The year was 1970. The Beatles were in the final days of being the Beatles. The Vietnam War was coming to a head and Patton starring George C. Scott won best picture and best actor respectively, at the Academy Awards.
It was also the year an eighteen year old high school senior received the car of his dreams. It was a 1970 Dodge Charger R/T, fresh from the factory with a 440 magnum engine, 375 horsepower, and a four speed pistol grip shifter. Painted canary yellow with a white interior, the car shined like the mid-day sun, just like the one pictured here and in our ads.
It was also the beginning of the end for my license and my parent's sanity. I'm not sure what they were thinking that particular night when we strolled into the local Dodge dealer. Maybe they weren't thinking at all, or perhaps they just didn't realize what kind of monster machine they had purchased for their son. It's been said memories get fonder with age. I can attest to that, because all I remember are the good times in that car. When I rolled up to school that first day I felt like king of the world. Unfortunately, it was not to last. Within a year, following a plethora of tickets, mom and dad said enough, and just like that it was over. My beautiful yellow charger was gone. And by 1971 the year of the muscle cars was no longer.
Since then, I've always told anyone who would listen about that car and those times. To my sons, the charger became a family legend. I decided that one day when I was financially able I would recreate the car. In the process I hoped to recapture some of my youth and perhaps develop some interest in my business as well. Interestingly enough, the Chevelle was my first muscle car acquisition, not the Charger. It all happened innocently enough. I went out to pick up dinner one night at a local restaurant and a cherry red gleam caught my eye. The car was parked at a neighbor's house about a mile from mine with an enticing for sale sign on the dash. The next day, my wife and I went for another look and as they say, the rest is history. That very day the Chevelle was mine. What and expensive take out meal that turned out to be! The purchase rekindled my love affair with cars from that golden era and so began the quest to recreate the Charger. For pictures of the car and more information, roll the mouse over the car at the top of the page
The final addition to the collection is the new 2007 Ford Shelby Mustang GT 500. Not since 1970 has the Shelby name graced a Mustang. This car which is produced by Ford's Special Vehicle Team (SVT) has a hand assembled, supercharged 5.4-liter, 32-valve V8 that puts out 500 horsepower. The car's namesake is Carroll Shelby of race car legend and fame. Shelby designed cars from the late 60's can carry price tags today in the hundreds of thousands.
My son Chris who now works for NCI started to express interest in the muscle car generation. During the process he had fallen in love with the recent redesign of the Ford Mustang, which clearly takes its inspiration from the classic mustangs of that era. When he saw that Ford was building the Shelby, it wasn't long before we set our sites on this limited edition model. The Shelby represents a stunning combination of modern technology and design meshed with vintage muscle car style. And it stands as no surprise that it is one of the most sought after cars on the market - just like NCI is the most sought after Practice Development Company in the nation. This is now his official company vehicle, when not being used by Dad that is!
Like these beloved cars, NCI blends vintage marketing procedures developed in the late 70's and 80's with modern components such as internet and email marketing. But we never strayed from our roots, that which has made us and many of our clients so successful.
Well, I hope you have enjoyed this nostalgic trip down memory lane with me. If you're ever in the Mullica Hill, New Jersey area drop by and either Chris or I will take you for the ride of your life in one of our prized possessions. And if you hear the low rumble of a powerhouse engine or the high whine of a supercharger, you might want to get off the road!
