I have followed this thread with a deep personal interest, after spending 50 years of my life chasing, and finally capturing, a high end "legacy Mopar." Along the way, I've gotten myriad insights into how different folks view this process that binds those of us on this forum together. Needs, wants, and expectations vary widely.
Back in the day, when I first got to drive the car I would pursue for a lifetime, my dad expressed puzzlement at the attraction. To him, it was nothing more that an upscale family car, bigger and faster than what he drove, but nothing but a waste of resources in the end. My wife shared his sentiment, when my first GTX entered our life.
Twenty years ago, when I uncovered the "Demonstrator," I asked Rob Clark (son of the original owner) if he wanted first crack at it. He declined, saying the story would be better if I got it. This from the guy who came of age in the car, passed his license exam in it. He still wanted the Hemi Road Runner, he had never driven, but not the car that had been his father's for 15 years.
Baby Blue, the GTX I owned twice, and my daughter grew up in, was nothing more than a financial asset to her, so I converted the car into other financial assets while I had the chance. My current car carries a rich history, both with me, and others who came before. I'm passing it to a close friend who appreciates it and will carry the torch, but I am exceptionally fortunate to be in that position, and I'm not talking about a possibly half million dollar car.
The "Demonstrator" shaped my life, and is a rolling monument to how I became who I am, but my family has no interest in keeping the car as a memorial, and the costs of preservation would be a burden rather than blessing. I can't fault the family for selling the Black Ghost.
