Sam Scarletta’s big Dodge 880 coupe barely fits in his garage.
“The car is 19 feet 6 inches long,” said Scarletta, 66, a retired wine and spirits salesman from Rochester Hills.
“You could have a wedding in the trunk.”
Back in 1962, Chrysler needed to bring out a large car to compete with other makes so they put the 2-door 880 together and sold just over 1,700 over them.
It drives like a tank, said Scarletta.
“If you hit a Michigan pothole, this thing will smooth it out.”
The story of Scarletta’s bronzey, dusty rose-colored Dodge goes back to 1966.
Andy Boscaglia, who later became Scarletta’s brother-in-law, was a junior in high school when a friend mentioned his mother was selling her car.
Boscaglia told his friend he only had $400, recalled Scarletta.
His friend said, “Ask her.”
Boscaglia did and his friend’s mother sold the car to him.
“He was ecstatic,” said Scarletta.
Boscaglia was the kind of man who saved everything, said Scarletta – his first baseball glove, first bike and this car.
When Scarletta married Boscaglia’s sister Madeline, Scarletta would often see the Dodge in Boscaglia’s garage.
“Andy had it covered and would rest his tools on it. The car never moved,” said Scarletta.
Forty years passed. Scarletta finally told his brother-in-law he’d find a way get the Dodge running.
“I gave him $100,” said Scarletta, payment for the car.
Scarletta met Dave McCain of Rochester Hills through friends, and McCain, who works at a Chrysler dealership himself, refurbished the Dodge in 2001.
“Dave loves working on Chrysler products,” said Scarletta. “He got the Dodge going.”
Boscaglia died in 2004. The Scarlettas keep his memory alive with the Dodge.
“It’s part of Andy,” said Sam.
The rare Dodge draws attention and prizes. With its 361-cubic-inch engine and all original interior, people stare.
“Whenever we come to a show, Chrysler employees swarm it. They only made the car between 1962-64,” said Scarletta.
During Woodward Dream Cruise, he will drive the car to Royal Oak’s Memorial Park.
“All the classics, 25 and older, are there,” he said.
In the meantime, watch for Scarletta in that big Dodge.
“People just love that car,” he said.
Come back to The Oakland Press for our 2015 Cruise coverage
