Junkyard Chargers

[DTB]

Hello all, new to the Mopar Scene. I don't own a Charger yet however I have been on the search for a 68-70 Charger. I found a 70 charger 500 in a junkyard. Well it was a tip from someone else that pointed me in that direction. I talked the junkyard owner today, going to look at it this weekend. Supposedly it started out as a running car that was impounded, owner didn't have the $$$ to get it back. Don't have a lot of info on it at this point, he just said it didn't have the original engine, missing some parts over the years, but mostly complete. Hood may be gone. Obviously won't know the story till I see it in person. He did say he had to have 3k out of it. So,in recent years junkyard hunting,etc, what seems to be a ballpark value on these "bottom of the barrel", junk,major resto needed cars?

Recently on local craigslist there was another 70 that needed major work,no drivetrain or title,for $2500. Just wish I knew what this junkyard car looked like.Here is a picture of the craigslist 70.

[JB400]

Welcome to the forum I think he's asking about the right price, just note that there are some 70 specific parts that aren't being reproduced.  The more complete, the better.

[tan top]

hello & welcome  , 

[Mopar Nut]

Welcome aboard!

Does it have a salvage title, be careful if it does.

[BIGBLCK11]

Welcome!   It better have a lot of nice interior parts, suspension and mainly the front clip.   Otherwise, it looks closer to $300 to me.  Only 1 pic, but I think you could do better. 

[DTB]

Well the one pictured was just an example of one nearby on c-list for $2500.The back half is pretty well gone. I've yet to see any pictures of the 500 in the junkyard. Thanks for the welcome. Is there a "charger bible" so to speak on what I should be looking out for on one of these cars? I'm a Chevy "truck" guy (Don't hold it against me) so I've got no knowledge of these cars. The story I received was that the car was impounded, fees were never payed,now owned by the junkyard. Suppose to be a 383/auto, low geared posi rear end.That's all I know about it at this point.Didn't ask about the title situation, I have to call him again Friday before I go there this weekend.

[Cooter]

If your into Chevy trucks.......lemme put it this way....

That car at that much would be like paying that much for a 1977 Chevy truck that lived it's entire life on the ocean.

[Daytona R/T SE]

If you're a Chevy guy...

Prepare to be amazed when you have to pay $1000 for a busted plastic Charger grille.

'70  Charger hoods and fenders are the toughest to find and therefore...

Expensive.

[DTB]

I haven't really browsed through any catalogs yet but it did amaze me that the aftermarket parts available are not as vast as some others. Heck,short of cab and frame I could of pieced my 71 Chevy together in a parts book. Lol.  Really won't know the story until Saturday so it's hard to speculate on the condition of the Charger in question. It may be to far gone for me to consider purchasing. I will keep everyone updated,and get some pictures. Sounds like I'd be better off with a 69 front clip if it came to it, most of the front end metal is reproduced for them,no ?

[bakerhillpins]

The grilles are hard to come by on any Charger so even if the fenders and hood for the 68/69 are available through aftermarket metal (AMD) the grille is still going to set you back another $12-1500 if you can find one. Might be able to piece together broken one for less and do the resto on your own.

Where are you located?? If you are looking someone might know of a decent car near you.

Welcome.  

[bill440rt]

Welcome to DC.com! 

Lack of a title would be a deal breaker for me.
$2500 seems to be the going rate for a clapped out project car these days, I've seen even higher. As you are realizing finding them is becoming tougher but you just have to look. They are out there.
The '70 pictured is worth something to someone out there, but will still not be for the faint of heart or the novice.
Best of luck to you. You've found the right place for Chargers.

[cudaken]

  DTB, welcome as well and congratulation on turn from the dark side! 

What to look for depends a lot on your skill set. Frame rails are a biggie to a lot of people. Good news is you can buy front and rear frame rails, trunk floors, floor pans and inter fenders and I think firewalls. 

Far as body panels, you can get doors, trunk, rear window panel, roof, front cowling, rear valances and rear bumper, I think it is the same as a 69? With some work 69 quarter panels can be made to fit by filling 69 markers and grafting in the 70 section.

As brought up, the fenders, hoods, front bumper and rear taillight panel will be the important items in my book. You can use 69 fender patch panels for the rear of the Wheel Well on the 70. One of the reasons the 70 front ends are hard to find is because they are the same as the 69 Daytona Charger. More that a few clones have been and are being made.

All so make sure the yard can get you a title. While a salvage title would not bother me make sure you are not spending $3000 on a parts car only!

Personally I like the 70 Charger the best. Only thing I did I did not like on mine was the interior door panels.

Hope I was of some help and keeps us posted. We all so like pictures!

Cuda Ken 

[DTB]

Thanks for all the info and welcomes. I'm in southern Indiana (One of the rust belt capitals of the world). Honestly through all of my junkyard pickings I've yet to see a 2nd gen yet. There are a few restored Chargers around but other then that, the rust or scrap have taken the rest. I'm sure local parts availability is next to none. That 70 I attached the photo of, might make somebody a good parts car. It appeared to have most of the interior less gauge cluster and console. If I would get the other one, I may talk to the man who owns the blue one and see if I can get some parts if needed. Price was "or best offer" but owners typically think of them as gold. I've got a good idea now on the problematic areas. Where exactly are the id tags that I need to look for on these? I will snap some photos and let the experts decipher the codes when I get them.

[1974dodgecharger]

yes the mopars are considered 'gold' relative to a chevy and ford.

[hemihead]

It should be criminal to sell a pile of rust like that . You can't even call that thing a car . It amazes me what 2nd Gen guys will pay to get one of these things . E - Body guys too . I live in SW PA . another rust belt capital and the last time I saw one in a junkyard was in 1994 and it was a 1968 383 4 speed car . Just the body but nice , and complete . He crushed it . Nobody wanted it . I worked there at the time and he was asking $1500 .

[greenpigs]

Save your money and keep looking, but plan on taking a road trip to get your Charger.

A so so Charger out west would be prime material in the midwest(not the one pictured).

[paironines]

Southern Indiana? Let us know if its green and black with some old red oxide primer on it. Last time I seen that one it was pretty complete but very rough and rusty. If its the same place they had a 68 shell and 70 RR too but the owner was none too nice back then.

[Homerr]

Welcome DTB!


I just have one request - please don't paint the engine bay black (unless the car is black).  We Mopar guys like engine bays to be body color.   

[DTB]

Southern Indiana? Let us know if its green and black with some old red oxide primer on it. Last time I seen that one it was pretty complete but very rough and rusty. If its the same place they had a 68 shell and 70 RR too but the owner was none too nice back then.

Sent you a message.

[TUFCAT]

It should be criminal to sell a pile of rust like that . You can't even call that thing a car . It amazes me what 2nd Gen guys will pay to get one of these things .

Welcome!

Here's your best advise.  Start saving money. Buy the most complete, and easy to restore car your time and talents will allow.  The biggest reason people fail to make their Charger dreams a reality is the enormous time and money obligation required to complete such a basket case (like this P.O.S).  

I suggest setting more reasonable goals for yourself.  Outside labor is very EXPENSIVE!! ...and your time is valuable.  Something this overwhelming very few members on here (would or could) ever complete without being upside down, taking 10 years to complete - or even get started on.

Junk like this usually gets sold again or used for parts when people find out they don't have the time, courage, bankroll, or insanity level to restore.  The car pictured is not a rare enough example of the breed, and does not deserve to be saved in that condition. Sorry but true, find another one.  


Again, welcome!!  Sorry to be such a downer.  

[DTB]

Thanks for the welcome.The car pictured is not the one that I'm going to look at. It's just another car on local craigslist for sale. Hopefully the other one is in better shape. I'm not afraid of body work but there is no way I'd consider fixing up that blue one.

[cudaken]

Thanks for the welcome.The car pictured is not the one that I'm going to look at. It's just another car on local craigslist for sale. Hopefully the other one is in better shape. I'm not afraid of body work but there is no way I'd consider fixing up that blue one.

I would, but then again I am not that bright! 

[DTB]

Thanks for the welcome.The car pictured is not the one that I'm going to look at. It's just another car on local craigslist for sale. Hopefully the other one is in better shape. I'm not afraid of body work but there is no way I'd consider fixing up that blue one.

I would, but then again I am not that bright! 

Lol, I suppose it wouldn't be impossible with the right resources but without any other models of these around here like other regions, parts availability is slim. The car lacks title, engine,tranny,console,gauge cluster,and everything behind the rear window. All the seats and rest of interior looked to be there however. Outer grille is there,nothing else.

[Homerr]

For your consideration, some 'OK' looking cars to start:

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,104414.0.html

http://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparforum/showthread.php?15210-SGTPauls-68-Charger-RT-project

http://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparforum/showthread.php?45279-1969-Charger-R-T-resurrection

[DTB]

Well went and looked at the cars. Definitely not fixable. It's a shame the grille was gone from the 68,it use to be in there. The 70 tail lights were about the best thing of the bunch. Oh well, it was interesting looking at all of the old vintage cars. Owner swears to have a 68/69 front end in a shed somewhere....