A Charger restoration question with no right or wrong opinions

[Ghoste]

This is just something that makes me curious because I really don't know which way I would have done this car personally.  Most of you are familiar with the Charger I show car from 1965, what you may not know is that the car, although originally intended to be shown with a 426 Race Hemi was sent to the auto show circuit with the 383 that the Polara it was based on came from the assembly line with.  Yes, I know some period print materials claim it had a 426 wedge underhood but having had the chance to research the car a bit, I can tell you for sure there was no 426 in it.
Anyway, when the car was restored a few years back, the person financing that resto decided it should have the Hemi engine it was intended to have from the start.  Which way would you have gone, 426 Race Hemi as meant, 383 as shipped, or 426 wedge as claimed?
Myself I kind of like the Hemi route but sometimes the purist in me leans to the 383.  Overall though I give a slight edge to the Hemi with no particularly better reason than "Race Hemi".

[6pkrunner]

While the hemi would be neat, if it came with a 383 and lived with a 383 - then that's the way to restore it.
Shame they didn't fire the race hemi into it - not like they had a shortage of them.

[hemi68charger]

While the hemi would be neat, if it came with a 383 and lived with a 383 - then that's the way to restore it.
Shame they didn't fire the race hemi into it - not like they had a shortage of them.

I agree with Mike, 383................

[SRT-68]

I agree as well. The car needs to be redone just as it was. This is not just a car project, it is a piece of history.

[tan top]

 got to be a 383   deffo      

although blown hemi ! would be awesome  !! but it was built with 383 !! 

[Ghoste]

Actually a shortage of Race Hemi's was apparently the very reason it didn't get one.  The engines were in the initial part of being released to race teams and someone needed one "RIGHT NOW!" just as the Charger I was being readied so guess who got that engine. 

[twodko]

While there is nothing like a hemi I agree with the membership. It IS a piece of history and it demands restoration as it has lived - 383. 

[Chargerrtforme]

Ditto all the above, or below.   Original motor was 383. Could care less about shoulda, coulda, woulda.

[UH60L]

I agree with what most here are saying.  If there had been more than one of the concept car made, then maybe go with a hemi (or even a souped up 440...).  Since there is only one, and it is such a historical car, I would go original as much as possible.

In fact, since that car is up for aution, I wonder if the buyer will change it back?    

If I had the money and knew what I do about the car, I'd buy it and change it back, and then drop that race hemi in my '69!     

[Vainglory, Esq.]

Are we talking about the original 383 or just some other 383 block that we can put in the car because the original motor is long gone?  If the latter, I could justify putting in the race hemi.  If the original 383 that was in it was still in, it should be left alone.

[Mike DC]

                   
Should the paintjob be done modern-resto perfect, or only as shiny as it originally was?  Same princple. 

[Ghoste]

By all indications it was the original 383.

[bakerhillpins]

I guess I am in the 383 camp too. Seems to me its more about what the car was than anything else. Why try to change history? 

[1969chargerrtse]

By all indications it was the original 383.

100% back to original then.

[TylerCharger69]

I agree,,,And if this is a 100 percent resto......The paint finish needs to be the same too

[Chad L. Magee]

Count me in on the 383 camp on this one....

[DAY CLONA]

 the person financing that resto decided it should have the Hemi engine it was intended to have from the start.
[/quote]







The only thing that matters in this case

[ChargerSG]

If it a numbermatching 383 then thats the choise, but if itsent numbermatching then i would go for the wedge

[Nacho-RT74]

Are we talking about the original 383 or just some other 383 block that we can put in the car because the original motor is long gone?  If the latter, I could justify putting in the race hemi.  If the original 383 that was in it was still in, it should be left alone.

[BIGBLCK11]

Not a purist, but have to agree with the original 383 in this case, it is history.

[Vainglory, Esq.]

Just saw this on Autoblog: http://www.autoblog.com/2011/01/12/leading-the-charger-64-dodge-hemi-concept-up-for-auction/

Apparently it's got one of the first 15 race hemis ever built.  I know that I originally voted 383, but what else would be a worthy receptacle for that kind of engine?

[bull]

I'll admit it. I'm confused. Was the car built by Chrysler in the factory with a 383? If so, a "restoration" would dictate that is gets the 383.

Whose "intention" was it that it get a 426?

[Ghoste]

Chryslers.  It was built from a Polara that was pulled from the assembly and then modified for show car duty.  The modifying came at the same time Chryler was getting ready to unleash the Hemi on an unprepared world and as there were only a handful of 426 Hemi's in existence at the time the race teams got the available engines before the show car.  The one slated to go into the Charger I was shipped at the last minute to replace a bad engines to ensure the race team in question had one.  Since the auto shows were also looming immediately Dodge just sent the car as it was.

[69chargerrt440]

Even though a 426 Hemi would be nice to have, I would have to go with an 383. You can build an 383 however you want, as in Horsepower. 

[bull]

Well, if nothing else a 383 would be a lot cheaper.