The 1973 Mercury Comet GT that I first learned how to drive like an unhinged maniac in would never fully be my car. For reasons that are still a mystery to this day, the little Comet had a history that caused every adult with half a brain cell to keep me from keeping it as my first car. The silver 1978 Camaro with no stripes, no spoiler and it’s back end jacked up about three inches in the back in Colorado Springs had the grunt to back up the nearly laughable stinkbug stance and super-wide slot mags in the back. The Oldsmobile 442 in Hampton Roads. The 680 horsepower Subaru Impreza two-door in Parkland. Some cars earn reputations for what they can do. Others earn reputations for what they don’t do. New or old, if a car has a story attached, you want to know the details, right? Who owns that street sweeper? What did they do for a day job? What possessed them to come out at night and proceed to clean everybody’s clock?
If you drove this Hemi Challenger in the daylight today, every all-knowning musclecar freak would drop the golden egg in their pants. A real-deal SE R/T Hemi four-speed Challenger in triple-black with the gator grain roof, the steel wheels and the caps…if there’s another one like it, the burden of proof is on you, because that’s nearly a one-of-one setup. This car isn’t famous for being rare. It’s famous for straight-up disappearing after haunting the nightmares of back-street heroes back in the day. People would remember the car, but this is the story of the man behind the car.
nice car, great story—————-thanks BS
Cool family, cool car, I would have liked to have met GQ. Glad that they kept the Hemi Challenger as original and unrestored.
Living near Toronto all my life and being involved in the local street scene in the 70s. There were rumours of a Hemi E-body car from Detroit dominating all the heavy iron of the day in that city. I don’t know any more than that but it seems as if this could very likely be the car.
The video brought back some good memories.
Great story.
Awesome man and family, Incredible story. Thanks for sharing!
The best car story EVER !!!!!
Awesome!
Wow, what a story and life. This is what it’s all about, a passion for speed that positively impacts lives everywhere. Rest In Peace Godfrey Qualls.
Great story, thanks for posting it.
If that don’t bring a tear to your eye your not a real car guy!!
@12:18 the racing footage is from the now Defunct Mid America Raceway, Wentzville MO.
Wow! What a great story! Thanks for sharing this.
This is an awesome story and a perfect example for all the folks that don’t get the Car Guy thing.
Laying on your deathbed and thinking about the two things in life that gave you the most enjoyment, your family, and YOUR 426 HEMI CHALLENGER!!!!!
Thanks for sharing.
Ya know it’s funny. Only a true car guy or gal. can understand. That a normal man, with a normal job. Will turn down $85K for a car. All-knowing how much difference that much money would make in his family’s life. Yet it is not for sale. That my friends is the definition of a real car guy. I myself have one of those. Not nowhere near this caliber. Yet I’ll starve before I sell it. Great story.Thanks, BS
Great car and family story.
Wow to know this son and his sons son will be forever part of this truly amazing legend is priceless keeping the memory’s of the legend alive and passing the torch.
Wonderful story! A hemi Challenger owned by a street racing motorcycle cop who was also an airborne green beret from Detroit, doesn’t get any better than that!
The best, and I mean, the bestest guy and his car story ever.
Merry Christmas fellow gearheads.