1969 Charger Good deal or run??

[str8tpiperoar]

I know this is a bad first post but honestly I am more into Chevy's yet a '69 Charger was my first dream car and will one day own one. Anyway, I came across this car and am considering it, just wondering some others opinions. 1969 Charger...originally a green/vinyl top 383 BB 727 auto with console & buckets car. Seller has fender tag, but is removed from car and the picture I have didnt turn out but it had options like hood signals, light package, I believe power drums, etc. Supposedly a colorado car, car has two new quarters & new rear taillight section. Trunk & floors are really solid, there are like 3 or 4 small little pinholes by the pedal area, no need for replacement in my opinion. Underneath appeared very solid as well but I feel I need to double check if I go back. Front fenders are solid, need a little massaging where the grille meets them. Window channels are all really nice, basically the car is really solid ready for prep work before paint. Comes with a 440 that was rebuilt a few years ago and a 727, which I'm guessing you'd want to go thru both of. Also will need all new wiring, grille is cracked in a few spots.

Bad news...car is completely disassembled in pieces. Body is all together as a rolling shell, the rest of the car is on boxes in sellers attic. Was a running/driving car up until 2007, then was disassembled and seller claims everything is present with the exception of vinyl top trim. I can buy it today for 6k, was thinking of offering 4k? I would really love to keep this car for a while and one day put it together, but it wouldn't happen for a number of years. On the other hand, is there any room for profit as it sits? Thanks for any insight!! Josh

More Pictures http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y98/trapperj06/69Charger/

[BIGBLCK11]

RUN! That is waaay too much for a 69! Stick with a Chevy, you don't want a Mopar. Also, You should tell me where it is immediately.  

Ok, just kidding.  Someone had to do it!  The pics link doesn't work.  If it is pretty solid and the rest of the parts are there and in decent condition, it is a great deal.  Keep it though.

Welcome to the site.

[skip68]

My opinion is with the car tore down makes it better to see what you have.  The key to buying a project car is getting the most solid and complete car you can.  Without pics it's hard to tell but it sounds like a good deal.   Look at it this way, in a few years the market should be back up and if you look for one then you may not get as much car for you buck.     Welcome to the site.   

[bull]

If it's as solid as you believe it is $6k would be a bargain and $4k would be a steal.

Who did the work on the quarters and tail panel? Were they full quarters or partial and what company manufactured them? I'd pay particular attention to the work done on those areas to make sure it's not shoddy. Many who claim to be good at body work can't weld worth crap and use all sorts of "unorthodox" methods to cover it up. Take a flexible fridge magnet with you next time and make sure it sticks to everything that's supposed to be metal.

[tan top]

If it's as solid as you believe it is $6k would be a bargain and $4k would be a steal.

Who did the work on the quarters and tail panel? Were they full quarters or partial and what company manufactured them? I'd pay particular attention to the work done on those areas to make sure it's not shoddy. Many who claim to be good at body work can't weld worth crap and use all sorts of "unorthodox" methods to cover it up. Take a flexible fridge magnet with you next time and make sure it sticks to everything that's supposed to be metal.

[Cooter]

"On the other hand, is there any room for profit as it sits?"

That's the only problem I have with the entire deal...If it really was your dream car, then profit would be the last thing on your mind...


Let it go to someone who wants to keep the car and not just flip it..Afterall, that's what's already happening with the car now and it's been torn all to hell in high hopes of a restoration, when it shoulda been left alone...

[TeeWJay426]

Price wise, it's a good deal. However, it's a pretty big leap of faith to assume that all the parts that were removed are still there from looking at a pile of boxes. Also, since you're a Chevy guy, and NOT the guy that took it apart in the first place, when reassembly time comes, you may find yourself overwhelmed in a hurry.

[greenpigs]

"On the other hand, is there any room for profit as it sits?"

That's the only problem I have with the entire deal...If it really was your dream car, then profit would be the last thing on your mind...


Let it go to someone who wants to keep the car and not just flip it..Afterall, that's what's already happening with the car now and it's been torn all to hell in high hopes of a restoration, when it shoulda been left alone...

  Not so many will take a rolling shell on & for 4k you most likely will go home without it. I think 5K is a fair price as you do not know what is missing or may need replaced/rebuilt.
   As far as flipping you should get it running and driveable to get any REAL money out of it.
Offer 5k put it back together & drive it.

[greasyspider]

How dare him try to screw you like that!    What's this guys phone number? I'll give him a call and straighten him out!

[HOTROD]

Yah u mite need to pass on that - new trunk tail panel - right guys !
Especially like the parts in the living room !!(my dash is on the table right now)

[lexxman]

it looks good the price is good(I would try for $5k).But that's the way I got my car,it was in boxes.If your Sirius about it ask to go thought the part to see if its all there. And get the shop book and stay on this site.

[grdprx]

I'd say go for it!  Same condition and apperance as my 68 when I got it.  Bout the same price too.   

Welcome to the site, and make yourself comfortable it your lucky enough to get that 69.  I couldn't have gotten where I am without these guys.  I wasn't familar with Mopar or older cars when I started...

[Bobby41909]

The restoration of my 69 project is almost complete.  I purchased it in a little better condition then what your looking at but a significant amount of parts weren't installed and in boxes that when I picked up the car filled the trunk and interior.  What I learned during the restoration is that NOT all the parts were there and some that were there weren't in good shape.  I see all the windows are out, engine's out, wiring harness, etc.  They told me the engine was redone also....yeah, they slapped a new cam in it and changed the gaskets....great!

You say you are a Chevy guy and I was until this project (67 Corvette & 69 Camaro).  Do your homework on what he has, its condition, and what you'll need to complete it.  I could have restored two 69 Camaro's for what this Charger is costing (ok maybe one and a half).  Simple things like new glass....69 Charger about $1,100 for the whole car...69 Camaro..under $400.  Although a lot of Mopar parts are just now being reproduced its nothing like the Chevy's and the prices are out of this world.  I'd compare Mopar pricing to Corvette pricing but they make everything for a Corvette....they don't for a Charger.  For example, you say the front grill is cracked...well they currently don't repro that so be prepared to dish out $600 for something that needs to be restored or $1,000 or more for something is good shape (only the plastic not the trim, fasteners,etc)  New trim is about $400.  A complete package in show condition with working actuators could run you $2,000.  Of course you can fix those cracks and missing peices (if you have a parts grill).     

Don't get me wrong, this is a dream car of mine also and I wouldn't have it any other way.  I just wanted to mention the $$$ difference between the Chevy's and Mopars just in case you weren't aware.  Even though the guy resotring my car is a personal friend and he TOLD me before I bought it what things cost...I just couldn't beleive the cost and lack of availability of some of the items.  However, now that its almost done, it will be nice to go to a show and NOT see another car just like yours.

I paid $10,000 for mine in April, sold all the old parts on eBay for just over $4,500, so it cost me in the same range your looking.  So I'd say if you can get it under $6k and can confirm EVERYTHING is there....thats pretty good deal.  Everything not there or in bad shape...you could spend $20k easy getting parts.

Getting your hands around how to put it back together (the right way) will be frustrating if you don't know Mopars.  I've learned they do things a little different then the Chevy's.  However, there are a lot of knowledgeable guys in this forum and from my experience, they are all willing to help.  Especially with parts...if you can't find it, someone in here probably has one they'll sell.

If you don't end up buying it...you should post the contact info in the forum.  At that price, someone will buy it.  Maybe I'll do another....NOT

This is my resto:     http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,72415.0/all.html

[str8tpiperoar]

Thanks for all of the opinions guys!

The new quarters were just skins, you can see on the inside of the trunk where they were the old meets the new. I had some idea of the rarity & prices of parts but Bobby really gave me a better idea (btw your car looks great!). Like I said, I don't have the time, space, resources or know how to finish this car now so if I did happen to end up with it it would most likely await its turn for quite a while. I'm sure I could come up with new ideas everyday for it . Anyway, I am still thinking about it, I don't think it's going anywhere fast.

Here's a pic of my Chevelle...hopefully it doesn't get me banished  

[Brock Samson]

  I love it and welcome!   

[ACUDANUT]

 Bobby, let's see more pic's of your avatar pic

[69rtse4spd]

Welcome to the site, & no it will not get you banished, at least it is not a ford. . Convert, fully you will, young one. , nice ride.

[BIGBLCK11]

Nice Chevelle!

[Khyron]

Here's a pic of my Chevelle...hopefully it doesn't get me banished 

OFF WITH THIS HEAD!


just kidding, I agree with the above posts, for that price, i would say grab it.

[drifter69]

Nice Chevy! After I bought my driver 69 it looked like that anyway after I tore everything off for the resto. Good place to start. But if your not a charger guy you might not know if all the parts in the attic are the rest of the car or not. I think 5k would be fair if there all there and if they were like mine you will be replaceing alot of that stuff anyway. My car was also a Colorado car but it still had all the typical rotten $hit going on.

[Bobby41909]

Thanks for all of the opinions guys!

The new quarters were just skins, you can see on the inside of the trunk where they were the old meets the new. I had some idea of the rarity & prices of parts but Bobby really gave me a better idea (btw your car looks great!). Like I said, I don't have the time, space, resources or know how to finish this car now so if I did happen to end up with it it would most likely await its turn for quite a while. I'm sure I could come up with new ideas everyday for it . Anyway, I am still thinking about it, I don't think it's going anywhere fast.

Here's a pic of my Chevelle...hopefully it doesn't get me banished  

Sweet....Very Nice...love the Yellow!

While we're getting banished from the site....here are my other two:

[Bobby41909]

Bobby, let's see more pic's of your avatar pic

Here you go...my daily driver...and I LOVE IT!

[ACUDANUT]

Love the Challenger !!

[fireguyfire]

Chevies; BORING!

[Matthan]

Get that Chevy crap off of here...........JK nice rides

[Scaregrabber]

I've been a Mopar guy for about 50 years but I'll take that Vette or the 69 Camaro over that new Challenger any day. There's room for everyone in this hobby.

Sheldon

[Bobby41909]

I've been a Mopar guy for about 50 years but I'll take that Vette or the 69 Camaro over that new Challenger any day. There's room for everyone in this hobby.

Sheldon

Thanks for the compliments on my HOBBY cars.  I can't wait to add the 69 Charger to the list.  Yet the Challenger is not a HOBBY car...it's how I get to work... It's just not practical to drive my HOBBY cars everyday.  Although they are beautiful and I enjoy the crap out of driving them, the older cars just aren't built as well or perform as well as the newer cars.  Sure the older ones are faster (say in the 1/4 mile) but I've had that Challenger up to 148mph and it still had more and felt like I was going 55mph.  Oh, the A/C and stereo were on, no vibration, no air whistling in....and when I slammed on the brakes...it really stopped!  I wouldn't even try that in my HOBBY cars.  Got to love progress in engineering...   

[dkn1997]

good luck with your charger and I think you will find that any "real" car guy, the kind of car guy that most people on this site are, has a spot in his heart for other makes.  A beautiful muscle car of any make is among the coolest things on earth.

BTW, your challenger is one of the nicest ones I have seen.  I love the B5 blue and that particular stripe you have.