just a couple of questions for the experts, since im new at this

[samgreenfingers]

Here in England we are paying roughly 1 Pound to the Litre, im not sure what the exchange rate is, but i assume its about 1.5 dollers to the pound and about 4.5  liters to the gallon, but im not sure. anyway, im thinking of buying a '69 charger, although i assume it will have to be imported from America because of the small ammount over here and the rarity to fine a decent condition one for sale. what is the rough average MPG that a '69 440 charger R/T will do? and do they rust as easily as most other old cars?



Thanks,
Sam

[MoparYoungGun]

I'm not an expert but, I would think about 9-13mpg is what a '69 R/T would get. But, that number really depends on what mods have been made to the motor. And yes, they do rust. I think probably the most common places for this are the truck and rear window channel. Good luck on your search!

[samgreenfingers]

thanks man 

[Jon Smith]

Its actually about 1.8 dollars to the pound and a us gallon is smaller than a UK one, about 3.8 litres I think
They do come up for sale over here but a good one will set you back a lot of money, the only 69 I know of for sale here at the moment is a general lee, dunno if thats your thing or not
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Dodge-Charger-aka-General-Lee-The-Dukes-of-Hazzard_W0QQitemZ4573501560QQcategoryZ2192QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
have you joined the mma? they're a very helpful and cool club
http://www.mopartalk.co.uk/
my 69 makes around 550 hp and get 12miles to a uk gallon, 10 to a us gallon
good luck

[cudaken]

 If gas use is a big concern think 318. I would also say 9 to 15 MPG. 15 is with a great tune and you drive with care. I was able to get 16 MPG with mine with 2.76 sure gripp. I was doing a lot of interstate driving so I used the 2.76's. Was fun on the interstate I will add. You had to pitty the fool that wanted to play with me at 65 MPH.

As far as rust I tell people R/T on my car stand's for Rusted / Trash, only thing that did not rust on my 69 Charger was the glass. My Charger broke in half from rust. Rear frame rail's broke. Only reason mine was saved is I am a bodyman by trade.


                                 Cuda Ken         

[bull]

I wouldn't buy a '60s-era muscle car if your main concern is fuel economy. I say buy the car for occasional fun and consider the gas prices a sin tax.

[CB]

I wouldn't buy a '60s-era muscle car if your main concern is fuel economy. I say buy the car for occasional fun and consider the gas prices a sin tax.

Well said, Bull.

If you want a 69R/T, you gonna have to spend $20-25K for a daily driver.
You don't buy a Charger if gas is an issue.

[Shakey]

my 69 makes around 550 hp

That's all!

[Ghoste]

It isn't miles per gallon or dollars per gallon, it's fun per dollar and so far, I'm getting a huge return on my money. 

[bull]

If you want a 69R/T, you gonna have to spend $20-25K for a daily driver

Which is still cheaper than an '06.

[Nacho-RT74]

I would say the quarters, "dog leg" fenders, and trunks are the tipical rust areas... window channels is the next, joined to floor pans.

I wish new quarters, and trunk floor extensions. Fender "dog legs" are easy to repair with homemade patches.

How to save the rust... just changing weatherstrips, specially trunk and quarter window ones... nobody did care that in the past and now we are suffering

Wow, we have a rust scale LOL...

[Ghoste]

If you want a 69R/T, you gonna have to spend $20-25K for a daily driver

Which is still cheaper than an '06.

And a better investment.

[BigBlockSam]

my 68 r/t with the  440 sixpack gets better miliage then my 69 se with the 383. unless you STOMP IT ALOT!     

[Big Lebowski]

  My old '69 Charger got around 4 mpg.

[Big Lebowski]

  And the view was fabulous....

[samgreenfingers]

thanks, you have all given me a lot to think about. fuel cost isnt a major concern for me, the rust is a bigger one (it would probably pay me to take an auto shop/car mechanic course before investing in a charger woudnt it?). that and insurance, haha.
thanks for the link to the general lee for sale, although its not what im looking for, although i first saw the charger in action on the dukes of hazzard and thought it was an awesome car, i never warmed to the whole general lee look.  

to be totally honest, and i know some are going to laff, but i still havnt seen a charger in the flesh so to speak, only on Tv and the net.

i do have one more question, sorry to be a pain, but do you reckon its possible to ger one with manual transmission, or are they an exceptional rareity?

Thank you
Sam

[Big Lebowski]

  You can buy everything from Keisler for a 5 speed manual, tranny, pedals, pistol-grip shifter, 4-speed sheet metal hump, etc. Or just buy a real 4 speed car (D21).

[Ghoste]

You've at least come to the right place.  Check the classifieds here and no, the 4 speed cars aren't exceptionally rare.  Just rare enough to make them a lot more money.  They can be found though.

[cudaken]

 Samgreenfingers, rust is not that big of a deal if you spend around $20,000.00. For that kind of money it would either a rust free Charger or a Charger that has the bodywork done and most if not all the rust removed. Will not be a R/T but a sold car. Beside's a 383 Charger can have a 440 installed and most have by now, front bar's and sway bar's are bolt in and so are the rear springs. Throw in some R/T emblem's and stripes and you have a R/T clone and $20,000.00 left over Onlt that would be left is to up grade the brakes.

Where you run into a lot of Rust is on the bargain Charger's, say $5,000.00 US and lower. My was one of them, I paid $500.00 for mine and drove it home. A good Charger then was bring $9,000.00 just to give you a idea that was some time ago, 1989.

Atermarket as started making all most all the part's need to save them now as well. Only thing I can think of they have not started to make are the fender's and door's. Doors are not a high rust item either.

As far as not seeing one in person, that is understandable in England. Beside my friend's and mine I have only seen one this year on the road. You think they look good on TV, waite till you see one in person. When they are moving, a ture pices of rolling art.


It would be very helpful if you can do some of your own work. They are old and need a little work to keep them running right. Today cars need a tune up every 50,000 miles and up. Charger, about 10,000 miles if it has a point ignition, electronic ignition about 20,000 miles.


                                                             Cuda Ken

[Ghoste]

I was going to say they're like a fighter plane needing two hours of maintenance for each hour of flight, but as I sat here about to type, I think it's more like a fine thoroughbred.  For each hour on the track, there is two hours of exercise and grooming.