74 Rallye parts car or restore car

[EccentricMagpies]

Back in March I found a nice car worth buying after looking 4 months.  1974 charger rallye with power bulge hood.  360 / 4spd.  rare car.  great color combo..
last week, I stumbled accross, what I figured was a great parts car for a very inexpensive price.

well.. turns out, this is also a 360 / 4 spd charger rallye.  Been sitting in his garage since '86 (at least that is what the plates read).  He had blown the orig. motor years back and it currently has a, "1k" mile 440 Magnum in, that he would occasionlly turn over by hand to prevent seizing.

Everything is there on this car.  There is rust from that time it sat but ... to simply dis-assemble it and cast the thing aside just doesn't seem like the best idea.  the trunk area was surprisingly clean, considering the fender conditions.

let me know what you think...

http://s938.photobucket.com/albums/ad227/EccentricMagpies/Second%2074%20Charger/

[no318]

I would NOT part that car out.  Could be a cool project, if not for you, perhaps for someone else. 

[EccentricMagpies]

my thoughts too...
thanks

[EccentricMagpies]

I will post more pictures (before/after) if I decide to take on the project myself.

[charge-it]

My advise would be to not part it out, especially a 4 speed car. Lots of people I saw this past weekend in Carlisle were only looking to purchase 4 speed cars. They would walk by lots of nicer auto trans car for the chance to buy a lesser condition 4 speed car. It's your car but again, I would advise against cutting it up.

[EccentricMagpies]

Thanks.... I have decided to start...
see thread --> 'beginning a restoration'

[Nacho-RT74]

thanks God...

I was to say: Top bananna yellow ? 4 speed ( and 360 )? Rallye ? valence with exhaust cut outs and tailgun tips ? = RESTORE, is a non brainer

black interior makes it even easier. Tail lenses available new repro... car is not bad.

I maybe would even try to find a 360 ( with some toys inside, nothing visible outside ) to match it.

[EccentricMagpies]

so...... you're saying you don't like the buddy seat??


j/k
I apprieciate your input on it.

the body/frame is and was the part that I worried about.  I'll know more when I remove the seats and carpet. 
I'm only being cautious that I don't put more into something than what i'd expect to get out of it...
if I chose to sell it... at any point.

[Tilar]

I'm only being cautious that I don't put more into something than what i'd expect to get out of it...
if I chose to sell it... at any point.

A lot of times you can make it presentable and drivable and make a few bucks on one, but unless a car is going to be worth a bundle when it's done you can bet you're going to have more in it than you can get out of it... That goes for 90% of the cars out there. It depends on what you have to start with.

[EccentricMagpies]

I agree.
I would not have considered this with something like a 318 auto on the column.  demand just isn't there.

(Not that there is anything wrong with a 318 auto)

I'm only going to take this slow and as inexpensive as possible.

[Nacho-RT74]

I'm not a big fan of buddy seats cars, I like A LOT console look, but I think the buddy seat has its own charm.

[Tilar]

You're right, there is nothing wrong with a 318 auto. When I was looking for a 3rd generation, I was on the lookout for a 318 auto on the console with A/C, and ended up with a 400 with no A/C.  But it's low miles and will make a good driver.

[tradercraig]

boy, that one needs to be saved....it's very like one i had- i ordered it new in late january of 1974, when nobody, i mean NOBODY was ordering new cars of any sort, especially performance cars...i took delivery on April 1st of 1974, and loved every minute of ownership...a careless driver forced me off the road and totalled it after 125,000 wonderful miles. BEST  car i ever owned. i am curious about one of the photos, tho...the one of a separate instrument cluster...what did that come out of?

[dogbert22]

Would not part it out, 4-speed 3d Gen cars are rare!

[EccentricMagpies]

...... i am curious about one of the photos, tho...the one of a separate instrument cluster...what did that come out of?

Not sure.  I didn't see it in the car when I picked it up, otherwise I would have asked the guy.  It's a ford cluster and right now that is all I know.  Soon as I find out, I'll throw it on craigslist.  Must be worth something.  The transmission you see in one of the photo's is a M20 '67 Muncie 4spd tranny. (at least that is how i decoded it)  His dad mentioned that it had been rebuilt by some guy that worked for nascar.  Be nice if I would have written that down but it was pouring and I just wanted to get it strapped down and back on the road.

...all in all, it appears he hung onto decent parts.

[EccentricMagpies]

finally got around to pulling the inside out.

[EccentricMagpies]

center

[EccentricMagpies]

passenger

[EccentricMagpies]

front

[EccentricMagpies]

started the dash too.  probably got an hour in, need to drop the column and unhook some wires I expect.  Hope to finish that tomorrow evening.  Got the painful ones on top of the dash and under the speaker / vent areas.  At least, I hope those were the painful ones.

[Nacho-RT74]

keep the harness on teh dash, just disconect all wires ( vacuum lines and heater wire )  with body related and bulkhead from firewall. Drop the dash as a COMPLETE assembly... complete with cluster, harness, pad... EVERYTHING.

Just remove the bolts close to glass and loose the bottom bolts ( not remove ). Will be able to drop and pull out alll the dash complete from the car.