The, 71 sounds exiting. Had the first year dart (same body as the swinger which came out the year after) with a 373 6-pack in crinkly black finish from the factory, that's a good memory!
As for wondering if it was worth it? don't worry about that if you are having fun at the time, you can fuss over that later. We had a saying back in neanderthal time that said "if it feels good, do it" worry about it later.
That attitude built me a few decent screamers I would never build now lol.
I still have a 383 sbc stroker almost done in one corner of the living room, and a twin cam Harley engine in the other plus a 1927 lister engine I'm doing up from dead as I get time.
I may be old but not dead yet.
And the Dutch part, I'm an original, hatched in Holland, and immigrated to Canuck in '67.
I wanted the US of A, but the parents didn't like my "lets go help em over there in the Nam" attitude, and (legally) restricted me from doing that. So Canada was close enough.
loving your thread also, I'm still a Jeep junky, along with a whole world of mechanical technology. my spare bedroom is a mini machine shop with a small mill, a small lathe and the rest of it.
But I digress and am hogging your post, beers.
