Who here hates the charger prices?

[mustanghater]

I hate the prices the chargers are going for! I remember a few years ago you could get a clean '69 charger for $5,000 now a non running project can get $10,000. Some prices are coming down but most are still up there. I've been looking for a week for a car to work on for Auto body next year, a '68 or '70, but now I've decided to buy something else. Who is to blame for these prices? the movies or BJ.

[andy74]

find a shit box,then spend the rest of your time at school fixing it-that would be a great learning expierence,and you would have less time on the web

[Chris G.]

Yes Hater, I do agree with you. The private sellers have hopes and dreams with some of the prices they want, but the dealers have totally lost it. They mark up Chargers at least 15K more than the so called going rate no matter what the condition.

This guy Steve Anastos just bid 100K on a V Code '70. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Dodge-Charger-SE-Very-Rare-1970-Dodge-Charger-SE-440-6pack-Pristine_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6199QQitemZ4609083777QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW  Sometimes you have to blame the buyers with big money as well. Ahhhh whatever, if I had money this wouldn't be an issue.


Even the Demons and 340 Darts are climbing over 20K.

[terrible one]

I completly hate them. Especially since I'm young and broke. It's been very hard to get the car, and that was barely managable. Now paying for the project is going to be a bitch. Think what you will, but I'm not into the whole Mopar craze because of the huge fad it's become. I'm really amazed at how much prices have completly soared.

[NHCharger]

Why not look at a 3rd gen Charger. 73/74, plenty left at reasonable prices(kind of) and parts aren't to hard to find.

[Ghoste]

It won't likely be any easier when you're older.  The worst part is, most of the guys who are inflating the prices to stupid levels have likely never been greasy in their whole life.  

[kab69440]

The public at large is responsible for high prices. Everybody wants one, and there are simply not enough to go around. Add to that all the people making a living flipping and parting the cars, and the available number of them gets smaller yet. I myself am guilty of paying too much for things, just like everyone else putting a rotten, gutted heap together.

[Ghoste]

The public at large have always wanted them.  Until B-J assembled drunken millionaires in a tent and then broadcast their ego filled excess to a national audience the price rose in a normal fashion.  The increases in the last couple of years and especially this year are not normal.  It's circus fallout.

[Chris G.]

The public at large have always wanted them.  Until B-J assembled drunken millionaires in a tent and then broadcast their ego filled excess to a national audience the price rose in a normal fashion.  The increases in the last couple of years and especially this year are not normal.  It's circus fallout.

Don't blame BJ for it all. I think this is the only site where we praise the "flippers" who are members here. 

[terrible one]

The worst part is, most of the guys who are inflating the prices to stupid levels have likely never been greasy in their whole life. 

Exactly. That really pisses me off. Everyone sees these cars as just an investment, and are following a huge trend. It's horrible. And yes, BJ really inflates the hell out of prices, but aren't fully to blame. There are a lot of different factors.

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

 

[Chris G.]

Jersey Rules. 

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

Im a mod......all I can do is eat popcorn

[JimShine]

The prices don't bother me. Its supply and demand. I'd love my cars no less even if they were only worth $1.

[hemihead]

Yes Hater, I do agree with you. The private sellers have hopes and dreams with some of the prices they want, but the dealers have totally lost it. They mark up Chargers at least 15K more than the so called going rate no matter what the condition.

This guy Steve Anastos just bid 100K on a V Code '70. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Dodge-Charger-SE-Very-Rare-1970-Dodge-Charger-SE-440-6pack-Pristine_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6199QQitemZ4609083777QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW  Sometimes you have to blame the buyers with big money as well. Ahhhh whatever, if I had money this wouldn't be an issue.


Even the Demons and 340 Darts are climbing over 20K.

Not only the dealers.

Why not look at a 3rd gen Charger. 73/74, plenty left at reasonable prices(kind of) and parts aren't to hard to find.

Parts aren't cheap for these either.

The public at large have always wanted them.  Until B-J assembled drunken millionaires in a tent and then broadcast their ego filled excess to a national audience the price rose in a normal fashion.  The increases in the last couple of years and especially this year are not normal.  It's circus fallout.

Agree

The public at large have always wanted them.  Until B-J assembled drunken millionaires in a tent and then broadcast their ego filled excess to a national audience the price rose in a normal fashion.  The increases in the last couple of years and especially this year are not normal.  It's circus fallout.

Don't blame BJ for it all. I think this is the only site where we praise the "flippers" who are members here. 

Definately Agree

It won't likely be any easier when you're older.  The worst part is, most of the guys who are inflating the prices to stupid levels have likely never been greasy in their whole life. 

This is sooo true.

[andy74]

3rd gen charger stuff is getting out of hand quickly!

hater,all kidding aside,why dont you try to find a later style volare,aspen etc? you should be able to find one decent priced,and at least youll have something to start with.or,maybe a cordoba/magnum?i dont think many kids your age start out with a full blown muscle car,work within your budget and get the best you can afford-and remember that body work cost tons more than mechanical stuff.also,stick with a small block for the first time,parts cost less and easier on fuel too

this is the same advice i gave my 15 year old son 2 nights ago,just so you know

[sharpspike]

well, they arent making any more ( except the 4 door one ) so if you have two guys bidding on one its gonna depend on who wants it the most. that equals high $$$$.

parts= most arent being reproduced, those that are have to be profitable enough for someone to invest in tooling and production. its not like every house on every block is going to buy one.

used parts, again they sell to whoever wants it the most. ebay am/fm bezel $104, bumper jack $300, check mark trim $800. the seller didnt set the price "we" did. if "we" dont buy it the price will come down and no one will reproduce parts and everybody will live happily ever after.

oh yea, one more thing  

[whitehatspecial]

I have a very strong feeling if look back at current prices 10 years from now, they'd seem like a real bargain. If you find the part(s) or car you like, buy them for what you are willing to spend. Quality parts and good cars are hard to find now and won't get any easier as time marches on. Just my opinion. Repro stuff can come down in price as the supply for original parts dries up, if that's what you're willing to put in your car.

[bull]

Im a mod......all I can do is eat popcorn

And you're not even eating it, it's nothing more than a virtual snack at best. Then, to make matters worse, you've got a picture of a stubby little '69 under your signature...

Regarding the topic, I don't know what to say that will provide any condolence. I'm in the midst of a restoration right now and I'm wondering how long I can stand working overtime and/or a second job to pay for it all. At the moment it looks like I'll be into the whole thing for $25k, but I own the car outright (paid $5,500 three years ago) and I've saved up about 70% of the remaining money I'll need to finish it. The only thing that keeps me going right now is knowing that I'll have a nice '68 Charger when I'm done. If I had been smarter in the past I would have accomplished all I'm trying to do now but I would have done it 10 or 15 years ago, or I'd have never sold my '70 to begin with. But back then I wasn't making nearly as much money so I probably would have been in the same boat. Worrying about the past does you no good though so you've basically got to decide how bad you want it and how much you want to sacrifice now. The deck is stacked against you being so young too. I'm 39 and making about $50k/yr and that just pays for the basics in life, thus the overtime and second job to bridge the gap for restortion costs. The bodywork and paint are major budget killers unless you do it all yourself, and I'm not comfortable doing that myself. Andy's suggestion isn't bad. I'd almost rather go back to college myself and join the automotive program for the soul purpose of restoring my car. I guess if I were young and single like you I would either do that or find a good paying job busting my hump for all the hours I could and try to make my earnings outpace the price increase of the car I wanted. If you worked your tail off for two years, saved all the money you earned and had mom and dad pay for your room and board, you'd probably be where you want to be. They might shoot you when you blow it all on a Charger but hey, you'd have a Charger.

[6pkrunner]

The prices for all Mopar (and most collector cars for that matter) has shot out of reach of the average Schmoe working a 9 to 5 job with the normal financial committments. Yes I hate it too and honestly hope that the oft talked about but not seen yet market readjustment comes. Fine for me as the stuff I have will never be for sale (wife can sell it when I'm pushing up daisies) so whether or not my junk is $5,000 a car or $50,000 a car doesn't concern me. Getting parts - well that is the reciprocal of the curse and it kicks hard.
But when a drop top E body goes for well into 7 figures...... and a steering wheel is $2500 and on and on.....

[terrible one]

Yeah, I can do some bodywork, but I don't know if I'm comfortable doing all of the stuff on my Charger. I don't want to cut corners. Paint is a real bitch. Once again, you don't want it looking bad and all, but a good paint job is so damn expensive!

[Chad L. Magee]

Well.....  Get ready for my rant on this topic........
   
I have a different take on this than most.  I have been telling people to buy 1968-70 Chargers, Shelbys, Hemi anything, and such for the past ten years.  Everybody thought that the prices were too high then and they would just go down as they did in 1989.....  That is where I messed up according to them.....  I listened to my own advice and did what everybody thought was wrong.  I guess you could say I did the same thing in the metals market.  I have been blessed with the ability to be at the right place and at the right time when it comes to Chargers and parts.  I only turned down a few deals due to money/storage issues that I really regret.  I had a deal back in 2000 where I could have bought fifteen of them in a package deal for $4000.  Most were shells, but some were complete.  Most ended up being recycled......  Am I mad now that the prices have shot up?  No, I realize that they are rarer now and a surge in public interest has caused the price increase (supply vs. demand).  I do regret not buying a certain 1970 Barracuda coupe up in Vermillion, SD that I could have bought for $1500.  It was a /6 car orginally and would have looked nice next to my /6 Charger.  What I do get tired of is people wanting to buy a rust free second gen for what they went for back in the mid 70s.  I have had people stop by and get mad at me, not just because I won't sell them a car, but because they could not afford the steering wheel that was in it.......

[chargervert]

Everything has gone up in price,look at the price of houses,I don't know how anyone can afford to buy one nowadays! The price of electricity,gas,oil,and the values of the Mopars! Some of the cars are priced way over the top! Most Chargers,are still reasonable,just look into E bodies,and the Chargers will look like bargains!

[MGBRingo]

I bought my Charger back in 1981 for $2,500.  Have only added about $500 to it since then.  I turned down a twin to it a month later.    It seemed awful high priced back then.  Thought it might go up in value a little bit.  In another 20 years we will be saying, 'boy that Charger for $25,000 back in 06 sure was a steal'. 

If you need to, put your Charger on the back burner for a few years.  Don't sell it.  Buy a reliable driver like a Honda etc. and save money for upgrades to the Charger when it is worth even more than it is now.

[BB1]

Yes, try Cudas,... Chargers are cheap. 

I to like the popcorn man too.   

[Johnny SixPack]

Yep, the prices are insane, but seeing how they are now, I thank my lucky stars I got my "70 and "69  when I did (even though I still think I got snookered on the "69 deal, but that's water under the bridge with the way prices are now).

There is no way in hell I could replace either of them for what I paid just 14 months ago.

Still have three years to pay off the "70, but knowing what I know about it now, man... I friggin' lucked out.

I'd have to sell a kidney if I was buying it today (EV2 "70 R/T SE 6-pack sunroof car), and I'd still probably need the loan.

I just feel bad for the next crop of MoPar fans, as not only are the cars themselves priced past the means of most, but the prices of the parts to restore even the insanely priced "project" cars is enough to make you choke on your Wheaties.

[twilt]

Why not look at a 3rd gen Charger. 73/74, plenty left at reasonable prices(kind of) and parts aren't to hard to find.

Parts aren't cheap for these either.

I`d have to agree with NHCharger on this one. 3rd gens are still reasonably priced. only a FEW select parts for them are expensive.  If they really  were expensive i wouldnt have been able to buy 10 parts cars and 2 keepers (to include a 72 Rallye N96 car) over the last 3 years, with a total investment of $9300

[terrible one]

I just feel bad for the next crop of MoPar fans, as not only are the cars themselves priced past the means of most, but the prices of the parts to restore even the insanely priced "project" cars is enough to make you choke on your Wheaties.

Exactly! Don't even remind me! It's hard for a young lad of 16 

[Troy]

I remember a few years ago you could get a clean '69 charger for $5,000 now a non running project can get $10,000. Some prices are coming down but most are still up there.

So, you're like 16(?) now and you don't have a job. Could you buy a $5,000 car right now if it dropped into your lap? Be honest. How many years ago was it that you could get a "clean" 69 Charger for $5k???

I've been looking for a week for a car to work on for Auto body next year, a '68 or '70, but now I've decided to buy something else.

You spent an entire week looking for a car and couldn't find a great deal? That must really be a bummer. I looked for 12 years and finally figured I better actually step up and get one before they were all gone. Well, I've bought three more since then and passed on probably 15 more that were very restorable because I don't have any room nor do I have enough money to fix them all if I had the room. They do exist - especially if you aren't afraid to put in some sweat equity to offset the cost.

No, I'm not being mean - I'm being realistic so don't everyone send me hate mail. In 1987 I was in high school with a part-time job and I got a 68 Charger for $1,300. I had to borrow some of the money to get it and I spent every one of my paychecks (and weekends) working on it to keep it roadworthy. It wasn't pretty, it handled bad, it ate a lot of gas, and it was uncomfortable to drive (all black with headers and no A/C or insulation in the floor). It was a very cool car though compared to everyone else's mid-eighties trash. I had a few adults that took me under their wing and explained how to fix things but no one ever did it for me. It took a LOT of work and sacrifice to own that car but it was mine and I loved it. Save your money, work more than you have to, get to know people in the hobby and help them out when you can and deals will come up - you just have to have the cash to take advantage. Once you get the car it's another story but it will work out if you make it happen.

One last thing, a Charger is probably a horrible first car so it may be a really good idea to look for something smaller, newer, and with expendable engine parts (318 maybe?). I'd go for a Dart or Duster... if you can stand the looks.

Troy

[Silver R/T]

Glad I bought mine, great investment

[Blakcharger440]

I think that when someone says they dont care if their musclecar was worth $1 or $1Million dollars is fooling themselves and not being truly realistic.  
Because we all know if ya had a sparkling red Hemi Daytona survivor that you would want unobtainium amounts of money for it that only Jay Leno and Bill Gates could afford.

I dont think stanghater is lookng to get a hot deal of a couple hundred bucks either. But just wishes for a sane price.
But there are alot of people who profess to complain about the skyrocketing prices of musclecars in one thread and then turn around and try to ebay their 318 car off for 75K (I know a crazy amount.....but ya get my point)
No one here is about giving anyone a good deal on a Charger but just dont turn around and say....oh,but its the other guy who is driving up the prices. ITS ALL OF US!
I will want my truck load full of sweaty cash when it comes time to sell all my muscle cars just like the next guy....and dont say that ya dont  

[Chad L. Magee]

No one here is about giving anyone a good deal on a Charger but just dont turn around and say....oh,but its the other guy who is driving up the prices. ITS ALL OF US!

I agree on this one.  Case in point, it would take big, big $ to get me to part with my one hemi car, and remember it is just a project.  That makes the prices of the other hemi cars a little higher because  that is one off of the market.........

[TheGhost]

I remember a few years ago you could get a clean '69 charger for $5,000

Do you now?

[Ghoste]

All of us?  Mine isn't for sale and I don't even like it that much .  Seriously though, it isn't for sale and if I change my mind, it will go for what someone else will think is a steal.  One of the best kept secrets is the 1st gen cult.  If you're in the cult, it's amazing how many parts people will let go cheap to help you keep the car on the road.  I've given parts away myself to help someone out.  That's going too as I have recently began to see e-bayers and swap meet prices rising and rising.
I blame B-J for the televised hype.  The Leno's and Gates (even though I don't think Gates is a car collector?) have always existed and always paid what it took to get what they wanted.  I would bet that Leno isn't too crazy about the sudden and insane price increase either.  Just because he CAN afford it doesn't mean he WANTS to.  B-J has added in a "coolness" because you buy it on television.  How many of us actually know someone who bought a car at B-J?  I do and he readily admits that having too much to drink and his friends egging him on so his wife could watch it at home, got him to set a record price on a car.
As for prices today seeming like a bargain in ten years, well that's all relative.  If you are talking about cars that Mustanghater would look at a project Charger for 10,000 might as well be a hundred thousand.  Being able to afford the 10,000 dollar car in a decade or two only to have them costing 10X that won't really matter.  And that is the crux of my rants over B-J (and I still primarily blame them).  It's an artificial rise.  Last year a 6 barrel Road Runner sets a record for, what was it, around a 100K?  This year a 6 pack Super Bee goes for 210,000!!!  That is not normal.  If the general economy demonstrated that kind of inflation, the federal reserve would be going nuts and the general public would be rioting in the streets.  Clones are bringing over a 100k?  Is there a single educated gearhead who would pay that?  Really?
Flippers here (who aren't praised by all of us btw) and the e-bay (often derided as e-screw, e gouge, e-bag iirc) record deals are only talked about here.  How many times did you go into work and people come up to you and say "hey I saw a car just like yours on the Charger forum and the guy paid 5 but sold it 24 hours later for 15"?  None?  How many times did people with zero interest in cars say the same thing about B-J?
I'll need a lot of convincing to change my mind about B-J being the primary source of this runaway inflation.

[Mike DC]

American Musclecars are THE hot cars of this half-century.  Poeple walk by $200K modern Ferraris at car shows to go look at $20K old Plymouths.  Musclecars' prices are starting to reflect this.  There's nothing wrong with it except that the public perception of these cars needs to totally change. 

Ever since the end of the musclecar era, people have been waiting for these cars to "come back" as if what followed in the 70s & 80s was a brief screwup and the future will be brighter.  But now, even as the modern versions of these cars are coming out, we're finally realizing that these cars are NEVER coming back.  The public is finally realizing that nothing Detroit builds in the future will ever strike a chord with people the way these cars did again.  No wonder the demand is skyrocketing.

They're not cheap redneck cars anymore.  The average Appalachain redneck in 2006 is a lot more likely to have a 1989 Dodge in his front yard than a 1969. 

.

[hemihead]

American Musclecars are THE hot cars of this generation.  Poeple walk by 2006 Ferraris at car shows to go look at stock 1971 Plymouths.  Musclecars' prices are starting to reflect this.  There's nothing wrong with it except that the public preception of these cars needs to totally change.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

They're not cheap redneck cars anymore.  The average Appalachain redneck in 2006 is a lot more likely to have a 1989 Dodge in his front yard than a 1969.  The public needs to stop looking at building musclecars as an immature & redneck thing requiring no brainpower.

Ever since the end of the musclecar era, people have been waiting for these cars to "come back" as if what followed in the 70s & 80s was a brief screwup and the future will be brighter.  But now, even as the modern versions of these cars are coming out, we're finally realizing that these cars are NEVER coming back.  The public is is finally realizing that nothing Detroit builds in the future will ever strike a chord with people the way these cars did again.  No wonder the demand is skyrocketing.

.

These cars should have stayed "redneck' cars as you call them.I am not a redneck but I have always owned a Mopar.I'm brand loyal.
When I was a teen the only guys that owned Mopars, or any Muscle car,was the Gearheads.The rest of the trendy people wanted new cars.They would socially snub you if you were driving an "old" Muslcecar.Now, owning a Muslecar is become the "in" ,trendy thing to do.
There are way too many people working on these cars who should never open a hood.
The market on these cars will drop as soon as the generation starts to go to the old folks homes or die off.If you think the Mrs. or little Bobby and Mary is going to keep Dad's old car around because he spent more time and money on it than he did them ,you're  kidding yourself.
They will sell you cherished car for whatever they can get to go blow on the next Fad that comes along.
And the young kids aren't interested in your Musclecar. It is not from their generation.They want the ricers.Most kids consider Musclecars for the rich,old,senior citizens.

[terrible one]

I like musclecars...

[Mike DC]

I agree with you on some of that, Hemihead.

These cars are too trendy for their own good right now, but wait until these guys can spend $35K on a modern version and not get their hands dirty.  That'll help the issue some.  I've got nothing against buyers of modern musclecars (many of them are OUR kinds of guys too), but some of the people spending huge money on old musclecars at B-J really are more suited to the modern copies.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I also REALLY wish these cars could totally retain their blue-collar roots.  I'd like that more than anything.  These cars have traditionally been sort of a badge of honor, an excusive club for the types of guys who can keep them running & repaired.  It pains me to see so many of them falling into the hands of collectors who would be embarrassed to be seen in public with the same guy who beautifully restored the car.  

But I think that losing some of that is inevitable, unfortunately.  The demand for the cars is too mainstream now, and the mainstream "replacements" from Detroit just aren't visceral enough to do the job.  (They should be selling 6-liter Hemi Challengers without the sound-deadening & exhaust reasonators.)

.

[Johnny SixPack]

And the young kids aren't interested in your Musclecar. It is not from their generation.They want the ricers.Most kids consider Musclecars for the rich,old,senior citizens.

I think you're off on that point. They're most definitely interested in them, especially when beaten by them.

Seriously though, if you want to get technical, well... muscle cars were before my time. I was born in "74 and by the time I could say Charger, the USA was in the middle of the gas 'crisis' and muscle cars were definitely not the thing to have. Yes, the DOH influenced me (since it was on for much of my formative years), but even then, let's face it, muscle cars were before my time.

The point I'm trying to make is this, it's not so much a generational thing (although for you old farts it might be ) as it is a love of what the cars represent. And lets not forget the styling and inherent coolness factor.

Many of the Ricers that see me out and about in either the "69 or the "70 stare as my 36 yr old hunk of steel rolls by, or even just sits at a stoplight.

The interest is there, but the means to follow it aren't for most (even though the F&F movies seem to make muscle cars out to be cheap -price wise- by how they treat them). So they go with what they can afford (often thanks to the very rich, old, senior citizens you commented about driving classic car prices through the roof). Unfortunately some of them are so caught up in the looks (if you can call 'em that ) that the car is essentially a paper tiger (well, more like a fiberglass one), but IMO much of it still comes down to a desire to have a vehicle that stands alone from the faceless masses (much as someone who bought a Hemi Orange, Sublime or Plum Crazy MoPar with a Go-Wing or Daytona/Superbird owner was doing in let's say "69 or "70).

It's even more noticeable with little kids.

Not a cruise goes by that some 5-10 yr old isn't plastered to the glass of mommy or daddy's modern snoozer trying to get a look at that cool car that effortlessly stands out from the pack. Just as I was doing 20 some odd years ago.

And remember, these are just some ramblings from a guy suffering from insomnia. 

[skip68]

Well, these are sweet cars and we know it.   I'm 50/50, It makes it harder to buy more of them but, It protects them and keeps most teenage kids from buying them and destroying them ..... I've got a friend that thinks I should sale the 68 I just got while the market is hot(looser) before it drops.. I just laughed and said they may drop a penny or two but they basically will never go down, they will only keep going up and that's a fact...... The rate that they will go up is hard to say but it's a fact... ..............To sum it up, I welcome the high prices, it makes me proud to have them ..Kind of like having your child being popular and others envying him or her. So I guess I'm proud of my cars[/b Chuck...............

[triple_green]

The prices for this hobby are just like verything else. They are affected by supply and demand. The supply is somewhat fixed and the demand is rapidly growing.

I think that the prices on Chargers and other desirable 60s-early 70s cars will rise about 7% per year on average until the late baby boomers start dying off (20 years from now). Then  they will go flat and probably receed a little.

My solution is to keep getting the young guys into the hobby. I'm  :-doing my part.......2 boys and some of their friends.

3X

[JimShine]

"I think that when someone says they dont care if their musclecar was worth $1 or $1Million dollars is fooling themselves and not being truly realistic"

In my case, I am being totally realistic. I do not see my car as an 'investment'. It is a hobby and like most hobbies you pay to play. Buy a new motorcycle, ATV, boat, RV, you lose money to have fun. But thats okay, that is the way it is supposed to be. You want to have fun you pay for it. While the cars are not depreciating is nice for the 'investor', it is a moot point for me because I am enjoying the car regardless of its value, just like I would anything new that depreciates. Why is the mindset today that everything we buy has to gurantee a certain return if we decide to sell? Nobody cared about that years ago. You got your use and thats what you paid for. Today everything is an investment, which in my opinion is unrealistic.

[Orange_Crush]

It took me 20 years to be able to buy the '70 R/T I now have.  During that time, I owned a '69 SE which I ebayed KNOWING that I would get the most money possible for it.  Did I contribute to the high prices of MNopars nowadays?  Probably, in a small way I did.

Do I feel bad about it?  Nope, I got the car I wanted out of it.  Now, the '70 R/T is the car I always wanted, but if someone was to offer me insane amounts of money for it, you bet your ass I'd sell it.  I can always put the money towards building something else I've always wanted (small-block stroker aspen station wagon G machine).

I figure that by the time I'm done, I'll be 35 to 40 grand into my Charger.  Restoring these cars costs a LOT of money and no one wants to lose money on their car.

[Lightning]

and this is the whole reason why I looked into the alternatives ('74-'89 Mopars) in the first place.  All I need to do to make my car handle better, is to put the B-body front suspension on it!

[RT DAVE]

Did anybody notice that there weren't very many original 2nd gen cars at BJ this year?  There was one 70 v code and that was it.  There was also a 70 "custom" and that red 68 with the 5.7 hemi.  The two 71 RTs went for huge money.  Not sure why.  The max wedge cars were a steal this year in comparison. 

[sharpspike]

they are still out there, you just need to be quick. the 68 is sold i just missed it.


1968 DODGE CHARGER. 81,738 mi., 360 crate motor, 1,284 mi. on crate motor, new exhaust system, need front fender repair, AT. $4,400. Ft. Wayne, IN. 260-637-4338


1970 DODGE CHALLENGER RT. Numbers matching, 383 hp., AT, motor, trans. rebuilt, 8-3/4", Rallye dash, hood, whs., car is rusty, 70 SE, is very solid, 2 cars, one price. $5,300 OBO. Markle, IN. 260-388-9237

1966 DODGE CHARGER. Historical Special Edition, wide block 318, 3 sp. manual, some bubbled paint, small rust holes back qtrs., floors, trunk, rails solid, red int. $6,600 OBO. Trade. Also, AKC German Shepherd pups. Gibsonburg, OH. 419-637-7953

1973 PLYMOUTH GOLDEN DUSTER. V8, AT. $1,300. Spencers Auto Sales, Logansport, IN. 574-753-6060, 574-739-2620

[sharpspike]

oops i forgot 

[71Charger500]

Get one now, and hopefully the price will keep going up.

[Ghoste]

And I wouldn't be so certain about the prices going up and up forever.  It might happen but you might also want to ask some of the Model T and 57 Chevy owners what happened to their spiralling "investments".  It's called the graying of the hobby and unless these mass produced and relatively common vehicles somehow attain the status of the handbuilt prewar luxury classics and certain exotic sports cars, don't count on prices only going in one direction.  They might, because of the visceral factor that Mike mentioned, but history stacks the odds against it.
And for every young guy, say less than 35, who is into these old cars, there are likely thousands who couldn't care less.
Just my opinion though, I wish I had a crystal ball.

[mustanghater]

I found a Ok deal. 2 '72 chargers for $2000. one is parts the other is the "project", I've never seen a Running driving car in this type of condition.

[TheGhost]

I found a Ok deal. 2 '72 chargers for $2000. one is parts the other is the "project", I've never seen a Running driving car in this type of condition.

So, are you going to sell "your" Ram to buy them?

[Blakcharger440]

"I think that when someone says they dont care if their musclecar was worth $1 or $1Million dollars is fooling themselves and not being truly realistic"

In my case, I am being totally realistic. I do not see my car as an 'investment'. It is a hobby and like most hobbies you pay to play. Buy a new motorcycle, ATV, boat, RV, you lose money to have fun. But thats okay, that is the way it is supposed to be. You want to have fun you pay for it. While the cars are not depreciating is nice for the 'investor', it is a moot point for me because I am enjoying the car regardless of its value, just like I would anything new that depreciates. Why is the mindset today that everything we buy has to gurantee a certain return if we decide to sell? Nobody cared about that years ago. You got your use and thats what you paid for. Today everything is an investment, which in my opinion is unrealistic.

I think every Charger owner nowadays cares about what their car is worth cause if they didnt we wouldnt see some of the outrageous prices that we do see. Of course you have to pay to play. I am currently building a 528 Cube Hemi and that costed me money but I like it because its something I have wanted for awhile now and I think its awesome, but for me to say i dont know the value of it when I have completed it would be ludicrous.

[Big Lebowski]

Yes Hater, I do agree with you. The private sellers have hopes and dreams with some of the prices they want, but the dealers have totally lost it. They mark up Chargers at least 15K more than the so called going rate no matter what the condition.

This guy Steve Anastos just bid 100K on a V Code '70. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Dodge-Charger-SE-Very-Rare-1970-Dodge-Charger-SE-440-6pack-Pristine_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6199QQitemZ4609083777QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW  Sometimes you have to blame the buyers with big money as well. Ahhhh whatever, if I had money this wouldn't be an issue.


Even the Demons and 340 Darts are climbing over 20K.

   Wow, 1 shill bid, 100k Reserve not met '70 V code car. And with no engine pics? What? The BJ '70 Six-pack Charger went for $66.9k.  That $$$ is entering the stupid money range. I guess opening bid for a sweet '70 V code Charger is now 100k. Right on. 

[skip68]

And I wouldn't be so certain about the prices going up and up forever.  It might happen but you might also want to ask some of the Model T and 57 Chevy owners what happened to their spiralling "investments". 

I do agree with Ghoste to a point.... If the Dukes movie didn't come out, prices would be lower like model T's and 57s....BUT, the General Lee is known around the world and chargers have been used in so many movies as cool cars that it keeps creating a demand....And if they make a movie about a cool, fast PINTO that screams, there will be a bunch of young guy's wanting pinto's................Chuck out...................................

[69charger2002]

well. i will share how i feel about the subject.. yes it sucks that prices have gone up so high.. did i contribute to them doing so? of course.. to a small degree. maybe not as much as other people.  i sure am not helping them come down in price either.. but the POINT is. bad as this may sound. i'm in this like jimshine said. as a HOBBY. all hobbies cost money, and i have been smart enough/and or lucky enough to find some great deals and then "flip" them to make money on. now am i paying my house off with all that profit money? NO that's why i work for living. my "flipping" as it is called... can be seen 2 ways. 1. some don't have a problem with it, and are happy that i find so many and send them to a better home, at a usually higher price than i paid.. 2. others, though i've never been called out directly, have a problem with guys like me selling them all the time for a profit.. trust me i won't call any names.. but the undertone attitudes of some on this site is very evident.. in an indirect way. that's ok. because when it's said and done, which will be much sooner than later, i will own 7-8 VERY nice 68-70 chargers, and they will all be paid for by doing what i have been able to do very well. should you feel jealous? hell no, should you be mad at me? i'm not sure, hope not. but in truth i will have my dream lineup of cars, more than my dream actually, and they won't have cost me a dime. so i don't give a rat's ass what others think. if some of you had the time, luck, and access to funds that some of us have been fortunate enough to aquire, MANY others would be doing it as well to get their projects paid for.. that's what it's all about.. and i can't think of a better hobby than one that you can really enjoy, and somehow it not cost anything. i don't come on here and post pics anymore of my "new" finds.. because some liek it, some think i'm just rubbing it in. so i keep it mostly private now.. i just enjoy being here on this site and surely don't want to cause any hard feelings with anyone because i flip cars on the side and make $$ doing it. if it's any consolation i usually sell them "as i get them" instead of doing half ass shoddy work to them and then asking way more.. i don't believe in that. anyway rant off. thanks for listening. that had been built up for a while.. i need a hug
trav

[skip68]

Flip away, If nobody (fliped them) sold them we wouldn't have them!!! People and places like Hlpag or whatever are the problem I have with this and I'm sure we all agree. ................Chuck...............

[Chris G.]

 

[Brock Samson]

  There are people at all levels in this hobby,..

  We don't seem to get too many kids looking for complete running second Gens. with only $800 since the dukes movie came out last yr.
  I suspect there's enough info out in the mainstream that most everyone realizes these cars are pretty sought after, perhaps the DOH helped to inform the public,.. maybe...
But to my mind these cars (& Mopars in general) have become better known then ever, 3 million dolor Convert hemi cudas, the Dukes and the other various movies have something to do with this I'd bet.
  The Cars have become currency, like gold and other material investments.
  I'm sure that IF I could I'd have more then one, in fact as many as I could get my hands on. However my personal space and financial situation limit me too a max. of two cars, I often have been amazed that some of you guys have so much property and storage and ability not to mention the funds to have so many cars,..
  That said, there will allways be those younger guys and gals who are just getting into the hobby and finding their dream exceeds their cash.
Mustanghater is actually better off then most, as his dad seems to be into cars and willing to help him,..
  I wasn't so lucky and had to do mine without any help from my family or a website,.. (My dad never owned a car or learned to drive or cared to).
  As i seem to recall MH is still a teen, so if you save your money, ask for help and pounce when ready, you'll enter at a level appropriate to your ability,.. i couldn't begin to look for my '69 till i had been working two jobs for two years at the tender age of 24.
  I think Everette (aka Ghost) did it right going from a neon to a dart to a bacaruda, i suspect he's only a short time from getting his dream '71 B-body, if he plays his cars right.

  BTW: when I was 12 in 1969 I repeatedly BEGGED my dad to buy a HEMI DAYTONA four-speed as an investment and just store it in the garage because I knew then... & My dad just grinned.
 
 
 

[hemihead]

I have nothing against a guy "flipping a car and making a few bucks.That is their time involved so I guess in a way it's ok.But when someone has to make $1000's on every car,well that's just greedy.Before this Mopar Fad started,when one of us Mopar guys had or knew of a car that was available we would ask some of our Mopar buddies if they would be interested,gave them the contact info or introduced them to the seller.That was when I was happy to be  Mopar guy.Mopar guys used to help each other.I gave things to other Mopar guys and they returned the favor when I needed it.Lots of good people.Now,it seems the Mopar guys(that's what they call themselves anyway)are more interested in getting buying up everything and making the biggest buck they can squeeze out of you.I guess it's all part of the big ego, got to be the big man on the block mentality.Since people can't do the Wall St. thing and make a killing,now they have to make it here.Just my views,I don't want to offend anyone.

[JimShine]

"I think every Charger owner nowadays cares about what their car is worth cause if they didnt we wouldnt see some of the outrageous prices that we do see. "

I have never contributed to that. How many of us have received a questionaire asking what our cars are worth? If anything sets values on cars it is sales prices and a handfull of experts in the field. I also happen to own two Chargers. I never shoot values to anyone. To be honest if they even ask I don't know what to say. I can tell them what I have into them, but I just don't care about what the 'market' says they are worth. I will deal with that when someone hits me or something.

Travis, I don't have a problem with what you do. I did the same thing with my guitar collection. Buy and flip, buy and keep. In the end I had nothing into a very cool guitar collection. I thought that was the smart way. I would probably have done the same with cars too, but I just can't sell any of the ones I like and I also think potentially selling cars is a big headache. I will leave that up to other guys. If I see something cool for a good price that I don't need, I will turn someone else onto it who wants it. But I have no problem with you doing what you are doing. It is just a different take on achieveing the same results.

[89MOPAR]

.Before this Mopar Fad started,when one of us Mopar guys had or knew of a car that was available we would ask some of our Mopar buddies if they would be interested,gave them the contact info or introduced them to the seller.That was when I was happy to be  Mopar guy.Mopar guys used to help each other.I gave things to other Mopar guys and they returned the favor when I needed it.Lots of good people.Now,it seems the Mopar guys(that's what they call themselves anyway)are more interested in getting buying up everything and making the biggest buck they can squeeze out of you.

I agree, I can remember finding old cars and telling buddies about them, egging them on to buy them.

  1 was a 67 Charger, a freind bought, needed interior put in. always volunteered to help but I wasn't going to do it myself. Eventually he sold it, same as he found it.
  Another was a 69 superbee - friend bought , began work on it, Moved cross country to PA, it sat in garage for years " fastest workbench in the county" he called it - he since sold it w/o ever really driving it either [ Red on Black car sold in western PA recently ]
  V-code Challenger sitting next to a dudes house - at the time he wanted too much [ $6000 in '94 , haha]- none of my buddies wanted to pony up the money- and I probably had 2 or 3 Mopars at the time.

Now currently I know of a 383 4 spd Shaker hood Challenger FC7 purple - needs lots of work - I could buy  it probably if I got a big loan - but I'm loathe to tell others about it since I cant "afford" it currently.    I know none of my close buddies would buy it, but I don't want some dude i don't know to get it either ...

[ChargerST]

I did a search on ebay for 2.gen Chargers that already ended. The result wasn't very surprising: only 36 out of 84 Chargers were sold - 21 were project cars.
People always say: look what they're going for on ebay. Well, does this reflect the market when a seller sets an insane high starting bid? No! Prices are way up, but not as high as some folks want to make us believe - they just use ebay as a free speculation platform (no sale, no fees). Only seven (including a Daytona and a Hemi) Chargers were sold for more than 20k...
I don't think it's good for a hobby if people use it for speculation - where's the fun when only white collars own these cars who are afraid to drive their investment?
But thats just my opinion

Steve