So, found another Charger. Going east bound and down, like a good ol' boy...

[elanmars]

Wasn't expecting this to happen-called about a car, was a little too high for me, made an offer and told the seller to think about it and call me up if he wanted to deal.

yesterday it happened.

Now I'm flying out to make sure it's all good, go over it and if it checks out, pick it up and drive it back through the south to New Orleans.

Nothing fancy but I'm not the type to tear it up through the streets (though that's hella fun), I'm more of a cruiser. So this 318 1969 Dodge Charger is a-ok with me until down the road I can afford to do a 5.7/6.1 hemi swap.

And though the interior is black, with a woodgrain dash, it's painted orange...with General Lee decals. I can live with the orange. I can even live with a General Lee for a while, take a bunch of photos and then the decals go off. Then perhaps paint it black down the road. The car is driveable, the body is ok, needing some things here and there like most of them, been there, done that, no problem.

It's been a while, since the wreck. Finally getting my mopar fix again.

and this is it:

[Ghoste]

Awesome news man!  Congratulations and good to hear you're back in a Charger.

[nvrbdn]

sweet. back in the saddle.

[moparstuart]

     ditch the ugly wheels 

[AirborneSilva]

Congrats and I hope it works out for you 

[Ghoste]

I like the idea of switching from the white to the black as well.  A fresh start and all.

[kokxville]

Congrats with your "new" 69. 
She looks nice. 

[Dino]

Sweet!  Congrats man, I'm glad you (hopefully) found one.  Yeah ditch the wheels, nothing wrong with vectors but anything above 10 spokes just looks weird on a Charger.
So is it an SE or did the owner add the woodgrain and rocker trim?

[model maker]

If I may ask, what were you able to buy it for ? did your insurance money cover it ?

[XS29LA47V21]

     

[bakerhillpins]

Keep us informed on how it all plays out and certainly post up some pics of your cross country travels if you do take it home with you. 

[PocketThunder]

thats it?!  we only get 1 picture? ..   

[AirborneSilva]

thats it?!  we only get 1 picture? ..   

Don't seem right does it 

[skip68]

Good for you.     any Charger is better than no Charger.   
Have fun with it, you've more than earned it.

[bull]

  Congrats. Good to see you getting back into the saddle. Now watch out for those GMC duallys.

[Bob]

 

[1974dodgecharger]

saw one in carolina same setup for 14k....

[Bob T]

Good one, hope it checks out ok.
And then the road trip photos 

[greenpigs]

Way too much offset on those rims, so yes one of many that says ditch the rims.

Nothing wrong with an orange Charger, just take that DOH stuff off!

Hope it turns out for you plus the fact you can still drive after that nasty wreck.

[69bronzeT5]

I'd keep it exactly as is but I'd put actual Vectors on it.. Lee #1 replica!!

[bill440rt]

That's great news! Congrats! 
Good for you, man. Glad to see your getting another.

Whereabouts on the east coast did you find it?

[Patronus]

Id skip the black... its a bitch.. 

[Indygenerallee]

Looks good!!  but someone was smoking crack when they stuck those wheels on it!! Ditch em' quick!!!

[elanmars]

Ill post more pics once I get home for sure, I know, just one isn't good enough.

It's gonna need some work-both bumpers need to be replaced or rechromed, the front one is not as bad as the back. The wheels are definitely gonna get replaced soon. Has two spots on the bottom that will be needing to be fixed, frame rails are solid. Interior is out of a 3rd gen Charger (the seats/back seat) but they're SO much comfier...down the road I'll fix that up. Needs headliner. AC needs to be charged. Gonna go through it mechanically and that's what I'll tackle first, needs some refreshing for sure but the 318 starts and runs no problem.

the dash is the wood grain but it's a bit beat up. When I get home I'll get with my friend and we'll go over the wrecked Charger and see what parts can be reused, what parts he has at his place that we can use for the interior. The trunk pan needs to be replaced, the work that was done to it previously is terrible, I'm just gonna AMD it up. Body is solid with only minor work needed here and there, it's all the usual stuff but at least the back window area is not bad at all-and it's not bondoed up either.

I think I got it for a good price, used part of my insurance money on it and I have enough for now to get it the way I want it mechanically, then down the road I'll tackle the paint and do the minor body work it needs-do it right. I'll live with the General Lee stuff for a while and have fun with it, loved the show as a kid but I've never been all fanatical about it and I never went after one but this was a really good deal for me to pass up, made even better once I saw the car and I was able to knock the price down here and there more. I woulda kicked myself if I hadn't gotten it, orange with General Lee decals and ugly wheels and all.

[BananaDan]

Congratulations!  Glad to hear you're back in the saddle.

[Dino]

Woohoo you got a 69 again!   

[AirborneSilva]

Congrats for sure, glad it worked out for you 

[Lennard]

Id skip the black... its a bitch.. 

Please explain?

[69bronzeT5]

Id skip the black... its a bitch.. 

Please explain?

He just painted his '69 black not too long ago

[charger_fan_4ever]

Congratulations on getting back in another charger. I will never forget the pics of your wrecked 69. Good thing the big guy up above was watching over you that day. 

[Finn]

Congrats!! 

[Lennard]

Id skip the black... its a bitch..  

Please explain?

He just painted his '69 black not too long ago

I know but why is it a bitch?

BTW, congrats on getting another '69 Charger elanmars.

[Rolling_Thunder]

black is considered one of the most classic looks - however it shows ANY minor flow in bodywork or prep. So - it is a "bitch" to paint because the bodywork needs to be perfect for it to show well. Upkeep is also a factor as it requires constant washing and easily looks dirty.   

I would argue that any paint job requires perfect bodywork -  however constant washing and waxing gets old. 

[1974dodgecharger]

black is considered one of the most classic looks - however it shows ANY minor flow in bodywork or prep. So - it is a "bitch" to paint because the bodywork needs to be perfect for it to show well. Upkeep is also a factor as it requires constant washing and easily looks dirty.   

I would argue that any paint job requires perfect bodywork -  however constant washing and waxing gets old. 

get matted black....

[Lennard]

black is considered one of the most classic looks - however it shows ANY minor flow in bodywork or prep. So - it is a "bitch" to paint because the bodywork needs to be perfect for it to show well. Upkeep is also a factor as it requires constant washing and easily looks dirty.   
I would argue that any paint job requires perfect bodywork -  however constant washing and waxing gets old. 

Thanks for the explanation Alex.

[Dino]

black is considered one of the most classic looks - however it shows ANY minor flow in bodywork or prep. So - it is a "bitch" to paint because the bodywork needs to be perfect for it to show well. Upkeep is also a factor as it requires constant washing and easily looks dirty.   

I would argue that any paint job requires perfect bodywork -  however constant washing and waxing gets old. 

Yep, never had a problem painting a car black, prep needs to be perfect no matter what color, but man the upkeep is a bitch!  I have a black car now, it looks good every time I wash it, for about an hour.  Black is still on the list for the charger but it's getting way down there.

[bill440rt]

black is considered one of the most classic looks - however it shows ANY minor flow in bodywork or prep. So - it is a "bitch" to paint because the bodywork needs to be perfect for it to show well. Upkeep is also a factor as it requires constant washing and easily looks dirty.   

I would argue that any paint job requires perfect bodywork -  however constant washing and waxing gets old. 

Yep, never had a problem painting a car black, prep needs to be perfect no matter what color, but man the upkeep is a bitch!  I have a black car now, it looks good every time I wash it, for about an hour.  Black is still on the list for the charger but it's getting way down there.

x2 

Your prep/body work needs to be spot-on if you plan on painting a car black. It is like a mirror, and will show any & every minor flaw.
The upkeep is more involved as well, especially if you want it to look nice. Every swirl mark, scratch, etc is magnified on a black car. I had a black car... once.

Matte black is just as tough. Fingerprints, grease marks, etc are difficult to remove. And forget about buffing a scratch out... you can't! If you do, you'll have a shiny spot.

[RIDELIKEHELL]

Glad to hear you are a Charger owner again

[bakerhillpins]

 


What's the word?  Is it home with you? How did the trip go?

[Patronus]

updates man, updates..

[nvrbdn]

 

[41husk]

Congrats! now take some more pictures.

[elanmars]

Hey! I've been so super busy with school and work and being daddy that I haven't had a chance to properly take pics. You can see a few on my instagram (my username there is tomasraul) if anyone has that on their iphone-I follow one of the members here, Finn, with that program (and it's free).

Car made it a-ok. Had to play around with the carburetor as it was so plugged up with crap. Waiting on the rebuild kit to come in. Alignment was beyond horrendous, so I had that taken care of (I have family in Florida I stayed with for a day).

And then I made the 8 hour drive home no problem. Even though it's not a "correct" general lee, the public does not care. I got attention before with all my other Chargers but the attention with a General Lee is INSANE. So far, totally positive, even cops seeing me drive it without a plate on the way home gave me the thumbs up. The 318 is solid, interior is out of a 3rd gen I'm sure.

car needs attention but it's not horrible. first I'm concentrating on all the mechanical stuff. Transmission and engine are ok, most of the stuff is fine but again, carburetor needs a rebuild bad. I wish I could find decently priced vector wheels but that's just not happening right now, so I'm going to end up having to buy torq-thrusts soon. I don't plan to keep the car a general lee for a long time anyway...but I do want to do the stage 3 firm feel steering thing as I see nothing but positive stuff about it here and everywhere, disc brake set up, have the AC charged (all the parts are there).

Once I get to the body work part, it needs attention on the bottom rear fenders and here and there where it was obvious they didn't bother with any body work, needs a new floor by the back seat and part of the driver's side frame rail needs a small patch. OH yeah and the trunk floor needs replacing, it's UGLY.

it's a good running project though, got it for the price range I was looking for and it gives me plenty of room to play with as far as how to take this car. I will have lots of photos soon!

[1974dodgecharger]

price again?

[aussiemuscle]

Nothing wrong with an orange Charger, just take that DOH stuff off! .

That's the good thing about DOH cars, it doesn't take much to bring them back to 'normal'.

congrats on the car, elanmars.