Craig Burda - Peoria, IL, USA

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Faulkner
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Location: Upper Darby, PA
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Craig Burda - Peoria, IL, USA

Post by Faulkner »

My name is Craig Burda; I live in Peoria, IL. My father bought this car from Mopar Mel in May of 1987 and drove it back here to Peoria. He used it as a daily driver until my mother divorced him, and got the car in a divorce settlement; this all happened in 1993. She promptly resigned it to the back yard with the top down and let it sit there for about six months until I persuaded her to sell it back to my dad. But by then the weather did some extensive damage to the interior of the car. My father took it to an interior specialist in Peoria IL. He got the interior cleaned up and replaced as needed. He then drove it until 1995. Rust was starting to creep into the quarter panels. He asked me to find a storage facility for the car until he could get the car back to a body shop.
My dad recently gave it to me because he can no longer afford to keep it, let alone restore it, and he doesn't have the energy to do much on the car anymore. He moved it to his house and that is where I picked it up, and now have it in my garage.
It was killing him to know his baby was turning into a pile of junk, and he knew I would do my best to bring it back to its former glory. He called me last week and told me come over; he had a gift for me. What a surprise, it was the car. I had no idea that was what he was doing. I did try to talk him out of it, but he had made up his mind. He told me if I did not take it he was going to sell it for $500; so I took it.
When I got the tow truck over my dad came out to watch, he cried a little as they put it on the tow bed. Then he slapped me on the back and told me good luck and when I finish it, to let him drive it just once more. I said that he could drive it when ever he wanted to. Unfortunately we both knew he won’t as he does not drive anymore, I drive him everywhere now...
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"If it's new, Plymouth's got it!"
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eroomas
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Re: Craig Burda - Peoria, IL, USA

Post by eroomas »

Hope you are able to get her fixed up again, would like to see her. Im only about an hour south of you in Springfield.
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Faulkner
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Re: Craig Burda - Peoria, IL, USA

Post by Faulkner »

I wonder if Craig still has the car - or, if he doesn't, whereabouts it is right now. This showcase entry is at least a decade old now - I tried to contact Craig, to no avail. I hope you have better luck!

Dan
"If it's new, Plymouth's got it!"
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william0431
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Re: Craig Burda - Peoria, IL, USA

Post by william0431 »

I wonder as well. Not a lot of convertibles left out there in the world. Hopefully this one is still around.
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