Are R/T clones worth more?

[1969chargerrtse]

I have a 6 way seat but it's powered by me. 

[UH60L]

I see several comments about an R/T being about badges and stripes.

My car was originally a 318 car.  Twenty years or so before I got it, it was changed to a 440/727.  Now it has upgraded shocks and a rear sway bar, as well as some R/T badges (mine were not $70.00 though.....), but no stripe.

My car now has most of the the mechanical upgrades that an R/T would have over a 318 charger back in the day, so I don't feel bad about it being a "clone".

It's interesting to listen to people at car shows talk about it though, as though I was trying to fool someone.  I've never hidden the fact that it was originally a 318, nor have I ever covered up my vin at car shows (apparently some guys do that...).  In fact, many of the same people who make comments about the car...walk right past the sign that says "originally a 318 car, blue, possibly with a white vinyl top".

Sometimes I think those are the same people who tailgate me in the right hand lane of I-5 as we drive past the "slower traffic keep right" sign cursing and flipping me off for doing the right thing.....   

[UH60L]

Almost forgot, as to what they are worth.  Best answer is the one that was already given.

Any car is worth whatever someone is willing to pay. 

It may not be worth it to 99 percent of the people on this board, but to some guy that has always wanted one, and that say, just won the powerball, it's definitely worth it.

[ugly2u]

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=48718.0;attach=92687;image

I just flipped through this amazing resto-mod of an RT. What an incredible transformation. Should it still be considered/valued like an RT. I know it took a ton of $$$ and balls to build, but it hardly has any original sheet metal. If it's okay to improve that car and hold the value, with so many replacement parts, why would it not improve the value of a 318 car by cloning it? Seems like they put an RT tag on repop metal. Hardly original mopar muscle car demanding top value.

I don't mean to be argumentative, just seems like a double standard to me... unless people feel that car is not worth RT value. But to what level would the value drop?

I think it would be worth every penny of the RT value, plus some for the upgrades. But that also follows my logic of value increase when you clone a car.

Sorry, I should have let this thread go....

[1969chargerrtse]

There are so many variables that the original question is starting to look along the lines of,Which are better looking blonde's or brunettes?

[66chargerkid]

This is my opinion on the subject.
Take 2 cars with same trim, interior and paint color
XP 318 auto car with a nice original restoration red with black and black.
XP original 318 auto car with a nice 440, auto 8 3/4 sure grip and a nice viper red paint, black on black rt clone, etc.
Same price as the original car is all original and the 440 car has the goodies.
Me personally, I would take the 440 car over the 318 car on the fact that although the 318 car is a nice original, the charger image when most think about them is big v8, huge burn outs, rumbling exhaust etc.
Not to say one is better then the other, but as stated multiple times, the clone represents the image the charger possesses in this modern age more then the 318 car.
I am 19. I want hp, big meats, and man an r/t (clone or real) just denotes that image whether it is an outdated performance package or not.
Plus, I want MY charger. I don't want to feel bad for putting a suregrip, r/t badges, my own personal paint color prefence, big meats, and a big hp motor in my charger because the car was an original numbers matching charger.
These cars are worth what people will pay for. My generation is about the hp and fast image. The older generations may be about original feel, originality to the factory etc.
Hell they are both Chargers and no matter whether you are a cloner, restomoder, or a stickler on originality, we all drive bad ass cars.
That said. Monetary value is only part of what makes a car worth more. Image, originality, quality, etc. all have there roles in what people will pay for and what people will want.
Great topic. We all love these cars and if anything is evident in this thread, its that we have pride in all our mopar's and that really what counts right?

[skip68]

19 and you think you know it all.   Well, you're right.      
Well said young man.   

[Chris G.]

My generation is about the hp and fast image. The older generations may be about original feel, originality to the factory etc.

You're 19...your generation digs rice burners and DVD players mounted throughout the cars, not to mention the fart cans and roll bars in Civics. The HP and fast image came way before you entered this earth sonny.

[moparstuart]

My generation is about the hp and fast image. The older generations may be about original feel, originality to the factory etc.

You're 19...your generation digs rice burners and DVD players mounted throughout the cars, not to mention the fart cans and roll bars in Civics. The HP and fast image came way before you entered this earth sonny.

  you cant tell them anything , but i tried

[Charger-Bodie]

My generation is about the hp and fast image. The older generations may be about original feel, originality to the factory etc.

You're 19...your generation digs rice burners and DVD players mounted throughout the cars, not to mention the fart cans and roll bars in Civics. The HP and fast image came way before you entered this earth sonny.

  you cant tell them anything , but i tried

That doesn't necessarily make him wrong though.......

[Chris G.]

  you cant tell them anything , but i tried

[firefighter3931]

" Take the badges and stripe off a genuine R/T and park it next to a standard 318 car and it will look exactly the same from a distance without looking at the VIN, so IMO it doesn't make it less of a muscle car because it is not an R/T. "

It is less of a Muscle car than a true R/T.

My God we were just closing this subject out.  

Some peoples definition of a musclecar differs.   Some guys feel that the XS vin automaticly qualifies their car as a musclecar....yet they are sorely disappointed the first time the pull it onto a track.

A REAL musclecar not only looks the part but can back it up in the performance department.  


I guess mine's not a real musclecar because it has an XP vin. Try telling that to the guy in the other lane !  



Ron

[moparstuart]

" Take the badges and stripe off a genuine R/T and park it next to a standard 318 car and it will look exactly the same from a distance without looking at the VIN, so IMO it doesn't make it less of a muscle car because it is not an R/T. "

It is less of a Muscle car than a true R/T.

My God we were just closing this subject out.  

Some peoples definition of a musclecar differs.   Some guys feel that the XS vin automaticly qualifies their car as a musclecar....yet they are sorely disappointed the first time the pull it onto a track.

A REAL musclecar not only looks the part but can back it up in the performance department.  


I guess mine's not a real musclecar because it has an XP vin. Try telling that to the guy in the other lane !  



Ron

[firefighter3931]

I am 19. I want hp, big meats, and man an r/t (clone or real) just denotes that image whether it is an outdated performance package or not.
Plus, I want MY charger. I don't want to feel bad for putting a suregrip, r/t badges, my own personal paint color prefence, big meats, and a big hp motor in my charger because the car was an original numbers matching charger.
These cars are worth what people will pay for. My generation is about the hp and fast image. The older generations may be about original feel, originality to the factory etc.
Hell they are both Chargers and no matter whether you are a cloner, restomoder, or a stickler on originality, we all drive bad ass cars.
That said. Monetary value is only part of what makes a car worth more. Image, originality, quality, etc. all have there roles in what people will pay for and what people will want.
Great topic. We all love these cars and if anything is evident in this thread, its that we have pride in all our mopar's and that really what counts right?

I'd say the Kid has it right.....definately wiser than most the posers on this thread. 

Build it your way and if any of the XS guys want to challenge you invite them to do so ; then we'll see who has the musclecar and who doesn't. 



Ron

[Chris G.]

I have an XS, but would never think it's better than anybody's Charger. The only other car I am really wanting right now is an XP Charger. I hope if I ever have an attitude of "I have a real muscle car and you have a clone", that my friends would drag me on the pavement with their Charger. 

Clones can easily outsell an XS Charger. Lot's of factors are involved, but if you don't think it happens, you are delusional. Again...

[Back N Black]

I am 19. I want hp, big meats, and man an r/t (clone or real) just denotes that image whether it is an outdated performance package or not.
Plus, I want MY charger. I don't want to feel bad for putting a suregrip, r/t badges, my own personal paint color prefence, big meats, and a big hp motor in my charger because the car was an original numbers matching charger.
These cars are worth what people will pay for. My generation is about the hp and fast image. The older generations may be about original feel, originality to the factory etc.
Hell they are both Chargers and no matter whether you are a cloner, restomoder, or a stickler on originality, we all drive bad ass cars.
That said. Monetary value is only part of what makes a car worth more. Image, originality, quality, etc. all have there roles in what people will pay for and what people will want.
Great topic. We all love these cars and if anything is evident in this thread, its that we have pride in all our mopar's and that really what counts right?

I'd say the Kid has it right.....definately wiser than most the posers on this thread. 

Build it your way and if any of the XS guys want to challenge you invite them to do so ; then we'll see who has the musclecar and who doesn't. 



Ron

Good points Ron, I'm willing to run my old clone on the track with any stock R/T.

[XS29L9Bxxxxxx]

I have an XS, but would never think it's better than anybody's Charger. The only other car I am really wanting right now is an XP Charger. I hope if I ever have an attitude of "I have a real muscle car and you have a clone", that my friends would drag me on the pavement with their Charger. 

Clones can easily outsell an XS Charger. Lot's of factors are involved, but if you don't think it happens, you are delusional. Again...

   I would like to find a nice XS Charger, just hard to find one priced realistically  I would built to suit, but not as a cloned R/T

[Charger-Bodie]

I have an XS, but would never think it's better than anybody's Charger. The only other car I am really wanting right now is an XP Charger. I hope if I ever have an attitude of "I have a real muscle car and you have a clone", that my friends would drag me on the pavement with their Charger. 

Clones can easily outsell an XS Charger. Lot's of factors are involved, but if you don't think it happens, you are delusional. Again...

   I would like to find a nice XS Charger, just hard to find one priced realistically  I would built to suit, but not as a cloned R/T

To some people Cloning an R/T is "building to suit"


I have an XS Charger and its Built to suit me as a Daytona clone.

[XS29L9Bxxxxxx]

I have an XS, but would never think it's better than anybody's Charger. The only other car I am really wanting right now is an XP Charger. I hope if I ever have an attitude of "I have a real muscle car and you have a clone", that my friends would drag me on the pavement with their Charger. 

Clones can easily outsell an XS Charger. Lot's of factors are involved, but if you don't think it happens, you are delusional. Again...

   I would like to find a nice XS Charger, just hard to find one priced realistically  I would built to suit, but not as a cloned R/T

To some people Cloning an R/T is "building to suit"


I have an XS Charger and its Built to suit me as a Daytona clone.

What do XX29 owners think of your clone? 

Or do they even know it's a clone? Or care? 

[Charger-Bodie]

I have an XS, but would never think it's better than anybody's Charger. The only other car I am really wanting right now is an XP Charger. I hope if I ever have an attitude of "I have a real muscle car and you have a clone", that my friends would drag me on the pavement with their Charger. 

Clones can easily outsell an XS Charger. Lot's of factors are involved, but if you don't think it happens, you are delusional. Again...

   I would like to find a nice XS Charger, just hard to find one priced realistically  I would built to suit, but not as a cloned R/T

To some people Cloning an R/T is "building to suit"


I have an XS Charger and its Built to suit me as a Daytona clone.

What do XX29 owners think of your clone? 

Or do they even know it's a clone? Or care? 

Never had a one of them say anything negitive about it...... As for them knowing its a clone. Yes ,anyone who asks about it is told right away that it is a clone. Most are surprised that its a clone and complment the car.

[XS29L9Bxxxxxx]

Never had a one of them say anything negitive about it...... As for them knowing its a clone. Yes ,anyone who asks about it is told right away that it is a clone. Most are surprised that its a clone and complment the car.

That's cool. Just in the limited pics I've seen, it looks to be well-done 

[Charger-Bodie]

Never had a one of them say anything negitive about it...... As for them knowing its a clone. Yes ,anyone who asks about it is told right away that it is a clone. Most are surprised that its a clone and complment the car.

That's cool. Just in the limited pics I've seen, it looks to be well-done 

Thanks. to me the problem with most clones, is that they arent clones atall. They are simply Chargers with R/t emblems. To me thats the problem.

[XS29L9Bxxxxxx]

Never had a one of them say anything negitive about it...... As for them knowing its a clone. Yes ,anyone who asks about it is told right away that it is a clone. Most are surprised that its a clone and complment the car.

That's cool. Just in the limited pics I've seen, it looks to be well-done  

Thanks. to me the problem with most clones, is that they arent clones atall. They are simply Chargers with R/t emblems. To me thats the problem.

Right, and to my original point, adding a set of $70.00 emblems does not add value to an XP29 car - or the Camaro I linked the pic at the top of page 5  

[RECHRGD]

As Ron said earlier.  The definition of a "muscle car" is performance.  It has nothing to do with a vin#.  However an original XS car would easily walk away from any XP car "back in the day".  So to us old guys an original R/T has a lot of historic and nostalgic value.  Those cars were just plain fast when compared to the cars of the '50's.  I remember reading sometime in the '50's, when I was a kid, that any car that could go from 0 to 60 in less than ten seconds was a "high performance" vehicle.  Fast forward to today and that kind of performance is laughable at best.  My current '68 is a clone of the R/T I bought new in 1968.  Does it mean less to me that it's an XP car?  Absolutly not.  When your 64 years old there's not too many things that make you feel young again.  But, when I'm driving the Charger I feel like I'm twenty again and you can't put a price tag on that.  Maybe that's drifting a little away from the subject at hand, but it still gets back to how much a vin# means to you.  It's just a matter of opinion and everybody's got one.   Bob

[RECHRGD]

Never had a one of them say anything negitive about it...... As for them knowing its a clone. Yes ,anyone who asks about it is told right away that it is a clone. Most are surprised that its a clone and complment the car.

That's cool. Just in the limited pics I've seen, it looks to be well-done 

Thanks. to me the problem with most clones, is that they arent clones atall. They are simply Chargers with R/t emblems. To me thats the problem.

Not in my neck of the woods..  I've been going to car shows and events throughout the Northwest for over 13 years and I find the opposite to be true.  Most of the clones are well done and with enough upgrades to humble most original R/T's,