The Roberto Clemente Car

Seemingly out of the blue, there it was. The 1972 Dodge Charger SE awarded to the great Roberto Clemente for being most valuable player in the 1971 World Series was available for purchase. Randy Dye of Deland, FL could hardly believe his eyes. Dye saw that the car was up for auction, and along with a myriad of other sports fans/collectors, he was on hand last July for the Major League All Star Fan Fest Memorabilia Auction. The sale of the car connected on two levels for the Florida resident. He had grown up a Clemente fan while living north of Pittsburgh, and remembered Clemente’s stirring showing in the 1971 Fall Classic. And he has spent a lifetime in the car business, with a particular affinity for Chrysler products.  The fact that the “Clemente Car” was a 1972 Dodge Charger SE was just icing on the cake. And the Charger had its original 440 Magnum engine. It is fully loaded with air conditioning, power steering, power front disc brakes, automatic slapstick shifter transmission, AM-FM stereo radio with cassette player and recorder, power windows, and so much more. It sold new, in 1972, for just under $5,000. After some nervous moments during the auction, Dye eventually was awarded the keys to the Clemente Dodge. And that day began a love affair. Dye and the crew at Daytona Dodge Chrysler Jeep RAM in Daytona Beach, FL have lovingly restored the car to its original mint condition, down to documentation from Clemente’s native Puerto Rico. And now the car will start on another journey. Dye plans to take the vehicle wherever there are baseball fans who might like to see it.   Like the car’s initial owner, he has a strong feeling about giving back to the community, and Dye hopes that the car’s appearance at various events will give him the opportunity to raise money for children's charity  programs wherever they might be in need.​ It’s easy to think that Roberto Clemente would be very pleased.