly Warren experiences Dementia so he vaguely remembers but when I showed him the picture of the license plate it came back to him! He enjoys talking about his car and showing off the picture in his wallet along with his model replica. It really made his day for me to share that with him! Thank you!
Guyanaman1963
Well-known member
Welcome to the site!
