Looking for a shop to build me a General Lee...

[Mopar Nut]

I can see his point, half the fun of owning a Charger is watching/building the progress of it being built.

[ws23rt]

I can see his point, half the fun of owning a Charger is watching/building the progress of it being built.

It's true -- building or at least supervising a car build to ones plan is a big part of the hobby. For some it is the hobby.

However when one is on a limited budget (as most of us are) we can get to the finish line by making practical decisions.  If what is on hand needs much work or is special enough to cause pause than the next move is to ask for advice. This is the best place I know of for that advice.

I am only one of many that lurk around here and my opinion is just another bit to add to the decision.

Put all the pluses on paper along with the negatives.  Consider your time and place with family etc. as a large part of the mix. (this could and does kill many projects).

If money or family issues are not high on the --hold on-- list than I say move on with what you have.

If every thing is tight than take advantage of the thousands of dollars that someone else spent and find what is very close to what you want and your task then will be to make it like your vision for thousands of dollars less and the finish likely to be much sooner.

[dyslexic teddybear]

A big plus......with a shop you can trust......you would know exactly what was done. No nasty surprises. No matter how close you look when inspecting......things can be missed.

I do get the reasoning, cheaper to buy it done. Seems you pay one way or another.

Either way.....good luck.

[1965gp]

That I think is part of the point- for some it is the ' hunt' of the car (my dad is this way- once the car is bought it doesn't matter if it is completed), for some it is the build, others it is the cruise and finally for some it is the concourse shows.

True- it will cost less to buy a completed car but for all we know the build may be the part Danacus is looking forward to.

I am the worst about actually enjoying the cars- I really have the most fun during the build and at the end looking at the before/after pics... I have a bad habit of getting a car 95% done to where It looks nice and I can drive it a few times but then get distracted by a new build.  Honestly I do not know if I have driven my 69 Trans Am clone more than 15 times since I've owned it.

[ws23rt]

That I think is part of the point- for some it is the ' hunt' of the car (my dad is this way- once the car is bought it doesn't matter if it is completed), for some it is the build, others it is the cruise and finally for some it is the concourse shows.

True- it will cost less to buy a completed car but for all we know the build may be the part Danacus is looking forward to.

I am the worst about actually enjoying the cars- I really have the most fun during the build and at the end looking at the before/after pics... I have a bad habit of getting a car 95% done to where It looks nice and I can drive it a few times but then get distracted by a new build.  Honestly I do not know if I have driven my 69 Trans Am clone more than 15 times since I've owned it.

I am like you in that I can't seem to get to the end of a project. At 95% or so I lose the drive to do things.

For me it is all about finding a diamond in the rough and the road to making it live again.   

[Mike DC]

  
I would be more likely to agree if most projects were still "diamonds in the rough".  


But it's not 1987 anymore.  
These days most projects are one of about 3 ways:

1. Totally done & expensive.

2.  $1000 basket cases.

3.  About 50% done, but priced at 75% done, and still need another 75% invested to really finish. 

 

[sanders7981]

^Facts right there! 

And I agree with JR, you can buy a plane ticket to go see the car if it's really something you want and end up cheaper than paying some shop $50k to restore one. 

Smith Bros used to post their pricing options, but it appears that they don't anymore.  I recall them having about 3 or 4 different stages of builds to choose from... I think the cheapest one started at 35k plus the cost of the car. 

[XS29L9Bxxxxxx]

I can see his point, half the fun of owning a Charger is watching/building the progress of it being built.

Not for me. At this point in my life, half the fun is turning the key and driving the car. The other 1/2 is keeping my wife on her toes as to what I might bring home next 

[GL#10]

I guarantee you can buy plane tickets (to go inspect one personally)  and shipping costs for less than the cost of paying for restoration. 

But, if you're hellbent on spending two years or more to have a shop build you a General Lee that looks like every other General Lee, more power to you

[Danacus]

Smith Bros used to post their pricing options, but it appears that they don't anymore.  I recall them having about 3 or 4 different stages of builds to choose from... I think the cheapest one started at 35k plus the cost of the car. 

I sent them an email and got a pretty quick reply from Bob Smith. The price list showed (2) levels of build. Their basic level GL build was $75K ! The second was $85K ! And they can't take an order until  late 2016 becuase they are "currently under contract" until then.

[nvrbdn]

you also have the option of finding a car anywhere, then asking members if someone would go look at the car. we are able to check it out and give you a real evaluation for the price of lunch and a couple gallons of gas. even take pic's of the entire car.


   just another option that happens on here.

[Danacus]

you also have the option of finding a car anywhere, then asking members if someone would go look at the car. we are able to check it out and give you a real evaluation for the price of lunch and a couple gallons of gas. even take pic's of the entire car.


   just another option that happens on here.

That would be cool 

[Mike DC]

 


Bob & Jamie Smith are good guys.  These days they don't consult Warner Bros about building GLs right, Warner Bros consults them.  They're very expensive but they do a very thorough job for all that money.

[Homerr]

Maybe you're not looking hard enough?  Here's a bunch of 68-70 GL's from $13,500 to $150,000.  Next week there will be more.

http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/cto/4560681974.html
http://seattle.craigslist.org/oly/cto/4557670451.html
http://knoxville.craigslist.org/cto/4557798425.html
http://tampa.craigslist.org/hil/cto/4557717702.html
http://memphis.craigslist.org/cto/4534132585.html

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dodge-Charger-General-Lee-Replica-1969-Dodge-Charger-General-Lee-Replica-Automatic-2-Door-Coupe-/331253042141?forcerrptr=true&hash=item4d20384bdd&item=331253042141&pt=US_Cars_Trucks

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dodge-Charger-Chrome-1969-Charger-General-Lee-Screen-Used-TV-Auto-Trader-Commercial-/281365238824?forcerrptr=true&hash=item4182acd428&item=281365238824&pt=US_Cars_Trucks

http://classiccars.com/listings/view/534875/1969-dodge-charger-for-sale-in-hickory-north-carolina-28602

http://www.volocars.com/1969-dodge-charger-general-lee-c-836.htm#sthash.EPLtYJBl.dpbs

http://us.sellsgood.com/vehicules/cars/dodge/1969-dodge-charger-834086

http://cars.trovit.com/index.php/cod.ad/id.1t1H1s1k1KJX1i/what_d.dodge%20charger%20general%20lee/pos.5/origin.2/section.1/section_type.1/page.1/pop.1

http://cars.trovit.com/index.php/cod.ad/id.1O1E1VS1VRej/what_d.dodge%20charger%20general%20lee/pos.11/origin.2/section.1/section_type.1/page.1/pop.1

http://cars.trovit.com/index.php/cod.frame/url.http%253A%252F%252Fwww.oldride.com%252Fclassic_cars%252F646788.html/id_ad.AE1nRlx1fk/what_d.dodge%20charger%20general%20lee/origin.2/section.1/section_type.1/pop.1

http://cars.trovit.com/index.php/cod.frame/url.http%253A%252F%252Fclassiccars.com%252Flistings%252Fview%252F538770%252F1969-dodge-charger-for-sale-in-san-luis-obispo-california-93491/id_ad.1Y2w1S1aD1Ky/what_d.dodge%20charger%20general%20lee/origin.2/section.1/section_type.1/pop.1

http://www.autabuy.com/Vehicles/Details.cfm?VID=163390&Year=1969&Make=DODGE&Model=CHARGER

[Danacus]

Maybe you're not looking hard enough?  Here's a bunch of 68-70 GL's from $13,500 to $150,000.  Next week there will be more.

http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/cto/4560681974.html
http://seattle.craigslist.org/oly/cto/4557670451.html
http://knoxville.craigslist.org/cto/4557798425.html
http://tampa.craigslist.org/hil/cto/4557717702.html
http://memphis.craigslist.org/cto/4534132585.html

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dodge-Charger-General-Lee-Replica-1969-Dodge-Charger-General-Lee-Replica-Automatic-2-Door-Coupe-/331253042141?forcerrptr=true&hash=item4d20384bdd&item=331253042141&pt=US_Cars_Trucks

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dodge-Charger-Chrome-1969-Charger-General-Lee-Screen-Used-TV-Auto-Trader-Commercial-/281365238824?forcerrptr=true&hash=item4182acd428&item=281365238824&pt=US_Cars_Trucks

http://classiccars.com/listings/view/534875/1969-dodge-charger-for-sale-in-hickory-north-carolina-28602

http://www.volocars.com/1969-dodge-charger-general-lee-c-836.htm#sthash.EPLtYJBl.dpbs

http://us.sellsgood.com/vehicules/cars/dodge/1969-dodge-charger-834086

http://cars.trovit.com/index.php/cod.ad/id.1t1H1s1k1KJX1i/what_d.dodge%20charger%20general%20lee/pos.5/origin.2/section.1/section_type.1/page.1/pop.1

http://cars.trovit.com/index.php/cod.ad/id.1O1E1VS1VRej/what_d.dodge%20charger%20general%20lee/pos.11/origin.2/section.1/section_type.1/page.1/pop.1

http://cars.trovit.com/index.php/cod.frame/url.http%253A%252F%252Fwww.oldride.com%252Fclassic_cars%252F646788.html/id_ad.AE1nRlx1fk/what_d.dodge%20charger%20general%20lee/origin.2/section.1/section_type.1/pop.1

http://cars.trovit.com/index.php/cod.frame/url.http%253A%252F%252Fclassiccars.com%252Flistings%252Fview%252F538770%252F1969-dodge-charger-for-sale-in-san-luis-obispo-california-93491/id_ad.1Y2w1S1aD1Ky/what_d.dodge%20charger%20general%20lee/origin.2/section.1/section_type.1/pop.1

http://www.autabuy.com/Vehicles/Details.cfm?VID=163390&Year=1969&Make=DODGE&Model=CHARGER

Yeah, I have seen most of those. The thing is, I want a really nice one that was built by someone who really knows what they are doing and did not cut corners. I also want a 440 (most I see are 383). I am leaning toward having ScotLea build me what I want.

[myk]

Smith Bros used to post their pricing options, but it appears that they don't anymore.  I recall them having about 3 or 4 different stages of builds to choose from... I think the cheapest one started at 35k plus the cost of the car. 

I sent them an email and got a pretty quick reply from Bob Smith. The price list showed (2) levels of build. Their basic level GL build was $75K ! The second was $85K ! And they can't take an order until  late 2016 becuase they are "currently under contract" until then.

Well if you've got that kind of coin, then more power to you.  Then again, they're not building any for years so what's the point?  You will have to compromise unless you're truly willing to pay and wait what you posted...

[sanders7981]

Smith Bros used to post their pricing options, but it appears that they don't anymore.  I recall them having about 3 or 4 different stages of builds to choose from... I think the cheapest one started at 35k plus the cost of the car. 

I sent them an email and got a pretty quick reply from Bob Smith. The price list showed (2) levels of build. Their basic level GL build was $75K ! The second was $85K ! And they can't take an order until  late 2016 becuase they are "currently under contract" until then.

Damn!!!  Those prices are quite higher then what they were a few years back!

[Mike DC]

Yeah, I have seen most of those. The thing is, I want a really nice one that was built by someone who really knows what they are doing and did not cut corners. I also want a 440 (most I see are 383). I am leaning toward having ScotLea build me what I want.

Choose a (complete) car for the bodywork/fit/finish.  Finding, buying, and installing different mechanical stuff is child's play in comparison.  

Drivetrain swaps don't become a major financial obstacle unless you want to spend a ton on it by choice.  A near stock 440/auto is not too high on the price chart in this hobby.  You'll spend several grand on it, but . . . well, you can a hell of a lot more trying to make even a moderate improvement on the body's overall condition.  

Mechanical parts swapping is also much more "controllable" in the budget sense.  For example if you set out to improve the steering then you aren't likely to get trapped into doing much beyond the steering.  You won't find out the engine, brakes, and tranny are all going to crumble apart and need ground-up rebuilds as soon as you turn a wrench on the steering system.  That is VERY MUCH what can happen in other areas of a car resto.  

[Mr. Lee]

I am leaning toward having ScotLea build me what I want.

PM sent.