Better buy, 1st gen or 3rd gen??

[Goldfinger71]

.....Just for everyones information Johnny B over at 71superbee.com has had at least 2 71 Bee projects for sale for under $9000.00 for months now.They look like good deals.

Everyon's budgets varies but I thought I will let 3rd gen potential buyers know about them.

[73charger528cid]

About a yr a go I started looking for a good 68 coronet to do a super bee clone to kind of relive the car I had when I was 18.
what I ended up finding out was the prices for a decent car to start a project  anything from the 60s was realy high and most often the cars where in terrible shape and not complete.
while out doing a service call I found a 3 gen in a drive way by the time I was done haggleing and $4500 later I had it .

73 charger se 400 a/c auto mild mods complete and running.






So my thought is you may have a easyer time finding a third gen in decent shape running and complete on the cheap than a 1st gen.

[FastbackJon]

Skimmed through most of the posts above and it seems like everyone is pretty much on target.

Both generations can be had for fairly cheap, as projects and as completed cars. The first generation is much more rare and therefore parts are harder to come by and more expensive. They built around 50,000 first generation Chargers, and over 300,000 third generation Chargers (1/3 of those in 1973 alone).

Styling is subjective from person to person. The '73 and '74 Chargers have big 5mph bumpers that can really detract from their styling, but I believe they can be removed.

As for options and what not, I would personally chose the first generation for some of the cool (standard) things it has going for it, the bucket seats, hidden headlights, metal grille and around taillights (versus plastic), sweet looking dash gauges with electroluminescent lighting, and in '66 the full length console and woodgrain steering wheel.

Also with the first generation you don't have to mess with the shoulder belt that can be a pain sometimes. A hardtop just isn't as cool with all the windows down when you have that big bulky shoulder belt hanging over you.

And if you don't want a project and can afford a little bit more, you can get a finished one in good condition fairly inexpensive as well. Here's an example.

http://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/showthreaded.php?Cat=0&Number=4262166&page=0&vc=1

[Musicman]

John's correct about the 1st Gen. production numbers verses 3rd Gen's... Less than 38,000 Chargers were built in 66, and during the 67/68 transition year less than 16,000 67 Chargers were produced, so yes, their pretty rare. You also have to remember that there were a lot fewer drivers on the road back then as well. As a student of that era, I can tell you that my High School Graduating class consisted of less than 50 individuals, but the next years class was almost 200, and every class after that grew exponentially larger... Vehicle production was bombing by the mid 70's compared to the 60's, or even the late 60's.
Bottom Line.... parts are available for both generations... your just going to look a little harder, and possibly wait a little longer for some of the 1st Gen stuff compared to the 3rd Gen items. As far as the 1st Gen quirks go... there's nothing unusual about having to clean some contacts in a 41 year old electrical system. The headlight motor functions and electroluminescent gage displays are all fixable with minimal effort assuming you have the proper guidance... and you can find more of that than you need over at the 66/67 Charger forum... as well as parts and other information. I have friends with 3rd Gen's but I do not own one myself, so I'll leave that stuff up to the good folks here.
As many others have already stated... always try to buy something that needs as little work as possible when money is going to be an issue. Take your time, and look for the Best Bang for your Buck!

Mike

[kylem4711]

nice 73 rr clone

http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/car/618943592.html






i would still go with a nice 66 charger tho.









this is the nicest charger i have ever seen.

[mikesbbody]

I still think the 1st Gens are one of the best bargains on the market today.

Yeah...I see 'em quite often cheap, even 383, 4-speed cars.... a decent runner can be had for under $4000......
I prefer 'em over the bland 3rd gens.....don't like all the extra crap those cars have..IE: ugly side marker light, rubber bumper guards, extra BS under the hood, etc.....

and they have driver's side doors too! how lame! to me "bland" is 1st AND 2nd gens 

[BMOTOXSTAR]

nice 73 rr clone

http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/car/618943592.html



I am posting a 74' Satellite that is ultra clean for sale tonight. It was going to be and could still be a great RR clone.


i would still go with a nice 66 charger tho.









this is the nicest charger i have ever seen.