If I were to buy a 1970 Challenger R/T...

[DavidSL]

Apologies for ANOTHER new thread! 

As some of you know, I'm not sure what car I'm gonna go for eventually, but I must admit, the Challenger has my attention at the moment. I think maybe because I've never seen one here before, but also because of my fondness for the movie 'Vanishing Point'. That, of course, and my love for the beautiful car! Yes, I know this is a Charger forum, but this is the best forum I've come across for anything MOPAR, and a lot of you seem to know your stuff, so I hope you don't mind too much! 

Someone has kindly given me some tips about Challengers and shown me their own 1970 Challenger R/T. They've given me permission to post some pics up, and said some of you might know this car anyway. They also mentioned that people might comment this is not a real R/T - but assure me they can provide #'s from the fender tag as proof it is.

Anyway, they basically said from America, this is the kind of thing I could afford at around £26,000 ($40,000), if I searched for one.

I'm posting this really to get some more input, and just see what people feel and think about this. Obviously it's something I have a long time to think about, but it would be nice to get some perspective on something I'm serious about saving for. 

This is from their description of what has been done to the car and photos follow:

"It is a real R/T 383 4 barrel car. Long before I bought it someone put a 440 in it, I ended up rebuilding that engine with better and stonger parts and made it a 440 6 pack. With a lorger cam and a little larger exhaust it will make 500HP easy, right now its around 425-450, gets 16MPG on the freeway and about 10 in town.
The only changes I made to the car are the upgraded suspension, 15x8 rear wheels and the wing molded on to the trunk, the wing was off of a 70 challenger T/A and a CD player in the dash.
The stripes came on the car from the factory along with air conditioning. I took the A/C off, moved the battery to the trunk for better handling, added a 7quart oil pan and dual oil filters(that was on of Dodges weak points, at hight rpm it would suck the sump dry, all the extra oil prevents that)
When I restored the car 16 years ago it was white with the stripes, I repainted it white and left the stripes off because I wanted a vanishing point car.
The stripes will come off with the use of a hot air gun.
The car has a 3.23 Sure grip differential, 2800 rpm stall converter disc brakes up front drum in the rear, some rust starting which if your interested in the car I will send you more detailed pics, it is very little. I just bought a quart of paint that matches the paint on the car so I could do some touch up and fix the rust, that will go with the car if your interested. Bumpers have been acid dipped and are powder coated.
Everything works except the air which is gone.
The car will run mid to low 12s in the quarter mile and has a hell of a top end."

[maxwellwedge]

IMHO, Too much money for a non-numbers, car. If it is absolutely rust free, has paperwork (buildsheet etc.) and had the original 383 in it -  35-40 would definitely be all the wood - the higher side if it was a stick. I think the molded T/A spoiler kills it a little as well.

Wood? Stick? What are those crazy people from "The Colonies" talking about? 

[472 R/T SE]

Here's one for $35k.  1970 340 Dodge Challenger.

All number's matching & restored correct per fender tag.   

[68X426]

16 and 10 on  the mileage?     More like 12 and 8, and only if your right foot cooperates.

IMO you can get a lot more car for less by patient shopping.

[pandamarie]

I think it looks pretty good with the TA spoiler but then I built it when these cars were not worth anything, and it will get 16 on the freeway and 10 in town, I built it to drive everyday unlike some of you that think they have a national treasure and are afraid to drive it unless its to a car show. If someone is going to offer 40 for it I will take it, I told him all about it with no missrepresentation.
I could care less if it sells or not its to much fun to drive EVERYDAY. So if you dont like what you see I have something you can kiss.
post up your everyday driver and see if its as nice. I have had this for 18 years and drive everyday, Can you say that about yours?
Its a great car to take all my S&W 500s to the range in too.
Also working on a Daytona clone, I will post some pics of it too so you guys can pick it apart along with my 39 Packard V12 and my 48 Lincoln Conv coupe and my 1914 Mitchell speedster.

[bull]

Here's one for $35k.  1970 340 Dodge Challenger.

All number's matching & restored correct per fender tag.   

I don't know if I'd trust that seller...

[68X426]

So if you dont like what you see I have something you can kiss.

Well I guess you see yourself kissing 40 grand real soon. No really, good for you, and your math is correct. 40 grand is more than 10 grand, and more than 20, and more than 30 grand, so you are real smart to take 40 grand when someone offers it.

The question was for some "input". My input is that it is not worth 40 grand. I'll stand by that. And I don't believe the car gets 16 mpg under normal driving conditions. I think David should know that.

The question was not if your wife, mother or child was worth 40 grand. It wasn't personal. What happens when a real appraisal shows that fair market value is maybe 18k, or 22k, or 27k.? Get control.

When you get the 40 grand you will be very happy, I'm sure. 

[ZSmithersCharges]

Also working on a Daytona clone, I will post some pics of it too so you guys can pick it apart along with my 39 Packard V12 and my 48 Lincoln Conv coupe and my 1914 Mitchell speedster.

Not to pick apart but, you should post up pics in car guys anyways because I would love to see your other cars to give me inspiration for mine.  Do you have any pics of the resto process as well?  Not the same cars but obviously the same concept and I can never seem to see enough resto pics   .  Or just shoot me a link to your photobucket or something that'l do the job.. thanks in advance.

[ZSmithersCharges]

So if you dont like what you see I have something you can kiss.

Well I guess you see yourself kissing 40 grand real soon. No really, good for you, and your math is correct. 40 grand is more than 10 grand, and more than 20, and more than 30 grand, so you are real smart to take 40 grand when someone offers it.

The question was for some "input". My input is that it is not worth 40 grand. I'll stand by that. And I don't believe the car gets 16 mpg under normal driving conditions. I think David should know that.

The question was not if your wife, mother or child was worth 40 grand. It wasn't personal. What happens when a real appraisal shows that fair market value is maybe 18k, or 22k, or 27k.? Get control.

When you get the 40 grand you will be very happy, I'm sure. 

That's a very thin line to walk you know that right?  You put as much work into something and its bound to be personal to you, even if your selling it   

Anyways stepping out now 

[68X426]

Actually, the thin line is not very thin when the quote is "I could care less if it sells or not". 

He doesn't seem too personally involved for someone selling a car, or is it not selling a car.? I interpreted the perception of an insult to be about money, yet he doesn't care if it sells. 

My point: the comment is about money, not family, so it is not personal.

So, let's draw a real hard line and ask: is the car insured for at least $40,000.?  Is it for sale for 40K or isn't it? If it isn't, then don't claim it's worth 40k.

[Troy]

No offense to the owner but there's no way I'd pay $40k for it and I think you can do better. I'd expect the seller to try to maximize the value but something is only worth what someone will pay for it. Better to purchase a car from someone who really needs/wants to sell it than to overpay from someone who wants to keep it. For your situation, you want the most complete (and finished) car you can get as parts are a pain to ship (and pay for) - especially large body panels and drive train/suspension stuff. In your price range you should be able to get a car that needs little or nothing to hop in and drive. Otherwise, you need to factor in repairs/upgrades into the price. Too many people spend their last cent only to find they need another $10k to make the car "right".

Troy

[DavidSL]

Looks like I've caused somewhat of a stir! 

To clarify the situation, Jack kindly PMed me as he could see I was in a situation where I didn't know what to look for and even if I could find a car out there that fits my needs. He did make it very clear to me that not only was he not looking to sell the car straight away, he was reluctant to sell it at all. What he said to me was that with all the other projects he has, if he needed to let one go, that would be it - and $40k would be the price. He never said I should pay that, or that I wouldn't find cheaper, he just said if I want a numbers matching R/T in white, then here is one that I'd sell to you for $40k.

It's helped me to see some responses on here because I wanted to see what kind of opinions people would have about a) buying from the US for a UK resident and b) buying a car without going over it in detail. As it is, I'm not in a position to buy a car and Jack knows this, so he wasn't trying to take advantage - he was simply saying 'here is an option', which I thank him for. Right now I'm still looking for work - so everything I can learn I will whilst I save, save, save. My interests are obviously shifting as I learn more and see more cars - but it's good to see some advice from everyone about buying and pricing and so on.

Thanks for the responses, guys, really appreciate all your help! 

[mauve66]

Looks like I've caused somewhat of a stir! 

he just said if I want a numbers matching R/T in white, then here is one that I'd sell to you for $40k.

thats not a numbers matching car though

"It is a real R/T 383 4 barrel car. Long before I bought it someone put a 440 in it, I ended up rebuilding that engine with better and stonger parts and made it a 440 6 pack.

[Jon Smith]

Like I said in your earlier thread..get yourself to an event and have a look at some cars up close in person, even if you're not buying yet you can get an idea what you're looking at... a good one would be the NSRA hot rod drags the weekend after next at shakespeare county raceway near stratford on avon,  there will be MMA UK members there racing if the weathers ok so you should hopefully get the chance to see some chargers and challengers running in anger (dont bother if its raining though)

[DavidSL]

Like I said in your earlier thread..get yourself to an event and have a look at some cars up close in person, even if you're not buying yet you can get an idea what you're looking at... a good one would be the NSRA hot rod drags the weekend after next at shakespeare county raceway near stratford on avon,  there will be MMA UK members there racing if the weathers ok so you should hopefully get the chance to see some chargers and challengers running in anger (dont bother if its raining though)

Ah yeah, your advice didn't go ignored. Weekend after next - that's actually something I'd seriously like to go to. I'll see if I can get to it, thanks. 

But yeah, I didn't ignore you - I'm planning to get to some shows over the next year to actually see these cars in person, and up close - maybe get talking to the owners and learn some stuff, etc. Joining up with Mopar UK should open up some avenues in that respect.