Kids restore dad’s 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T in memory of late mother | Classic of the Year - Hagerty Media

Hundreds of Hagerty employees spend their days speaking with clients about their cars. Several years ago, we decided to collect these stories and each month we let the entire company vote on their favorite, which becomes our Classic of the Month. At the end of the year, those 12 cars are put to the ultimate vote to claim Hagerty’s Classic of the Year.

Our 2017 Classic of the Year is a 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T convertible, bought new by Richard Schmidt. The car served as the ultimate cruiser for Richard and his late wife Kitty, though soon its needs were overshadowed by the needs of their growing family, and Richard tucked the car away… for 40 years. Richard’s story is proof that despite the ways life sometimes kicks you around, being surrounded by people who love you is enough to move mountains. And restore an old Dodge.