To clone or not to clone?????

[snowman]

Hey Gang,

I just found this web site and it seems like I am with like company, so I though I would jump in, say hi, and share my dilemma with you. On a side note, twenty five years ago I owned a 1969 Charger RT SE, 440, auto, green on green, with a black top and stripe delete. (It's a sad story with a sad ending)

I purchased a plain ole 318, 3spd auto on the column, nothing special 1969 Charger. For the most part it is pretty solid, with only a few rust issues. It does need a right fender (it's bent up) and probably and engine hood, and I am sure a few other pieces that I have not seen yet. It's at a point that it could go several ways, and since I have to do sheet metal work anyway I thought I would look at some options.

My thought was to build a car like the one I had years ago, but I also like the Daytona's and the 500's were always kind of cool too. So my dilemma is, should I build a RT clone, a 500 clone, or a Daytona clone? To clone or not to clone, I guess that is the question.

For the basics, it will be Hemi powered, with an auto transmission, and I am thinking a set of deep steal wheels with the dog dish hub caps would look pretty cool. (still looking for good pictures) But, most importantly, I want to be able to drive it. I am not looking for a concourse restoration with correct overspray patterns or the chalk markings, just something that looks nice and is fun to drive.

I was hoping for some advice or opinions from all of you. It's obvious some of you guys have been messing with these particular cars for along time and I am just curious, if you could build one over again or build another one, what or how would you build it?

On a side note, how do people that have the real cars feel about people building clones?

[Ghoste]

I think most folks feel clones are fine until people try to sell them as the real thing.  It's your car and you should do it the way you want.  I would suggest checking out the aero forum here and noting how much time work and money people invest into 500 and Daytona clones though.  I'm not trying to dissuade you from building one just making sure you know there is a considerably larger chunk to swallow in doing one of those over doing an RT lookalike.
Welcome to the site.

[suntech]

I think you should do what you want with the car, regardless of what other people think!! did they pay for your car, or the parts you put in don´t think so !!!!!

[280bb0]

I myself delt with this issue. Wanted a car that I had a great time with back when I was in High School However I couldnt afford one that was done. So I bought the same year 72 because the price was right and told myself it wont be that tuff to make it the way I wanted. Went from bench to buckets auto on the colum to slap stick tan interior to black 318 to 440  etc. I have had a fun time doing it but the hard fact is when its all said and done I will have way more Money into it than I would have had I bought the car done. Would I do it again, NO  do I expect to get my money back out of it if I sell it NO Do I regret it NO WAY what a feeling it is to say I built that car like it or not  I DO!!!!

[Nacho-RT74]

several stuff to think about... I'm agree on clone on this therms:
-you never got the option to choose what Charger you wanted, because you are not on a dealer to choose. Actually you just have the option to find any Charger you find in any conditions and with any options, so clone or customize would it be like make your choose on a dealer on those days.
-If you clone, change or add equipment, make it on the right way, with real stuff, not adaptations or anything. Takes time but worths the effort

I don't like to clone if:
-you get a survivor or some special car, no matter if SB or /6. If you get a special car for any reason and want to clone, IMO sell that one to someone want to keep it and get another one

Note about clone:
-You'll never get the same money that you spent like it was the real deal. Forgett about! In fact on any resto job, 75% of times you'll never get the money back, unless is a real deal with some real special stuff and was a light resto job, some refresh or kinda. So don't think on a bussines about, just on a hobby and satisfaction.

If you get a badly conditions car, then MAKE WHAT YOU WANT, tubular stuff, heavy modifications, drag race... that would be more worthly on that one than simply a resto

[daytonalo]

Hemi Daytona clone !!! Stand out in a crowd !!!!!!!! Why be ordinary ??

[Blown70]

Hemi Daytona clone !!! Stand out in a crowd !!!!!!!! Why be ordinary ??

Wait you already have one of those?

[Chatt69chgr]

You have a plain Jane car so you won't be messing up a unique survivor.  Therefore, I see absolutely no problem with cloning whatever you like.  Even if it was unique, it's yours and you can do what you want to with it.  As far as which clone, I think it would depend on how much money you have and what you really want.  If money is no object, build the one you have always wanted.  If it is, then I would go with the R/T clone.  In fact, that's what I am building from my 318 car.  I would recommend that you decide quickly and make up a list of the parts you will need and try to list them in order of difficulty to obtainin.  Then go after the hardest to find stuff first.  But buy all the stuff as quickly as you can since this stuff has a funny way of suddenly becoming unavailable.  Don't assume that if somebody has something for sale that it will be available forever.  With the economy in the toilet and prices of everything going up and up, some of the repop places may go out of business. 

[Fitz73Chrgr]

R/T clone!  From what I've gathered on this website, a 500 or Daytona clone takes exponentially longer to do and costs quite a bit more. 

[daytonalo]

That is my point , any knucklehead can build a R/T clone !! Just drivetrain and badges , and your done !!Step up to the plate!!!!!!! DAYTONA !!!!!!!

[snowman]

Hey, thanks guys, this is exactly what I was looking for. Your input is great, and I can see other things to consider now.

I will change the interior around to a bucket seat console shift and a few other things. Would never have the guts to try and resell as a true RT or something rare. I prefer to keep things simple and honest, less problems that way, and I would not be building it for resale. It's not going to be a fast build by any means. I plan to do as much work on it as possible myself, and we all know how life can get in the way of stuff we want to do.

I did the drag race things years ago, (1969 Road Runner) and in the end I spent way too much money to go a few rounds and then have to park it back on the trailer. Couldn't drive it on the street and it was no fun for the friends/family at the time.

I found a site that has the metal plugs and nose cone for the C500 and Daytona, definitely proud of them, and all the parts required would add up to a real fast. It goes back to the question, would the end results be worth the extra money, time and effort spent building it? That's what I have to determine. I figured you guys have been around these cars long enough to know what you like and don't like and I am hoping to learn from your experiences.

[snowman]

It's a bad picture, (if it posts) but here is the picture of the car I had in 1988. Bought it for a grand (less engine and trans) when I worked at the Dodge dealer.

[billssuperbird]

clone it.