What does everyone think about this???

[69chargerboy]

What you great MoPar lovers think about "cloning" or "recreating" a non-R/T car into an R/T?

The reason I ask is that; I have a B5 Blue 1969 Charger that originally had a 383 4bbl (which is long gone). I have just bought a crate 500ci wedge engine to put in the Charger. But the big question for me is whether or not to put R/T badging on my car. I have already upgraded my suspension with heavier duty parts like the original R/T's had. A MoPar enthusiast like me cringes sometimes when I look a a 68-70 Charger that has a 440, Hemi and has all of the R/T badging and has the first couple letters in the VIN show "XP" instead of "XS" or "XX". For me it looses a little of the appeal of the car. Well, That's just me I guess..... What you you think???

[Troy]

It's your car - who cares about someone else's opinion? I'd rather see an "incorrect" car out on the streets or at a show than know of 100 real R/Ts that are hidden in their owner's garages. If you're going to put a bigger motor and emblems on you should consider some of the other R/T parts as well.

Troy

[gtx6970]

Ever heard the phrase ' Walk softly and carry a big stick '

I agree if everything says R/T Except the Vin , it looses a lot of luster to me. BUT, I'm not a big fan of clones anyway.( or recreations as they preferred to be called )

[Brock Samson]

It's true though, I do have a significant number of folks study the Vin and Tag.
other ask "is it real".     
i say do what you want, if the spirits right... It'll show.

[ScottW]

Hey man it's your car. But what's in an emblem, do the little R/T emblems really make the car that much cooler. The tail stripe is a little different in that it has more of a visual impact. To the casual enthusiast (non-mopar) they're really not going to know the difference between an R/T and a standard Charger in most cases anyway. If it's in nice shape, a good color and sounds & runs strong then it will be a cool car whatever you do, R/T emblems or not. Hope this helps.

That being said - I cloned a '69 in the mid-80's, and I was thinking about cloning '71 with a hemi - air-grabber and all. But I've since backed away from that idea and think my SE is pretty nice the way it is.

[ds440]

I, personally, have no problem with cloning.  Like stated before - "it's your car."

The only problem I have is when people try to pass off a cloned car as being "correct" for the sole purpose of profit.  That's just plain dishonest.   However, I think in some instances having a cloned car would be better.  For example, having a cloned hemicuda (or whatever) that you could DRIVE and have fun with....as opposed to having a genuine hemicuda that loses "value" if you stare at it too long.

Just my opinion.

[DarkAngel0816]

My car is a clone...bought it that way and while I was thinking of taking all of the emblems and so forth off (scopes and etc too)...I am not.  It is my car.  If they don't like it than whatever.  You have to do what makes you happy?

Anyways...I am lucky for most people are into the fact it is a girl driving the car instead of the fact it is a clone.

[Mike DC]

   
Personal preference about clones.  (I like 'em myself.)
The old-car hobby generally accepts cloning almost anything, as long as you stay honest with the VIN numbers.

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I don't think you could possibly avoid being criticized for a Charger in some way or another.  It's impossible. 
Aftermarket wheels, colors, engine mods, General Lee clones, modernizations like white-face guages . . . everything pisses somebody off. 
(Or maybe somebody else will just be annoyed that you didn't do one of these things to it.)

And even if you build your car perfectly back to stock, you still can't force other people to know what they're talking about.  I once got asked if my '69 Charger has a real "Tri-Carb 427 Hemi."  When I said no, the guy harshly informed me that my car wasn't a "real" Charger, and it must be a Coronet with swapped badges.  (What can you do when it comes to people like this?  Does it ever occur to them that you, having obviously spent tens of thousands of dollars on a Charger, just MIGHT know a little more about Chargers than what's in their fuzzy memory?)

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So just clone a factory R/T if you want to. 

Most people in the old-car hobby don't mind a good clone. The ones that DO mind have usually seen so many other clones by now that it doesn't cause a lot of comments anymore.  The bottom line is that if the VIN's not a deception and the finished car is decent in quality, it won't rile anybody up too much.

   

[nakita7]

I would clone it, no problem.

You could compromise...put the stripe (non-rt logo) and NO badges. The badges are only front and back anyway. Just a thought.

[tan top]

sounds like it will be  a real  nice charger when finished . its your charger dude do what ever makes you happy . i  personally  would leave the R/T emblems off,

[Big Lebowski]

Go for it dude. The fastest Charger always wins. Right?