Is this a good deal?

[Bigphil]

I already have one forum member here with a few 68's that may be for sale so im anxious to see what pans out from that.

I came across an add a few days before i found this forum and just now got some information back.


69 charger
original unrestored
70,000 original miles (or so he claims) has a picture of the odo,  but it could be 170.
original 383 and hurst 4 speed trans.   i prefer a 440,  but i also love the idea of a 4 speed and have no problems with a 383.
original documentation
claims no rust,  pictures show this to be accurate.   
it looks like besides time being its enemy its in great condition.
it is a driver.
asking 16000.    and he doesnt want to budge.

the pictures show a deteriorated interior (wrong color for me,  so i guess its not horrible), and the paint is just ok. better then most everything ive seen but has its flaws and little dings and could use a repaint since its original.

is this worth checking out for a 700 mile trip for that price if it is in fact what he claims? 


also,  i know how to check the tags and have a mopar red book on its way.     how do i check the motor and trans to figure out if they are legit originals?   it seems like a fair price if the original motor/trans is in fact original,   and it seems steep if its a 318 with a 383 put in it.


i just recently went to a local auction.  i saw a rebadged 70 sattelite,  badged to a roadrunner,  upgraded to a 440 6pack worth jack,  but a looker if you didnt know any better, sell for 30,000 because the guy didnt know the tags were switched.   the dash tag was put in upside down even!

there was also a pile of a 70 charger,  original 318 gone,  changed out to an oil spewing 440,  lots of shoddy body work, probably 3 panels needed replacing,  horrid engine compartment, that was only matched by the horrid underbody,  sell for 15000.     it had very decent interior but that was IT.   oh,  it did have a footprint gas pedal installed.   besides the 50+ hp and the looks lovely ladies will give you for that appearance package i guess it had a couple things going for it.


thanks for any help!

-Phil

[moparstuart]

we need pictures , but that sound like a great price for a 4 speed car !  without pictures or a personal inspection really , there is no way to tell for sure .

[Brock Samson]

 A runner '69 4 speed 383 car could be very desireable, and a 70 K milage car sounds pretty sweet too,.. but we need pics and the numbers from the fender tag and such... more research is needed, what colors and options and what are your plans?.. maybe a member here is close enough to take a look for you, most of us love to help out fellow enthuseasts... that price on the surface seems pretty good for a rust free car.
good luck!

[Joshua]

IMO.....that's too much, but I'm cheap....shop around, better deals ARE out there.

[Foreman72]

fender tag and vin are the only way to tell if its the original mill/tranny...also 170k miles is pretty rare isn;t it? my 72 has 110k on it and i was told that was alot...its all highway tho...but yeah pics are the only way to know what ur getting for sure...

[Joshua]

How is 170K miles rare?
I'm pushing 300K....
Oh wait.....people don't drive their old cars anymore......

[Foreman72]

original miles? like first owner miles...i dunno...thats what i was told...

[Joshua]

Original owner miles don't mean squat....miles ON THE CAR does....the original owner of my car only put 68,000 on it in 20 years....I've ran it up to over 250,000 since then....at least, since my speedo hasn't worked in 6 years...haha.
A thing to look at is the brake pedal, if there is alot of wear on the rh side of it....the mileage may be higher than is being indicated.

[Foreman72]

man...250k...thats alot of miles...brake pedal is clever tho...my dad said that back in the day there wasn't as many miles put on cars as there is now...but this doesn't really apply 2 the thread anymore 

[Bigphil]

this car is near denver.


here are the pictures,  im waiting for a few more and one of the fender tag especially. 

i also noticed something that could be fishy on the front passenger fender,  i cant tell if its a reflection or a crack.  i inquired about that as well.

















my plans for any car are basically to get a car in hand.   it seems to be the first and most important step.    if its a driver i will probably slowly figure out and accumulate what i need for a restoration.    im selling my motorcycle and will have more money next summer to dive into a restore.  colors can vary.  i dont like dark colors besides black.   i love B5, sassy grass,  and the oranges.  this one is dark green so it wouldn't stay the original color forever.  interior will end up black no matter what car i buy,  unless it has white.    white tops and white RT stripes with white interior are equally as hot.

thanks for the replies.

[PocketThunder]

I guess if it wasn't Green it would be worth more than $16k.   

[moparstuart]

 not the most desireable color but from those pictures mostlikely as a 4 speed worth the money .

  worth taking an up close and personal look anyway .

 

[Brock Samson]

 At that price i would be very enthused... but your budget for upgrading has to also account for any hidden problems and indeed there will be.
getting the car in hand would be a good thing, you could allways resell it.

[Foreman72]

good lookin car man..i don;t kno y people are ragging in green
mine's f8 and i think it looks smokin...

gotta loved the cracked seats...i have that problem w/ my bench...

if you find something wrong tho will he drop his price...it seems pretty basic but you never know

[1BAD68]

dont worry about the miles or matching numbers, make sure there isn't any really bad rust underneath (frame, floor, body, etc..)
If its a solid car, its a fair price. If its all numbers matching its a better value but why worry about the numbers matching or the miles?
Its a big block, 4 speed, 2nd gen. Charger. What are you waiting for?

[69charger2002]

that car has been for sale for a while. my buddy almost did a 3 way trade for it a month or 2 ago.. but 16k was about market value for it.. plus to ship it adds more.. depends how bad you want a 4 speed i guess

[472 R/T SE]

is this worth checking out for a 700 mile trip for that price if it is in fact what he claims? 


also,  i know how to check the tags and have a mopar red book on its way.     how do i check the motor and trans to figure out if they are legit originals?   it seems like a fair price if the original motor/trans is in fact original,   and it seems steep if its a 318 with a 383 put in it.

Chart below off the Challenger Message Board.  The two places mentioned below will most likely have the full VIN stamped on them.  I don't know for sure in '69 if the full VIN was stamped through out the model year or not.

$16k for a 4 gear big block that's all there running and driving?  You should be all over that.  When you get the fender tag #'s don't forget to register it w/ Chris.  http://www.1969chargerregistry.com/

[Bigphil]

so the general public says go for it, if it is what it claims to be.   then there are a couple of you saying its "market value"  and there are better deals out there.

im semi afriad to get it for market value,   stick money into it and have it worth dollar for dollar what ive paid at that point.    i also just want.... wait wait, neeeeeeed a 68 or 69.

i like the idea of having a car that in the meantime of collecting parts and saving restoration money i can have the enjoyment of driving instead of looking at it sit in the garage.


69charger2002,   if the cost to get it would be around 250 bucks and some time would it still be on the higher end in your book.  also did they inspect it in person,  and what were they trying to trade with the guy?

also,  do you guys think prices are coming down from the economy status or just leveling off the top a little?

[69charger2002]

so the general public says go for it, if it is what it claims to be.   then there are a couple of you saying its "market value"  and there are better deals out there.

im semi afriad to get it for market value,   stick money into it and have it worth dollar for dollar what ive paid at that point.    i also just want.... wait wait, neeeeeeed a 68 or 69.

i like the idea of having a car that in the meantime of collecting parts and saving restoration money i can have the enjoyment of driving instead of looking at it sit in the garage.


69charger2002,   if the cost to get it would be around 250 bucks and some time would it still be on the higher end in your book.  also did they inspect it in person,  and what were they trying to trade with the guy?

also,  do you guys think prices are coming down from the economy status or just leveling off the top a little?

prices are down, but at $250 to get it, plus his $16000 asking price, i definitely think if it's as good as it sounds/looks, then it's worth it