$10,000

[Chargerfan77]

Hey all! I'm thinking about going the loan route for me a Charger sometime, when I get our car payed off. The loan route is about the only way I'll ever be able to, I think. What would $10,000 get me? Reason I ask that is, that's about how much our car is. Just wondering.

[hemihead]

I would think what Gen you want . 1st or 3rd you get a better car for $10000 than a 2nd .

[Chargerfan77]

Oh....I like 2nd gens.

[Tilar]

Then you probably want to double that and hope it's at least a driver.

[twodko]

Word.

[Homerr]

Are you looking for a driver or a project?  

That will get you a decent project..... but a driver is a very long shot.

Watch your local craigslist for a while for prices.  Probably better to save your pennies for now, join a local club, get some leads on an unadvertised car.

[Ghoste]

Agreed, I don`t want to rain on the idea but it`s a little short if you want something better than a project.

[myk]

Multiply that number times 4 and you just might have something on your hands that requires a minimal amount of work.  If you're looking for a "project" that won't see you eating your own gun, then plan on spending that number times 2. 

[ws23rt]

What I was going to say has been said already. So I agree 10K is a good start on a project but finishing a project doesn't just happen for free. Your time discounted.

[Cooter]

I've proven that $150.00 2nd gen Chargers do exists today.
I've proven to restore said Charger don't take 'ignant' money if your willing to learn, get dity, and are patient.
I've proven that $15k 2nd gen Chargers in driver cond. Do exist....

If none of these apply to you, lube up.

[ws23rt]

I've proven that $150.00 2nd gen Chargers do exists today.
I've proven to restore said Charger don't take 'ignant' money if your willing to learn, get dity, and are patient.
I've proven that $15k 2nd gen Chargers in driver cond. Do exist....

If none of these apply to you, lube up.

---You are referring to rear end lube I suspect.

[Chargerfan77]

Are you looking for a driver or a project?  

That will get you a decent project..... but a driver is a very long shot.

Watch your local craigslist for a while for prices.  Probably better to save your pennies for now, join a local club, get some leads on an unadvertised car.

Project.

[Patronus]

you could get a nice paint job

[nvrbdn]

I've proven that $150.00 2nd gen Chargers do exists today.
I've proven to restore said Charger don't take 'ignant' money if your willing to learn, get dity, and are patient.
I've proven that $15k 2nd gen Chargers in driver cond. Do exist....

          yep, i agree.

[RGA]

$150.00 charger 2nd gen.
You must have put decibel in the wrong place

[ws23rt]

He didn't type that loudly 

[JB400]

$150.00 charger 2nd gen.
You must have put decibel in the wrong place

He put it in the right place.  Just look in places that aren't exposed to the musclecar envy.  You can get decent cars here and there.  You just have to look and be patient.  Cheap projects can still be found if you take the back roads and rarely visited one horse towns.  It's a long shot for sure, but still a shot.

[Sublime/Sixpack]

He didn't type that loudly 

[stripedelete]

$150.00 charger 2nd gen.
You must have put decibel in the wrong place

No.  You just need to use Cooter's time machine. 

[Cooter]

"Before and after pics" thread....(my pics)

Of course, nobody is willing to go through the work it takes these days, but they are out there.
Anybody seen "Baldwin's" Charger with amnesia build?
They are out there. Everybody wants the rust free, do very little work to, and all it needs is the fun sh*t done cars..
Well, your ass is gonna pay for that.

[1974dodgecharger]

In what year did u get a 150 dollar 2nd gen charger cooter.  I know of the road kill show he traded his heads for that charger.

[Cooter]

2001

[Baldwinvette77]

I had the chance to buy a Rusty R/T 70 for 500$ from an old lady, we agreed to it, but some collector offered her 1500$ and took it home, she did offer me a 72 challenger for 1000$ but i wanted a charger (this was 2011)

[Cooter]

Bottom line is, they are out there if your willing to work your ass off.
However, today, everybody wants what I refer to as the 'model car' type project. Everythings there, very little to no rust, all they have to do is assemble it and call it a resto.
I call BS. You didn't restore sh*t, all you did was reasemble a car.
Bring one back from the scrapper and you can use the term restored.

[hemihead]

I'm am more than willing and able to do all the work a project needs myself . But in my experience I find a project that is a basket case and I run into people that tell me " it's not for sale " or " I saw it on TV and it's worth ... " . These days you would have to find a one horse town that doesn't have TV or the Internet and that isn't going to happen . I don't mind paying a fair price for a project in equal condition to said price but but some of these prices are downright unrealistic . I've seen uni - bodies they've pulled out of junkyards ( you can tell because they have no title ) that are picked clean and they are asking $5000 to $ 7000 for . People want $6000 just for big 75 4 door C Bodies just because " it's an old car " and I saw that auction on TV . The entire hobby is become very expensive with lots of greedy people out there . Sure , I bet there are deals out there but the last deal I found was in 2001 when I paid $1200 for my 73 and I bought it non running and in pieces .

[bill440rt]

As others have stated, $10K will most likely net you a good project car.
Cheap Chargers are floating around out there, but you'll need to look HARD and be patient. Depends also what part of the country you're from.

BTW, my '69 cost $600, and this was around in 2004.

[Dino]

Getting a loan for a car that leaves lots of spare room in your wallet when you just look at it is in my opinion not the wise thing to do.  You do what you want, but you would not be the first nor the last to seriously regret doing something like that.  You will end up paying R/T money for a base charger project.

If you buy a project but do not have a good cash flow and lots of time, it'll likely never get finished and may end up being sold for pennies on the dollar.  This is also assuming you can do the vast majority of the work yourself.

Starting funds alone, $15K would get you much closer to a solid driver, although don't expect it to not have issues.  That said, they are, or can easily be made, into solid drivers.  The more you can initially invest the better of course, but you will find very nice cars in the $15K - $20K range.

If you really want a 2nd gen and you don't want to settle then I  suggest you go over your household budget, see where you can do better by eliminating some cost or selling some stuff that's been in storage for who knows how long.  

This is an expensive toy.  When you have that sucker running you better know where all the gas stations are as well!  

2001 is long gone.  $150 Chargers do no longer exist.  That's what crappy fenders go for.  A few grand gets you a roller and I'm sorry, but if you want actual charger parts on that shell, you're looking at several tens of thousands.

[Troy]

What kind of loan? If you try going through any of the usual classic car Loan companies you cannot purchase a project. End of story. You'll also need 20% down and the interest rates are 2-3 times higher than a normal car loan. If you have a good relationship with your bank AND really good credit, you can get an unsecured loan or line of credit for that amount at a cheaper rate and they don't care what you buy. I bought a truck to haul my other junk and sold it to pay back the loan. It was sort of like renting a truck for 6 months for free...

The bad news is that you aren't going to get much in the way of a 2nd Gen Charger for $10k. Use Cooter's time machine to go back to 2001 and spend $10k and you'd get a reasonably nice drivable car. I bought and sold my first 68 for $1,000 (and my 70 Challenger for $300). Not happening today! I sold a 69 grill assembly for just under $2,000 and a headlight vacuum switch for $150 within the last few years. Any car you do get for $10k will likely take at least that much to make it look decent and drive right. More than double that if you want it to look great and perform. If you spend all you have and your loan takes the bulk of your spare cash then the car is going to sit because you can't afford to fix anything or make it better.

You're better option is to take out a classic car loan for $30k and buy a nice finished one that you don't have to work on. You'll probably get a car that's had $45k dumped into it and the seller is taking a loss. Of course, you still have to put gas in it, maintain it, and insure it. Trust me, fixing these things once you do get them on the road isn't always that much cheaper than building them in the first place! If you can't afford that, at least try to get up around the $15-18k range. The quality of the cars will be much better. I have several thousand pictures of my cars to show you exactly what you can get for under $10k. The reason there are thousands of pictures is because that's what you have to do to document a complete tear down and rebuild with lots of sheet metal replacement and worn out parts!

Honestly, if you can't set aside at least $2-3k *before* buying the car then it's doubtful that you'll be able to keep up with one once it's in your garage. Either that or plan on a very long-term project - which some guys do. You just have to be realistic in your expectations. All these cars can be fixed these days - but they can be (and often are) a HUGE drain on time and money.

And it's not just Charger parts. Anyone who has bought anything on a regular basis knows that a dollar just doesn't buy what it used to even a few years ago. My favorite (ok weakness), french fries for example! More seriously, I'm kicking myself for not staying in college to get an advanced degree because now it will cost me double. I have a pilot's license. When I got mine it cost a tad over $4,000 (including books, flight time, instructors, and tests). Try that today!

Troy

[70 sublime]

Pay the car you have now off and keep putting the same amount away  every month
If you can find a few more pennies to save and put away $500 a month you will get to a $ number in your bank account that makes looking at Chargers for sale more interesting
If you can not save up this way you will never be able to pay back a loan and still have the extra cash to work on the car

Every one seems to (at least I did many years ago) buy their first Charger only to learn they did not really know where all the places to inspect and end up with a car not of their dreams
This will happen if you are not carefull but it almost should so you will understand the value of a good car when it comes along

My first one was a 68 and ended up buying a second 68 (with a good frame) that I could put all the best parts on to make a car of it

I sold the leftovers for close to what I had in the first car and I still have a few bits around from my first Charger to this day

[F8-4life]

I'll sell ya my 69 for 10k!
Needs work though!

[68 CHARGER R/T]

This is what you might get for in that range   

http://www.autotraderclassics.com/classic-car/1970-Dodge-Charger-1062807.xhtml?conversationId=39857

[Daytona R/T SE]

If I didn't already have my stash of old cars and parts, the tools, garage, and skills to do most of the work myself...

I wouldn't mess around with an old car at all anymore.

Go out and pick out something brand new, make your payments, keep it nice, maybe make a few performance upgrades...

Get it right away,  and not have to spend all your free time cutting out rust, choking on bondo dust, chasing parts, having your car held prisoner in various shops for years...

AND...

You get a factory warrantee if something breaks.

[Ghoste]

Restored or reassembled or whatever, if you covet the masochistic pride of rescuing a 150 dollar Charger today, then I say go for it.  As for me, I prefer to get as much car as I can possibly afford and if someone looks down on me for buying one already finished or not earning my chops or just doing the fun stuff so be it.  I will still sleep soundly at night, enjoy my car and be every single bit just as much of a Charger owner.

[1974dodgecharger]

Are they selling 2nd gen chargers same body and all the dealerships right now?  Last i heard they made em 4 doors?

Had to ask....new cars have no soul vs old cars.

If I didn't already have my stash of old cars and parts, the tools, garage, and skills to do most of the work myself...

I wouldn't mess around with an old car at all anymore.

Go out and pick out something brand new, make your payments, keep it nice, maybe make a few performance upgrades...

Get it right away,  and not have to spend all your free time cutting out rust, choking on bondo dust, chasing parts, having your car held prisoner in various shops for years...

AND...

You get a factory warrantee if something breaks.

[Daytona R/T SE]

Are they selling 2nd gen chargers same body and all the dealerships right now?  Last i heard they made em 4 doors?

Had to ask....new cars have no soul vs old cars.

[/quote]


Any car is just a machine.

There is no such thing as a "soul" in a car, old or new.

Old cars don't go to heaven or hell when they die, they get crushed and melted down into Toyotas or some other junk.

Restoring or rebuilding any old car is a long, expensive pain in the ass.

Any one who says otherwise has been watching too much "reality" TV.

The point is, If I were just getting into cars now, I wouldn't aggravate myself with a project,  and a lot of the $30,000 and up "Done" old cars are just bondo wagons that are going to need "re-restored", anyway.

The new car can be anything the OP chooses, doesn't have to say "Charger" on it.

There's lots of sporty new cars that outdo any old car in every respect, except possibly for looks.

I know I could have paid for a new Viper AND a new Challenger if I had just ratholed every penny I've spent on cars, parts, tools, the garage, trucks/trailer, going to shows/swapmeets etc. over the last 25+ years.

I'm getting older...

And maybe a littler wiser.

[nvrbdn]

i can agree with you to an extent. i do love the ride and the stereo, air conditioning, comfort of the new vehicles and being older, i have also thought of the new up to date technology.
             but i like the fun of the car shows and driving an old car. so i chose a car that i could build myself without investing thousands of dollars. its a driver that i can not worry about. didnt put too much cash into it, and can show up at a show with an old car. its my hobby that takes my free time when i feel like it. for me, i just have to have an old car (or two)

[Ghoste]

Soul is of course the wrong word but its the best one we can come up with to try and describe that intangible quality that a new car doesn't have.

[71green go]

If I didn't already have my stash of old cars and parts, the tools, garage, and skills to do most of the work myself...

I wouldn't mess around with an old car at all anymore.

Go out and pick out something brand new, make your payments, keep it nice, maybe make a few performance upgrades...

Get it right away,  and not have to spend all your free time cutting out rust, choking on bondo dust, chasing parts, having your car held prisoner in various shops for years...

AND...

You get a factory warrantee if something breaks.

I tend to agree.....I am thinking more and more everyday of selling my R/T and buying a really nice challenger SRT8......

[Daytona R/T SE]

If I didn't already have my stash of old cars and parts, the tools, garage, and skills to do most of the work myself...

I wouldn't mess around with an old car at all anymore.

Go out and pick out something brand new, make your payments, keep it nice, maybe make a few performance upgrades...

Get it right away,  and not have to spend all your free time cutting out rust, choking on bondo dust, chasing parts, having your car held prisoner in various shops for years...

AND...

You get a factory warrantee if something breaks.

I tend to agree.....I am thinking more and more everyday of selling my R/T and buying a really nice challenger SRT8......

I'm really fighting the urge to sell off all of the old cars and parts and just get a new SRT8 Challenger, or a used Viper.  

Getting a little older...

A little wiser...

And...just plain tired of fu*&ing with this shit.

[Ghoste]

Thats an undeniable part of it too.  We change even if we think we don`t.

[Daytona R/T SE]

Thats an undeniable part of it too.  We change even if we think we don`t.

[1974dodgecharger]

Lol, we view things differently.  The things these cars did back then, the aura of them, the social times etc vs now.

What has the new challenger done? Oh wait they cloned the Daytona that's right they put a wing back there and a nose in and that's aftermarket dodge won't make one, oh yeah that's right.  Let me see what has the challenger done to make its proving grounds oh wait it did hit 200mph didn't ,or did it? I don't know.....oh we'll let me think what has the new challenger done....I guess im old cause I can't think of anything can u?  

That's what soul is brother the ability to forge memories that are iconic or new, emotional, especially during its times of its era which the challenger has not done.


Your point of cars having no soul is equivalent to Jim's Hendrix not having soul.

Sorry but that's just wrong brother......

You can pick any car u want no doubt but that charger u have will always be desirable vs your new challenger 20 years from now.  I can pull up next to the light against a 6.4l hemi challenger and guarantee the charger will be looked vs the challenger but then again u will have air, cruise, fancy smooth ride vs ridiculous rumble lol.

Are they selling 2nd gen chargers same body and all the dealerships right now?  Last i heard they made em 4 doors?

Had to ask....new cars have no soul vs old cars.

Any car is just a machine.

There is no such thing as a "soul" in a car, old or new.

Old cars don't go to heaven or hell when they die, they get crushed and melted down into Toyotas or some other junk.

Restoring or rebuilding any old car is a long, expensive pain in the ass.

Any one who says otherwise has been watching too much "reality" TV.

The point is, If I were just getting into cars now, I wouldn't aggravate myself with a project,  and a lot of the $30,000 and up "Done" old cars are just bondo wagons that are going to need "re-restored", anyway.

The new car can be anything the OP chooses, doesn't have to say "Charger" on it.

There's lots of sporty new cars that outdo any old car in every respect, except possibly for looks.

I know I could have paid for a new Viper AND a new Challenger if I had just ratholed every penny I've spent on cars, parts, tools, the garage, trucks/trailer, going to shows/swapmeets etc. over the last 25+ years.

I'm getting older...

And maybe a littler wiser.


[/quote]

[ws23rt]

If I didn't already have my stash of old cars and parts, the tools, garage, and skills to do most of the work myself...

I wouldn't mess around with an old car at all anymore.

Go out and pick out something brand new, make your payments, keep it nice, maybe make a few performance upgrades...

Get it right away,  and not have to spend all your free time cutting out rust, choking on bondo dust, chasing parts, having your car held prisoner in various shops for years...

AND...

You get a factory warrantee if something breaks.

I tend to agree.....I am thinking more and more everyday of selling my R/T and buying a really nice challenger SRT8......

I'm really fighting the urge to sell off all of the old cars and parts and just get a new SRT8 Challenger, or a used Viper.  

Getting a little older...

A little wiser...

And...just plain tired of fu*&ing with this shit.

I'm right where you are. But I was able to buy myself an 09 challenger srt. It was a present to me for all my years of working.
My interest in selling my C500 is not because I want to sell it. It's because it's time to sell it.

I'm getting older too and don't want to drag every bit of my past with me to the end.  Is this called moving on?

If I had plenty of money it would make no difference. I'm not one of those that want's an indoor parking lot

[71green go]

Amen Brother....my 52 year old ass is tired of wrenching on cars, they can say what they will but newer cars have allot to offer.......ah heated seats lol...please tell me a new SRT8 can be had with heated seats and I'm in ......I don't plan on winter driving it but they feel so good

[Ghoste]

They can.

[ws23rt]

Amen Brother....my 52 year old ass is tired of wrenching on cars, they can say what they will but newer cars have allot to offer.......ah heated seats lol...please tell me a new SRT8 can be had with heated seats and I'm in ......I don't plan on winter driving it but they feel so good

My SRT has heated seats but the one and only time I turned it on it was too much. No control--It was on or off--
Some day there will be a seat heater that can be turned up or down. I know it sounds space age to me too but I think it could be done.

Hmm--space age---wasn't that the sixties?

[71green go]

LOL...My buddies new Platinum Edition F150 has adjustable heated seats...you can control them where you want...and they are also Air conditioned!

[F8-4life]

It's getting harder to stay in the hobby.
Guys are scrounging cars other guys turned down 20 years ago.
Prices are insane and parts are rare.
At a certain point they are just cars..

[Baldwinvette77]

It's getting harder to stay in the hobby.
Guys are scrounging cars other guys turned down 20 years ago.
Prices are insane and parts are rare.
At a certain point they are just cars..

It's even harder to start the hobby  ....... ugh 

[F8-4life]

It's getting harder to stay in the hobby.
Guys are scrounging cars other guys turned down 20 years ago.
Prices are insane and parts are rare.
At a certain point they are just cars..

It's even harder to start the hobby  ....... ugh 

Yep so true.
Sadly a lot of us young guys never had much oppertunity, at least some older folks got a piece of the action when it was good.

[Ghoste]

You guys are starting to depress me.

[Bob T]

I'd go with  presence not a soul - just a machine not a Christine. Modern cars have a lot more features, reliability and often performance, but nothing of the appeal of a classic or hanging out with the people that value the similar aspects of owning and maintaining such a car.

I've owned 26 cars and worked on all of them to varying degrees, I do what I can and call in the professional mates to do what I can't with their specialist tools and knowledge, nothing like doing it badly once and finding out that it has to be done again at more cost.

Also, to the OP, bear in mind your first project could also be a stepping stone to work up to your Prime Mover, maybe spend a bit less on something else to do it up and learn some skills on then sell it to move up the food chain a bit, we all did, I'm guessing.

Buy the  best car you can afford for the dough and keep plugging away at it, fuck watching mindless tv in the evenings, go into the garage and work on your car. Or learn what you can to work on it on D.C
And some nights just play your guitar to get a break from the car  

[1974dodgecharger]

If one has dreams one can achieve just my opinion.


OP i say do what u can and consider everyone's advice but don't take it to heart do whats best for u.

[xs29bb1]

Some day there will be a seat heater that can be turned up or down. I know it sounds space age to me too but I think it could be done.

Really??  Wow - I've got a car from 1999 that has adjustable heated seats....

[xs29bb1]

And some nights just play your guitar to get a break from the car  

Sounds good.  I've got an ES-335 and a PRS Custom I bought 20 years ago.  I should play them a lot more than I do though...

[1974dodgecharger]

Man U guys are on a forum about old cars but acting like well reminiscing about modern technology whats next u guys want a auto pilot for car driving lol.."

[JB400]

Man U guys are on a forum about old cars but acting like well reminiscing about modern technology whats next u guys want a auto pilot for car driving lol.."

It's just around the corner.  Unfortunately.

[Bob T]

And some nights just play your guitar to get a break from the car  

Sounds good.  I've got an ES-335 and a PRS Custom I bought 20 years ago.  I should play them a lot more than I do though...

( Hijack warning  )
Vintage, nice! Was listening to Carlos on the Supernatural cd last night and noticed the covershot was his PRS, there's a guitar thread on here too, check it out and put up some pics

[Patronus]

What do you think happens when you print money as fast as you can, night and day, for years?

[Ghoste]

You get caught?

[Cooter]

$150.00 Chargers do exist today...
There's one right here in the local crusher yard with no title and  is cut in half for $300.00. How bad you want one? THIS IS THE REAL QUESTION. You either buy a cheap car and invest big money over years, or invest big money up front and buy a complete car.
Not whether or not you get a complete car.

Been trying to sell GL for over a year and nobody wants to pony up the cash. Then, in same breath, will complain about insane prices, or none to be had.
They get here and see a little quarter rust and act like these cars are everywhere, rust free, and priced like 1987...
WTF??

[Challenger340]

I'm old, I saw the 70's and 80's, the so-called "good old days" when these cars could be had for fairly reasonable ? I say "fairly" because I thought the prices were starting to get INSANE even back then !
"That guy wants $6K for THAT" ??.... which was just a decent running and complete '69 R/T with no rust, maybe weathered paint with a rip in the seat, and 80,000 miles showing ?

and moving along to today here...
I can't see "Debt" as the answer to buying one today, unless you have a 6 digit income with security ?? Who has that
From what I have seen,
all $10K is going to buy the OP, is the option to spend another $70-$80K, while paying Interest ?

IMO,
While climbing right now....Prices on these Cars will eventually drop again as more people will prioritize living & eating, against the inevitable Inflation that is indeed coming ?
Think about it.....
it is mind-boggling, but a stack of $100 Bills equal to 1 Trillion Dollars..... laid over on it's side..... is 950 MILES long !!!!!!!

A $100 Dollar Bill is .006" thick
1" takes 166 $100 Bills
12" or 1 Foot, equals 12 X 166 = 1,992 $100 Bills
1 mile takes 5,280 Feet...... or 5,280 X 1,992($100 Bills) = 10,517,760($100 Bills)... which is only a little over 1 BILLION Dollars ? at face currency value.
and therefore,
if 1 TRILLION Dollars, Face Currency Value is 1,000 Billion ... you get the picture here  

The U.S. Debt went from what $8-9 Trillion in 2008..... to past $17 Trillion in just 5 years ??
Just numbers.... but see it for what it is... a MASSIVE devaluation in what remained of our North American standard of living is coming for competitive reasons ?  

[ws23rt]

My bills are only .003" thick.  Maybe I'm stretching my money too thin.

A trillion is a big number and perspectives help to get a feel for it.  Another one is one trillion seconds is about 30,000 years.

[myk]

You guys are starting to depress me.

Yeah, I hope we didn't scare the 'OP off...

[Cooter]

You guys are starting to depress me.

Yeah, I hope we didn't scare the 'OP off...

I dunno bout you, but I'd much rather be told the f'n truth than to be misled.....

[ws23rt]

You guys are starting to depress me.

Yeah, I hope we didn't scare the 'OP off...

I dunno bout you, but I'd much rather be told the f'n truth than to be misled.....

I agree.  He asked for our opinions and honesty may help keep him out of trouble.

[archie360]

Not sure about having a soul, I would use the term Mojo.  Meaning it has it's own vibe, a relic from days gone by.  Musicians use this term all the time to describe guitars such as as original 50's Stratocasters, Les Pauls, etc. A guitar with a tone that purists say cannot be reproduced with modern equipment.  Modern stuff can be arguably superior in every way, but it either has the magic or it doesn't..

[Chargerfan77]

You guys are starting to depress me.

Yeah, I hope we didn't scare the 'OP off...

Nope, I'm still here.

[69hemidaytona]

$150.00 Chargers do exist today...
There's one right here in the local crusher yard with no title and  is cut in half for $300.00. How bad you want one? THIS IS THE REAL QUESTION. You either buy a cheap car and invest big money over years, or invest big money up front and buy a complete car.
Not whether or not you get a complete car.

Been trying to sell GL for over a year and nobody wants to pony up the cash. Then, in same breath, will complain about insane prices, or none to be had.
They get here and see a little quarter rust and act like these cars are everywhere, rust free, and priced like 1987...
WTF??

If half a car is $300.00 wouldn't it be $600.00 for a whole car, not $150.00?

[Ghoste]

Not to mention no title.

[myk]

You guys are starting to depress me.

Yeah, I hope we didn't scare the 'OP off...

Nope, I'm still here.

Don't let the doom and gloomers put you off.  In the summer of '94 I wanted a Charger too, and working at McDonald's for $4.25 an hour it felt like it would never happen.  But guess what?  Patience, perseverance, and waverless self-control over mind and money paid off in the long run.  No, Chargers don't cost now what they did in '94, but the idea is still the same:  set your goal and go after it, the only alternative you have is to just give up and automatically fail.    Please do not settle and get a 60's Mustang with a 289 and all that other nonsense.  Follow your dreams!

[Ghoste]

Myk is 100% right.  Every age group looks back rosily and thinks it used to be better and then there will be a bunch who buy into and they somehow missed out.  Yes, when I started in this you could buy these things as nothing more than cheap used cars.  I bought a 68 road runner for 75 dollars.  Golden era?  It was a junky used car only worth 75 and I was making about 2.50 an hour at the time.  And no AMD or repro industry, you went to the scrapyard to fill your junk with better junk.

[charger_fan_4ever]

Like anything its about how bad you want it. Want it bad enough and it will happen.
I unloaded $5k for a rusty 70 R/t back in 2009. Got over 20k in it but the body is now rust free with real metal and a new interior,bumpers ect. Another 10k or so and that key will be turned.

Could have put up want ads and held out for years to find that special deal, but at somepoint you gotta commit to it and get it done.

[Dreamcar]

To the OP...

Here's what 10K Canadian got me for a car and extra parts in July 2013 (they are a little more rare up here):

- rolling 69 Charger (non RT) with a previously replaced front clip from another 69 Charger with a/c (likely 20+ years ago), likely done professionally because the car is very straight, even with a measuring tape.
- clean title
- Fender tag that matches the VIN on dash and front clip
- car already sandblasted and primed to stop future rust
- no major quarter panel surgery required (just two lower spots needing small patches)
- no frame rot, very solid
- All the seats (need re-upholstering)
- bare 383 block needing complete rebuild
- Complete 318 engine installed with small-black tranny
- complete glass with extras
- Most of the exterior chrome and stainless trim
- extra set of doors
- grille needing complete resto but useable
- tailights
- extra front lower valance (never used)
- some usesable interiror trim, but no carpet or headliner or useable interior door panels
- complete and rebuildable gauge cluster

I now plan on replacing the front floor pan (with full one piece) and factory style rockers to fix prior "fixing" that was done on the car. I already bought new fenders and the small patches for the quarters. Then no more metal work will be required.

Anyways, I have a big project in front of me (which I wanted anyway), but no worse than some others that I have seen that require more than half of the AMD catalogue (there's nothing wrong with that IMO, let's save as many Chargers as we can!!). But, I just wanted to show you want 10k in local currency got me in a place where they are a little rare, but not impossible to find. Honestly, I sometimes would prefer buying a project that's half started because you get a better idea of what you are starting with rather than wondering what lies underneath the fresh paint. But, starting with car that needs a rebuild or, like in my case, with something already mostly torn down is not everyone's cup of tea. Up to you to decide.

[Patronus]

I paid $7900 for a totally complete car, rusty lips, and some shitty upholstery. Pulled the pine cones out, changed the plugs and I'm still driving it.

[1974dodgecharger]

Man you guys have some scary stories with scary prices. ...nonetheless I like the stories especially myks.

[Cooter]

If half a car is $300.00 wouldn't it be $600.00 for a whole car, not $150.00?

No. $300.00 for hoth halves. Or, $150.00 for tge half you wanna restore.
Point is, they are out there cheap, its just nobody wants to bring back a roach.
Someone said it best...
"You can spend your life restoring a car, but I'm not"...thing is, 5 years or so and your done.
Too many want an easy resto. Where all they do is the fun sh*t.