Mopar Muscle – October 2019

HEIRLOOM

IN HIS FAMILY ALMOST SINCE NEW,

ARMANDO JOHNSON’S 1969 PLYMOUTH GTX

IS A MIX OF OLD AND NEW TECHNOLOGY

S

tarting a family is probably one of the biggest challenges that most indi-

viduals face, and along that journey, one of the hurdles that most cross

is meeting their partner’s family for the first time. First impressions are

lasting, and creating a good one can sometimes be a challenge for some

individuals. That can often be helped with some casual conversation

to point things in the right direction. When Armando Johnson met his

girlfriend Angela’s family for the first time, the conversation started with, “What’s

underneath the car cover that looks like a B-body.” Needless to say, his Mopar

lingo was an icebreaker that put a positive spin on things. What he saw tucked

underneath that car cover back in 1995 was a 1969 Plymouth GTX that belonged

to Jimmy and Bernice Blesdoe and had been in the family since 1971. That

initial family introduction turned out to be a double-edged encounter. On the one

hand, it was all good with his future family; on the other hand, it kicked off a

succession of failed attempts to purchase the car, which escalated with each

passing year. He had set his eyes on it and was relentless in his efforts, but it

wasn’t going anywhere. After the wedding bells chimed, the offers continued

and the approach shifted to, “Uncle Blesdoe, sell me that car, we’re family now.”

“NO” was always the same negative answer that he was given.

BY JOHN MACHAQUEIRO

MOPAR MUSCLE OCTOBER 2019 45