[Maxthe222]

Hey PY'ers,

I've been hard at work with the Macho T/A Owner's Group to overhaul the registry for the DKM 1977-1980 Macho T/A's. Over the last few weeks, we've been able to find dozens of Machos that had seemingly fallen off the radar, which we've now been able to incorporate onto one database.

https://www.machoregistry.com/

Interestingly enough, I had been able to track down a lot of those missing Machos based on random off-hand comments spotted on totally unrelated pages or posts on Facebook. Out of all places, the Barnfinds.com comment section turned up 5 unrecorded Machos!

If anyone on here happens to know about a Macho T/A that might not be recorded on our database, or perhaps recognize one listed on the site that hasn't resurfaced, please let us know! Even the smallest rumours have lead to so many being found and recorded in the database to keep them documented. Even if you have stories about one in the past, it's important to record the history and timeline of each car, the current owners would always appreciate the history behind them!

I'm slowing working through adding the factory and DKM options in for each Macho on the registry, there seems to be another one that pops up everyday. We have a contact form on the website as well, which dozens of people have written into to report some Machos popping up!

Some future developments include a possible "For Sale" page where owners can mention they've listed theirs for sale, a full color and production number breakdown once we've got enough entries, and maybe a M.I.A page for Machos still missing.

Hopefully it at least makes for some interesting reading just to hear the stories from some of the owners!

-Max

[Skip Fix]

Do you all have the old Hot Rod article about them?

[72projectbird]

Just spent some time looking thru the site. Nice work! I always liked the Macho TAs. The different paint schemes are wild, and play off of the body lines on the later 2nd gens very well.

Hopefully more are discovered, especially the missing 1980s

[camerjeff]

Great work, thanks for the link!

[Maxthe222]

Originally Posted by Skip Fix

Do you all have the old Hot Rod article about them?

Yes indeed! That's Jim M's (or one of his!) old Macho's, 1978 #54

[Maxthe222]

Originally Posted by 72projectbird

Just spent some time looking thru the site. Nice work! I always liked the Macho TAs. The different paint schemes are wild, and play off of the body lines on the later 2nd gens very well.

Hopefully more are discovered, especially the missing 1980s

So many more have turned up, really pushing to try get to 75% at least!

[Skip Fix]

I remember lusting after them on 78 but I was just getting out of college and got as low a priced one as I could. Which was hard with all the Smokey and the Bandit hype and many dealers selling at list! Luckily Gay Pontiac had a great deal!

[ta6point6]

Well unfortunately the 78 #113 went to the big junkyard in the sky as far as I know. I bought it for 100 off a guy who looked to be in rough shape. He said his ex-wife stole the car and was drunk and hit a telephone pole sometime in the 90"s I think. The first responders had to pry the door open to get her out. A friend of mine told me he had seen an wrecked TA by the side of a plumbing business. I decided to check it out and was told by a guy inside that the guy who owned car was an ex-employee and gave me his number. The guy came to my work and said I could have it for 200 but no title. I didnt have a lot of money in my 20's so I said how about a 100. I paid him 100 bucks and he was walking away and then turned and said you have 3 days to move car because the owner of the business is having it towed. I didnt have any room for car much less the means to restore so I took what I could off of it on a Friday and when I went back on Saturday car was gone. The owner came out asking why the he** was on his property and told him that the TA was mine and he just said I junked it get out. Those pictures on website are actually the ones I took. I dont know long car sat but since 90's I assume but the seats were gone, trans was gone, there was not much left of car. All I took from the car was the steering wheel, rims and shaker hood but not much else. I still have the data plate that was on what was left of the center console that has 113 on it.

[burd]

Kinda odd looking cars, you see a few at the Natz.

[johnta1]

Are the ones that are/were at tatribes.com on there?
(didn't check to see if that site is still around)


Site looks good.

[Maxthe222]

Originally Posted by johnta1

Are the ones that are/were at tatribes.com on there?
(didn't check to see if that site is still around)


Site looks good.

Thanks John! No I have no idea what that website is, so if there were some that were listed on that site, and if the site is still up with some information about some other machos please share!!

[Maxthe222]

Originally Posted by ta6point6

Well unfortunately the 78 #113 went to the big junkyard in the sky as far as I know. I bought it for 100 off a guy who looked to be in rough shape. He said his ex-wife stole the car and was drunk and hit a telephone pole sometime in the 90"s I think. The first responders had to pry the door open to get her out. A friend of mine told me he had seen an wrecked TA by the side of a plumbing business. I decided to check it out and was told by a guy inside that the guy who owned car was an ex-employee and gave me his number. The guy came to my work and said I could have it for 200 but no title. I didnt have a lot of money in my 20's so I said how about a 100. I paid him 100 bucks and he was walking away and then turned and said you have 3 days to move car because the owner of the business is having it towed. I didnt have any room for car much less the means to restore so I took what I could off of it on a Friday and when I went back on Saturday car was gone. The owner came out asking why the he** was on his property and told him that the TA was mine and he just said I junked it get out. Those pictures on website are actually the ones I took. I dont know long car sat but since 90's I assume but the seats were gone, trans was gone, there was not much left of car. All I took from the car was the steering wheel, rims and shaker hood but not much else. I still have the data plate that was on what was left of the center console that has 113 on it.

Dammit. I had a feeling that was the case but I was hoping someone still had it sitting somewhere. Do you know who took the car and what junkyard it ended up at? This week alone we've actually found two sitting in junkyards, one of them is sitting in a junkyard in New York and will be scrapped in February hopefully we've got someone who is going to come out and save it before then. That's really cool you've got the story behind it and that you've saved the tags from the car. Even if it is a destroyed shell somewhere out there, there are plenty of Macho owners who would be prepared to at least get it out of a junkyard.

I'm glad I made this post on the forum, this is exactly the kind of stories and background I wanted to include on the registry!

['ol Pinion head]

78 #183 was owned in N OKC area around 25 years ago. An old friend owned it for near 2 years. Had to listen to his flipper buddy & both of them hauled a few cars to BJ to sell.

Mentioned to my old friend several times to get rid of his lower mile Oldsterd TATA, & keep the '78 Macho as it was one of the best color & optioned Machos that came out of DKM. Black/gold graphics, 400 WC all born w matching. DKM mods included the Nash 5 speed, fiberglass lift off hood, camel Scheel seats, Hooker showbar. Still had its original DKM installed Hooker headers & dual cats. Also was an original paint car though the black was thin on top of drivers side quarter. Would have been a huge attraction for those that buy in hook, line, & sinker to the "Survivor" hype.

Glad to hear '78 #183 owned by someone who appreciates that special T/A.

[Maxthe222]

Originally Posted by 'ol Pinion head

78 #183 was owned in N OKC area around 25 years ago. An old friend owned it for near 2 years. Had to listen to his flipper buddy & both of them hauled a few cars to BJ to sell.

Mentioned to my old friend several times to get rid of his lower mile Oldsterd TATA, & keep the '78 Macho as it was one of the best color & optioned Machos that came out of DKM. Black/gold graphics, 400 WC all born w matching. DKM mods included the Nash 5 speed, fiberglass lift off hood, camel Scheel seats, Hooker showbar. Still had its original DKM installed Hooker headers & dual cats. Also was an original paint car though the black was thin on top of drivers side quarter. Would have been a huge attraction for those that buy in hook, line, & sinker to the "Survivor" hype.

Glad to hear '78 #183 owned by someone who appreciates that special T/A.

That seems to line up with the history i've heard! A shame he kept the TATA and not this Macho! It definitely looks like it's gone to a good home and enjoyed some track since!

[johnta1]

This is the email that was on the old site tatribes, not sure if still good:

Jason D. Beaudette - [email protected]

A few people on PY had some cars on there it looked like?
( or were on here)

Richard Griffith was something (director?) on the site also.

[Maxthe222]

Originally Posted by johnta1

This is the email that was on the old site tatribes, not sure if still good:

Jason D. Beaudette - [email protected]

I've seen this name pop-up a few times, I think i've tried that email too, but I didn't know what the JD stood for before, now I have a better chance of finding him! I saw a JDBeaudette comment on a bunch of Barnfinds Macho listings and he had said he had been tracking a few of them as well, i'd be very interested to hear from him! I sent him another email, hopefully this one goes through. Good tip!

Rich has documented a lot of Machos! I have his one on the site as well of heaps of others he photographed years ago that otherwise have never resurfaced!

[johnta1]

From kingbuzzo in Epic Craigslist thread:

on ebay Macho 122

Looks like it didn't weather well considering your entry on it in your registry?

[kingbuzzo]

neither did Macho Man but we all were glorious and can be again...

[Maxthe222]

Originally Posted by johnta1

From kingbuzzo in Epic Craigslist thread:

on ebay Macho 122

Looks like it didn't weather well considering your entry on it in your registry?

I saw this one come in through a few sources, oh yeah the poor thing is obliterated. NOM 403 Olds engine in place of the original W72. Spoke to the seller to get an account of things, have buyers for it but he wants a ridiculous $4,000 and didn't seem negotiable. But, i've documented his contact information and explained to him to keep in touch if he does sell or starts restoring it.