New to Chargers, have a train of thought that needs de-railing!

[Yes to Dodge]

Hello
The 68-70 Dodge charger was my favorite car from way back(pre Dukes era), couldn't afford a 10 year old Charger though. I had the money for a car made by the 4th biggest manufacturer and aquired the"mentality" to boot.

Now I'm thinking about a Charger, still can't(or won't) buy a completely restored car. TOO much $$$$$$ to drive lots.  Is the term "driver" project in the fan club dictionary? I'm assuming that any rebuildable car has been grabed up by now, and probably doesn't exist here.
I see $45000 cars for sale with the bottom looking untouched as in Bad.

Is there a cost corner of the hobby where I can jump in?

[Ghoste]

There always is and there are many "drivers" on the forum.

[Ghoste]

Oh, and welcome to the group.

[plasticman-32]

this is the site you wanna be on if you own a dodge charger 1966-1974 or just flat out love them, you can find a charger anywere you just have to ask around and know what you want, the people on this website live for these cars and know just about everything there is too know and some.... sometimes i find myself in a wow about a question i ask and i get about 9 replys of the answer im looking for... so if your dream car is a charger you have come to the right place...... just have to ask and watch the for sales
Im 23 years old and a charger 68-70 was my dream car and i said it time to get me my car i bought a 68 charger for $6,000 that was a complete car that was coverd in a barn for 30+ years true story and its my rock.... means the world too me.. i always said i wont find one there all bought up and everyone wants a arm and a leg and people who sell them cheep have holes rust no floors ect.. but i waited and waited and finally a complete car..

so with all that said your in the right place there out there and dont give up, the hunt can be hard and can be a long road but keep your eyes open and ask around.... welcome to DodgeCharger.com I can Truly say us charger owners take care of eachother and are friendly we stick together No such thing as a stupid Question here....

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

There always is and there are many "drivers" on the forum.

I drive mine as much as possible!! 

Welcome

[Ghoste]

And this is just my opinion Yes to Dodge, but if you are open to any Charger from 68 to 70 then I think the very best thing you could do is just split it right down the middle and go for a 69. 

[F8-4life]

If you have good patience you could get a driver project, but they are getting more uncommon by the day it seems.

[tan top]

 hello & welcome 

[JB400]

Welcome to the forum   Best of luck getting the Charger of choice.  There are several that pop up from time to time that fit in with everyone's budget.

While there are some complete cars that fetch a lot, project cars could be a nice alternative as long as you get one as complete as possible.

[Ghoste]

Which does bring up another point which I'm sure applies to AMC as well but still bears repeating, a project is seldom the cheapest way to buy an old car so like Stroker says, buy the most you can.

[F8-4life]

http://toledo.craigslist.org/cto/4236199045.html

[Dans 68]

And this is just my opinion Yes to Dodge, but if you are open to any Charger from 68 to 70 then I think the very best thing you could do is almost split it right down the middle and go for a 68. 

There. Fixed it. 

Oh, and welcome to the site. Good fellas here.

Dan

[Ghoste]

 

[Mike DC]

              
Define driving "a lot".


Most cars in this hobby don't see 500 miles in a year.  Hardly any cars see 5000 miles in local traffic.  A car with 5000 miles in a year has usually amassed it on a few long road trips.  Its not because the owners never intend to drive them, its because they discover it takes so much money & effort to get the car nice, and it starts coming apart again so quickly once they start driving it again . . . the car ends up parked a lot more than they intended when they started the project.



If you want to drive one of these things 5000+ miles a year then you will find yourself rebuilding all kinds of stuff on the car around that purpose.  These cars were never designed to last a long time, and many of the restoration parts & methods are even shorter-lasting than the original stuff was.

Furthermore, over the last 40 years we have all been getting gradually used to having much better-built cars.  Suddenly stepping back into a '60s car today can be a bit of a surprise.  You will be struck by the bad tolerances, loose fit & finish, uncomfortable design, low options, unreliable electricals, loud noise/vibration, rough ride, weak handling & braking, etc.    

[1974dodgecharger]

             
Furthermore, over the last 40 years we have all been getting gradually used to having much better-built cars.  Suddenly stepping back into a '60s car today can be a bit of a surprise.  You will be struck by the bad tolerances, loose fit & finish, uncomfortable design, low options, unreliable electricals, loud noise/vibration, rough ride, weak handling & braking, etc.    

thats what makes it fun!!!!  new cars are the same all have so many creatures of comfort stuff it makes you almost want to fall asleep in the car.  I swear soon you will get your car and there will be a 'nap' button where the car will drive for you for like 30mins or something and then wake you up and then you grab the steering wheel again!!!  or they will put a big coach in there or something etc....

I love getting in the charging knowing I dont have power steering, manual brakes, loud, mean, and requires MUSCLES to drive.......then again I love getting in the minivan also 

[68X426]

Welcome Yes Man. 

Brother Mike DC speaks truth.

My opinion, if you're going to be in a driver, you need a 318 and 2.73 gears. And it should be green on green. Dodge built about 4 million Chargers like that, and they are great drivers.

I love those Mopars. We all do. But if you want a muscle car, and the muscle car experience, you got to step up to a big block and some colorful paint. Keep shopping all sources and eventually you will find the right car for you at the right price.

[Ghoste]

I agree with you 1974, if I wanted to drive in my rolling cacoon with satellite radio, blu-ray, super sensing iso wonder non vibration am I even on the road and moving suspension, quad zone heating, laser guided street finder and the other 1000+ items designed to lessen the drive experience then I would never have even bought a Charger.

[Dino]

If you want to drive one of these things, a lot, then read some of my upgrade posts.  A well tuned Charger will run just fine in stock form, but a few modern touches are no luxury.

It will cost though.  I fill up my car about once a week, once every two when I keep my foot out of it.  (Yeah okay that hasn't happened much)
At $4/gallon with a city mpg of around 8, you do the math.  I put about 3K miles on mine per year. 

I have been involved with these cars since '95 and there are still more than plenty cars left.  Remember, they don't all disappear, most get recycled ie find a new home.  Over the next 10 years we will be seeing a lot of classic cars hit the market as the baby boomers get out of the hobby as well.

Don't go buying the first one you see, there are plenty to choose from BUT you need to be patient.

Also, you want to buy the best car you can afford.  Even then it will likely still need work.  In my opinion, the unmolested drivers are the ones to buy.  The restored cars are way too expensive and you don't always know how the work was done, and project cars are money pits.  No way around it. 

[c00nhunterjoe]

I can't imagine my fuel cost this year but that's not why we have these cars. I can say that every cruise day for me is at least 2 fillups. I was over 5000 miles this year. I drove my car everywhere. Car shows, cruises, grocery store, work, everywhere. 

[Ghoste]

Yep I still have no clue what any of my vehicles get for mileage.  Its not the reason I bought any of them.

[Dino]

True, but you still have to count the cost regardless of its importance or lack thereof. 

[Ghoste]

I suppose.  I have to drive to work so that one is a need and if there is no money for Charger gas then it sits that day.  I'm not saying I don't care about the expense of fuel but its like food, I have to have it so I have to pay and there is no sense thinking about it.
And absolutely 100% I don't think about it as a cost of owning the Charger.  It just is what it is.
Thats not to say there aren't extremes.  If I were getting 1mpg or fuel was 100 bucks a gallon then I couldn't particpate in the hobby but right now its one of the biggest passions I have and I can afford it, so...

[bill440rt]

Welcome to DC.com!! 

Like others have said this IS the place to be for all things '66 - '74 Charger. 
"Affordable" projects and/or drivers can be still found, if you look HARD enough and are patient. They are out there.
I do try to drive mine as well when I can, but due to life circumstances I'll fall into the "less than 500 miles a year" category. I enjoy EVERY minute of it when I do!
No matter which year you choose you'll have a winner, each year has their own small details which makes them unique.

[plasticman-32]

I say no matter how much you spend on gas.. You look good doing it... 

[nvrbdn]

hey, welcome to the party first of all.

          next point is i put all of 50 miles on mine this year. ok, i did just get it pretty much done. got it to 1 show at the end of the year. next year i will cruise more.

[HeavyFuel]

Like others have said....search around, be patient, and spring into action when the time is right.

And drive it!    Cars besides green 318s need love too!
 

Hopefully my car (shamelessly plugged below) will be just as worn out as me at the "end of the road"......at least that's the plan.  

[Dino]

You can shamelessly plug away whenever you feel like it.  I don't get tired looking at that car!   

[Yes to Dodge]

Wow a great reception, thanks, all good comments too.

I do have a favorite year that being a 68, I prefer the small round tail lights and one mouth grill. Is there a source of info on model year changes, example the pistol grip shifters, seats, instrument design ...?
Every body have there favorite things about cars for as many reasons as there are differents cars like shapes colors size what dad liked etc. Dad had Plymouths but they where all slant sixes and I swore I would never have a car with anything oither than V8. I guess I still feel the same about I6's mainly because of the exhaust sound, they really sound like a swather engine when the original muffler is wrapped in tin. (times where tough)

One thing I just got stung on is the proper insurance for a nice old car, I took a chance and just had basic plates on a nice 67 American HT. Because it was a Rambler I only had $5000 into it now its flagged for inspections before it hits the road again. A similar Dodge Dart would be about 3 times the $$ and would have proper insurance.
My wifes wants me to get rid of my AMX and whole AMC thing, the reputation from back in the day is alive and well.

[Ghoste]

Nothing wrong with an AMX.  As for model year changes, we discuss that kind of thing here frequently so just hang around and you'll soon have it.

[JB400]

Nothing wrong with them at all.  Here's an  just for keeping a couple AMC's on the road.  I know you guys have it tough when it comes to restoring one of them. 

[Lord Warlock]

Nothing wrong with an AMX, but you gotta be desperate to drive a rambler.  I remember my dad bought one with a friend, it was a 66 convertible rambler and they paid 50.00 for it total.  And the car was totally straight, no rust and it drove fine. Just noone wanted them.  Always liked the 2 seater AMX with the 390.

There is always a jump in price point available for those that want a driver, you can find them between 10-15k without too much trouble, the RT's tend to go for a bit more, but the standard cars can easily be brought up to rt standards for a few extra bucks.  The days of getting them for 2k to 5k are pretty much long gone now. Unless its a basket case.  And despite the amazing abilities of some of the folks here, not everyone can build one up from scratch so its better to buy one already done up even if it costs a little more.  I still classify mine as a survivor, but it hardly meets that standard anymore as most of the old parts and trim have been replaced, but I've still got less than 10k into it.

Is fit and finish really that bad with our cars? All my doors, trunk lid and hood line up right with even gaps around each, overall I think the fit and finish is pretty good, I've seen much worse on newer cars.  Course I've also had the hood off from time to time and had to realign it myself when putting it back on.

[500Jon]

Welcome to the world of Charger!
Set a budget and buy the best one you can find.
Bodywork is essential, as rustfree as possible.
If its been restored,  ask to see resto pics of metalwork.
A good restorer will always show their good repairs.
Running/driving is always a bonus, non runners can be a nightmare!
Fit and finish is a personal thing, I'd be happy in a 'Joe Dirt' car, but most wouldn't be.
I've seen $50k resto's that would fail road safety checks here in England through severe rust issues.
Engines/trans/axles/seats etc can be fixed and changed at leisure.

Happy motoring from the Limey