Lets play the pick it apart game on an expensive Charger

[70 sublime]

OK so I am in Canada and this ad is in Canadian money
Only $99500 for a restored 70 Charger

https://www.kijiji.ca/v-classic-cars/mississauga-peel-region/1970-charger-rt-440-match-numbers/1502313163

Dodge Charger RT 1970

fully restored on the rotisserie

just finished a 2 years restoration

real RT ( XS29U..)

MATCHING NUBERS 440CI engine
bucket seat with console
floor shifting automatic transmission

underccariage is mint.

very collectable

real RT with a matching numbers engine.


For the asking price I would expect a perfect car
Well maybe not

Some of the high lights I picked out
See if you notice any others


Think this first picture shows the dreaded lower corner valance filled in

[70 sublime]

My second picture of choice

Looks like the head liner on the far side is all wrinkles
I can only imagine what the rest of it looks like

[70 sublime]

Now under the hood shot

Standard gear clamps on the rad hoses
No windshield washer tank
For the asking price I would really like a fender tag
Gas line filter ?
No battery hold down clamp

[70 sublime]

Rear end shot

I love that awsome brake line
If it falls apart you still have enough length to cut a chunk out and keep going

[70 sublime]

Last but not least the back end gas tank shot

Well it looks like they squashed the tank all the way across on the front angle part ( the straps do not touch the tank )
Those fancy brackets that go at the back on either side of the tank to protect it or what ever are not there
It appears the back bumperetts need them to bolt to as they are just hanging there

The lower inner fender drop down should have a plug in it ( the round but flat on one side ) is missing ....

[70 sublime]

So just a little game of I spy ..

What else did I miss ?

[Daytona R/T SE]

Lower interior of the doors painted exterior body color.

[dual fours]

Hood latch and spring is body paint color, passenger fender Pentastar missing, radio antenna missing (no hole), windshield wiper motor painted black.
Chrome trim on passenger side of console (you can see the holes).

[xsr/tse]

no rubber plugs / holes in the trunk floor pan and floor pan? I wish I could zoom in. lots of pitting on the 8-3/4 so this car was real rusty.

[dual fours]

no rubber plugs / holes in the trunk floor pan and floor pan? I wish I could zoom in. lots of pitting on the 8-3/4 so this car was real rusty.

Save picture to your computer, name it, then you can zoom in better.

[dual fours]

 

[lukedukem]

Maybe something with the distributor cap.
Positive battery cable end.

Luke

[c00nhunterjoe]

Passenger side sill plate beat to death and bent

[70 sublime]

All the problems are easy fixes ( well maybe not the rear valance corners ) but the car is a long way from perfect and $99500

So next debate

How much would this car be worth if it was perfect ?
$75000 ?

And the way it sits ?
$50000 ?

[RallyeMike]

Without a fender tag the perfect restored value is going to be questionable and therefore lower. Maybe it was originally an undesirable color, column shift car with drum brakes all around? As it sits, I wouldn't even want it unless it was significantly undervalued.

[Homerr]

Fender bolts look cad plated.

Carpet looks wrinkly, headliner is even worse.

Same photos but a bit larger here:
https://www.garagehotantique.com/en-ca/inventory.php

[johntpr]

It would be easier to list what is right with it as opposed to what is wrong.

[Bronzedodge]

I'm always suprised at an R/T with a 22" radiator.  I know that's happened on other cars, but I would think a factory 440 with the hot cam would have the 26".

Or maybe all the big block cars with a 22" are goofed up and the factory said we don't need a recall.

[tan top]

 what the other guys say !    

not getting into  whats missing & whats wrong with the body ( lots )
would look for another car ! no matter how cheap it could be bought for 

[70 sublime]

I am not interested in this car
There always seems to be a few Chargers that get listed around here in my local classifieds
This one has reached a new high price

First there was one for $68000
Then one for $72000
Then $74000
Then $82000
Now this one for $99500

[tan top]

as well as a trunk floor  , its had a whole floor section imo  , may be a passenger outer rocker  looking at the pinch weld ...   the inner fenders look odd somethings wrong they look too flat  & sharp hard to describe , also look at the inner shock tower area & the missing spot welds , or  at least i cant see them, maybe its my eyes or screen ....  now  none of this maybe a biggie so some & its just down to the skill level & or the the way a particular body guy works ! but going by the drivers side rear quarter , lower rear valance & corner ... its very poor  to whats being asked for the car , so whats the rest of the work like under the shiny paint  

[A383Wing]

Cheese ball positive cable backyard repair end

Bryan

[BLK 68 R/T]

Radiator blackout missing.

[Ghoste]

Is that air cleaner lid chrome plated?

[BLK 68 R/T]

Is that air cleaner lid chrome plated?

Sure looks like it to me.

[oldgold69]

missing the two brackets that bolt to the frame next to the exhaust tip hangers

[hemi-hampton]

where's the antifreeze decal & headlight decal?

[Kern Dog]

The valance looks too upright instead of angled downward. I'm not against a filled valance corner if it is welded and has the right shape.
Yeah, that rear brake line is REAL great!
Wrinkly headliner? Sometimes they flatten out, sometimes they don't.

It reminds me of my own car a LOT!

[Kern Dog]

Someone liked it enough to buy it already. The ad is gone!

[b5blue]

Or they found this thread.

[bigdsul]

All the problems are easy fixes ( well maybe not the rear valance corners ) but the car is a long way from perfect and $99500

So next debate

How much would this car be worth if it was perfect ?
$75000 ?

And the way it sits ?
$50000 ?

I wouldn't pay 50k for it either. To make the body right would be a ton of work plus all that time and effort to paint it back up even if just focusing on the lower 1/3 of the car.

I found it better to find a project car and at least know what needs to be done than find a finished car that could have all sorts of corners cut along the way. If the car had pictures of the restoration along the way it could be helpful but again corners could be cut.

[Kern Dog]

As one that has seen a lot but not everything....
The short cuts many speak of are not a fatal blow to the car. Even some of the crappiest bodywork can hold together for many years before a failure. A buddy had a 71 Challenger done at a shop, fiberglass over a rusty cowl, over rusty lower quarters....all without him knowing until after the car was painted. He had the car 13 years and those areas never cracked or failed. He only found out about the manner of the work when a former employee of that shop saw the car at a car show and they got to talking.
I'm not approving of short cuts but they don't mean that the car will start falling apart immediately. I don't see a point to paying top dollar for one but I'm not ignorant enough to think the car is worthless either.
It is easy for people to bash someones build and pick it apart. I recall seeing some members here post up their low dollar repairs or builds and many, many members cheering them on for it. One guy did a 69 Charger body over a Chrysler 300 chassis or something like that. I thought it looked terrible but others complimented the work and rooted for him.
My own '70 project is not a high dollar build and I know that some are probably shaking their heads at some of my cheap tactics.
If these cars that are built on the cheap were members cars, I'll bet the critics would be less vocal. When the owners are unknown, it seems easier to just criticize rather than hold back.
Its like when you look at women in a magazine. Some people look to pick her apart too. Boobs too small, ugly face, ass too big BUT if we knew her or her family, we'd be far more polite about it.

[INTMD8]

The problem with falling between the range of top dollar and worthless is, no one wants to buy a "restored" car and have to tear it down and do a complete a year later.

Not enough price difference between the two to justify the lower end, sellers are hoping buyers don't recognize the difference.

Wouldn't say anyone really holds back here.  Not that I built it but when I posted pics of my newly acquired 68 here it was more or less picked apart despite being the nicest Charger I've ever laid my eyes on.

I don't shake my head at what you're doing. Quality and cost are independent of one another and that delta increases when you're a skilled person doing their own work.

[hemi-hampton]

Any time I've posted pics of my work in the past it got nit picked. Never forget Tuffcat complaining the front sway bar was to big & not factory or Brian complaining I didn't take the front door glass out. I work closely with the Customers & do what they want or want to pay for.

[Kern Dog]

I'm sure that some will recall the posts from CB restorations where he dragged home a rusty hulk and people gushed and praised him for the great score.
Some of the cars he posted were so far gone, only a guy working by himself could repair it cost effectively.

[John Milner]

I agree that the car is way overpriced and has some issues just like my own 68 has some issues.  However, this is nice car that I think anyone here would drive.  It is better than the car sitting torn apart or rusting away in a field.  Kern Dog nailed it when he said it is easy to pick apart someone's car when we don't know them or they aren't around.  I'm not sure if any of these cars were ever "perfect" off of the assembly line when new.   

[HeavyFuel]

As one that has seen a lot but not everything....
The short cuts many speak of are not a fatal blow to the car. Even some of the crappiest bodywork can hold together for many years before a failure. A buddy had a 71 Challenger done at a shop, fiberglass over a rusty cowl, over rusty lower quarters....all without him knowing until after the car was painted. He had the car 13 years and those areas never cracked or failed. He only found out about the manner of the work when a former employee of that shop saw the car at a car show and they got to talking.
I'm not approving of short cuts but they don't mean that the car will start falling apart immediately. I don't see a point to paying top dollar for one but I'm not ignorant enough to think the car is worthless either.
It is easy for people to bash someones build and pick it apart. I recall seeing some members here post up their low dollar repairs or builds and many, many members cheering them on for it. One guy did a 69 Charger body over a Chrysler 300 chassis or something like that. I thought it looked terrible but others complimented the work and rooted for him.
My own '70 project is not a high dollar build and I know that some are probably shaking their heads at some of my cheap tactics.
If these cars that are built on the cheap were members cars, I'll bet the critics would be less vocal. When the owners are unknown, it seems easier to just criticize rather than hold back.
Its like when you look at women in a magazine. Some people look to pick her apart too. Boobs too small, ugly face, ass too big BUT if we knew her or her family, we'd be far more polite about it.

You make valid points.  It probably is a nice car.  

It's rational for everyone to pick the car apart.....I believe the entire tone of this thread would be different if the seller wasn't asking a premium price for a nice car.