69 Hemi charger 500 only $249.000

[69_500]

Yeah I like the thought of my car evolving too, but just can't bring myself to do that. But ask me again in 10 years, and if I don't have a real Daytona by then, I just might be doing the same thing Pete.

[69Charger500]

I've thought about this too off and on over the years (evolving the 500 into a Daytona).  Ultimately, the 500 is a rare car, and each year I get less of the "hey, you've got the wrong grille" comments when it's out and about.

Now I enjoy the seemingly new awareness of what the 500s really are, and their place in Mopar history as something more than a car "that didn't quite do it."

I am content to leave well enough alone for the time being, although it may not be a bad idea to pick up a few Daytona odds and ends.  Especialy with prices continually on the rise, and parts getting more scarce every day.

Now a 528 crate Hemi?  That is a different story altogether.  As soon as I have a few extra dollars, that nicely restored 440 is going to take a rest on an engine stand for a while.  The four speed and Super Trak Pak Dana 4.10 are just dying for a little HP boost.  And a couple of little Hemi emblems on the doors wouldn't look too bad either!

A Hemi 500 is one of my all time favorite Mopars, and it's only about $15,000 out of my reach right now!

Anyway, I'm pretty sure a Daytona would not fit in my garage!  What is the overall length of those things, by the way?

[69_500]

Is that your 500, in its current shape and form? Gorgeous ride.

So the thinking is to drop in a crate 528 HEMI huh and have a little fun? Now  that is more like it. I'd love to drop in a HEMI in mine, and just cruise, but the money part of it is what is holding me back.

[69Charger500]

That pic is about 5 years old, but it looks the same (just under a car cover right now!)  It is a really nice looking, solid car, that most people thing is "perfectly restored," but would in fact require a complete resto to be worthy of Mopar Nats style judging.

Anyway, I've done that before (completely restored a perfectly good car), and although the end result was phenomenal, all it did was make me afraid to drive it, and then I ultimately sold it because I could not bear the wear and tear it suffered at my hands (have to drive 'em, you know).  Every little stone chip and rain storm I got caught in made me sick.

[69_500]

See to me, I'd just like to have my car up to where your 500 is. Where it is presentable, but in as far as judging at the Nats is concerned that I could care less. I just want a car that at a Mopar show would score in the 80-90 range. I don't want a 100 point car, and I definately don't want a car that will win GOLD OE judging or anything like that. I want to drive my car and enjoy it.

As of now, my car is about a 55-60 point car. It needs quite a bit to get to where I want it, but it is still a thrill to drive.

[69Charger500]

Call me crazy, but I've got a thing for Chargers with a few battle scars.  I don't know of any other car I could say that about, except maybe a '69 Six-Pak Bee.

Those cars wear their age well, and I'm hoping to find a nice '68 or '69 R/T that needs a little work, for a decent price.  I think it would look good parked next to the 500, and tearing up the roads as well!

Almost bought a Dark Green '69 Hemi Charger for $9000 a few years ago ('99 I think).  It was rough, and minus engine and trans, but wouldn't that be a cool car to drive around "waiting" for the money to re-do it right?

Mike

[Highbanked Hauler]

I kind of like the idea of a 69 500 driver. 

So did I till I got it halfway up on a guardrail in Penn.and tore up some good sheetmetal.

[Ghoste]

But where is it safe?  A trailer could get mowed down by a transport driver working three logbooks and no sleep in the last 48 hours.  Even your garage could burn down.
Not that I'm not sympathetic.  I am and I honestly can't answer what I'd do with a car like that.  I like to think that I'd drive a 71 four speed Hemi Cuda vert if I owned one.  When it's actually your investment on the line though...

[69Charger500]

pictures? please!

[Highbanked Hauler]

If you are going to drive it make sure that your insurance is bullet proof(which mine wasn't) or you can accept the loss.I do agree that there are circumstances beyond anybodies controll.

[Ghoste]

The trick occurs in a case where somebody bought their 69 Hemi 500 five years ago.  Or better yet, fifteen years ago.  Today, that is a rich man's car hence the topic of this thread.  Can the guy who bought it fifteen years ago afford the loss as ably as the guy who buys it today?  Obviously not.  The Mopar hobby is changing very quickly all around us.

[Highbanked Hauler]

    and not for the better either.

[69Charger500]

Well that is a good topic as well.  I bought my 500 in '99 for $13,000, and it is insured for $20K with Haggerty (agreed value, I think).  I know I should increase this now, but to what?  Old Car Price Guide says my car in #3 condition is $21,500, but they have always seemed way low to me on Mopar prices.

What is a '69 500 in "very good" condition (per OCPG guidelines) worth these days?

T5 6X 440, 4 Speed, Super Trak Pak, AM, Console; upgraded with an SE interior

[Ghoste]

A little more than 13,000.

I'll give you twice what you paid for it.  Does that help?

[Highbanked Hauler]

I got mine appraised at Carlisle last summer and they came up with 41K which I thought was short but I couldn't argue because of the present sheetmetal on the front.It seems that 500s in the last 2 years  have finally caught the updraft in prices to get up closer to the Daytonas and Birds.

[69Charger500]

HH:  What are the details on yours?

[Highbanked Hauler]

 If you haven't seen this before the site is ,        www.1969charger500.com                     had to check it to be sure it was still there. That will tell you a lot.

[69Charger500]

Nice looking car!  Don't see too many 500s in B5--looks great in that color!

That wreck must have made you sick........

[Highbanked Hauler]

     Thanks, it was more that I dodged a bullet,the top of the guardrail sliced through the Tbar crossmember and pushed the gass lines out of the way in doing so.The car could have gotten toasted and I don't know how far it was to the bottom on the other side of the guardrail.It was 50 ft. anyway.

[nascarxx29]

Who recalls one of or both of these bronze 500s one 426 car and other a 440 at mopar carlisle.Having wing holes deleted on there 1/4s.

[69Charger500]

Meaning they used to be daytonas???

Ghoste:  I have been tempted before, and gave in.  I sold my '71 383 Mag (N-Code all numbers matching fully loaded Challenger convertible, even AC and Block Heater) for $23K in '99 in order to to buy the 500.  It was 4 times what I paid for it 11 years prior, even though I had about $23K total in the car by that time.  Oh yeah, and it was FE5 with the rare hood moulding and white R/T-Like stripes, and Rallye gauges.

I hope not to make the same mistake again!!!!!!!!!

[XXHEMI]

Who recalls one of or both of these bronze 500s one 426 car and other a 440 at mopar carlisle.Having wing holes deleted on there 1/4s.

My 500 has the holes on the top of the quarters and the holes in the truck floor for the wing brackets! I have talked to the two previous owners and they did not know what I was talking about.I was never able to track the original owner to ask him if he had installed a wing at any time but he was an older gentleman that bought the car for himself on his 50th birthday so it does not seem he would have done this.The car still has 100% of the original interior and only has one repaint from 1985 right before the original owners sold it.Also the repair to cover the holes was done so badly that it does make sense that anyone owning this car would have done such a poor job.There are four small pieces of what looks like white alum.siding with bondo on them stuck right to the under side of the quarters.The car was one of the last few 500 made has anyone else run in to this??
Thanks Ed

[Charger_Fan]

If you haven't seen this before the site is ,        www.1969charger500.com                     had to check it to be sure it was still there. That will tell you a lot.

That's the first time I've seen the whole story on your 500. That sucks, but I'm glad it wasn't worse.

[XXHEMI]

I think that it is possible that this happened before the original owner took the car from the dealer. Or someone was thinking of turning it into a Daytona at one point! Who knows? Take a look at the repairs from inside the trunk a real quickie

[69_500]

I haven't ever run into anything like that. But I do know of a few 500's that were made into Daytona's years ago, due to the prices of Daytona's being way more than a 500 would bring. So people added a wing, nose cone, and front fenders to make it into a Daytona. Same XX vin tag and such so not many people back then would have known.

I never knew that your 500 had wing holes repaired in the quarters Ed. Your car is absolutely gorgeous though. For 1 repaint, it sure looks awsome.

Now as far as Al's 500 in concerned and hitting the guardrail, that is a travesty. I don't tend to think of things like that when I'm driving my 500 to shows. If it did, then I probably woudln't drive it. As far as the comment about if someone bought a car 15 years ago, would they be willing to drive the car to a show? I think yes. They have a lot less in the car than someone who buys it now. However the argument can also be made that someone who has the money to buy one at todays prices probably has the money to repair it too.

As far as the value of a 500 for insurance reasons. I just had my 500 insurance raised to $60K. Sent in pictures to show the exterior, interior, engine compartment, trunk, both sides of the car, under carriage, an they not only agreed on the $60K price, but recommended going to $80K. So as far as Troy's 500, or even 69Charger500's car, I'd say both of those cars could be insured for $80K+ easily.