Looking for advice on a purchase

[mrjel]

Hi,

New to the forum as well as Mopar! I owned a Coronet in 1973, and a couple of later Dodge's (mini van, K cars and such).

I found a 73 Charger that I am debating buying. It will need a driver seat cover, carpet, headliner, dash or dash cap, and bumpers, all of which I have found. Those look like around  a $1500 +/- price. The car also needs a left fender, door skin and rear 1/4 patch. I can straighten/patch/use what's there, but new sheet metal would ease things quite a bit. It seems the 73 model repro parts are very limited, or not available (or I ain't looking in the right spot). This car also needs a new vinyl top. Front end, brakes, booster, shocks, steering pump and exhaust have been replaced, and car runs well. It is the "base" with a 318, auto and AC. The right fender lower also has rust. Patch would fix nicely.

I am looking to restore and re-sell, not to collect. I can do all the work including paint.

The asking price is $2500 which seems a bit high to me based on what I've seen listed on the net, but I think it may be had for $2000.


So, two questions, and all opinions and comments are welcome.


1. Do you think it's a good deal?

2. If you were yes on #1, where can I find the best deals on resto parts and sheetmetal?

[Ghoste]

Very difficult to say without seeing the car and you are correct about little to no repro parts avalable as far as sheet metal.  You can get some interior parts and trim but sheet metal hasn't happened yet.

[Gary42]

Very difficult to say without seeing the car and you are correct about little to no repro parts available as far as sheet metal.  You can get some interior parts and trim but sheet metal hasn't happened yet.

Totally agree with Ghoste.........with that said, keep this in mind when thinking about your purchase. The 1973 Charger's have yet to come "into" their own yet, unless it is some special edition car. The call for new or repop metal for these cars are not a big demand, so yes, difficult at the very least is saying allot. Sometimes on here or Moparts you can find parts available, but not as often as the 69/70 models. Many of the "base" model 73 Charger's are not yet demand, that is: until the 68-70 and 71-72 models are nearing impossible to get, they will often sell at or below $2500. If you are looking for an "investment" quality car, you probably already know this is not the car to purchase. For a daily or weekend enjoyment car, buy away my friend. Post some pics, you might get a better direction in which way you should go. Just a thought!

[Chargerguy74]

Welcome mrjel!!! This is a great site with a wealth of knowledge.

Based on your post and intentions, I'd say no. I can't even give away a running/driving '73 318 auto at $2000. Like Gary 42 said, the 73/74 cars dont really go for much unless it's something different. I have rules for new additions to my collection now because it became very clear to me how hard it can be to get rid of a "toy". Especially in today's economy, which frankly, will only get worse. At this point in time I'd only consider adding 4 speed Rallye cars to my collection if, and only if, I had no intention of ever selling them. Why these cars? Only because I enjoy them and they make me happy. Plain and simple. I bought 2 74 360 HP 4 speed Rallyes on a road trip once. One one day, one the next. The second one I didn't even really want, but it was cheap, rebuilt matching engine, and needed some body work, but my driver said he'd buy it off me if I decided I didn't want the car, so I bought it. I realised I'd never get to this car (being my 3rd 360HP 4 speed) and that it would be better off in someone elses hands. It ended up taking me a year to sell it at a give away price too.

This is all just my  

[Ghoste]

Now on the other hand if you were looking for a car to restore and enjoy (which is always a much much more satisfying way to approach it anyway), the scenario changes a bunch.
Making money by restoring and flipping is seldom as easy as a lot of folks think.

[NHCharger]

Let's do the math.
Purchase car     $2,000.00
Cost of parts.    $ 2,500.00- by the time your done if your lucky enough to not find any other issues.
Your labor costs $ 1,500.00 - I'll say 50 hours at $30.00/hours. Probably low since your doing the painting.
Paint Supplies    $ 400.00 -The really cheap stuff.
Misc. Shit         $ 250.00
Total                $ 6,650.00

Going price for a nice 73 Charger base 318 = not that much

[mrjel]

This is what I needed to hear! Really confirms what I had decided.

I restore those little German cars without radiators

I KNOW what those can and will do, and also know I can re do a 65 bug interior for not much more than what a seat cover costs for this Charger! That includes door panels, carpet and headliner! I am also much more comfortable with pricing and valueing the VW's.

Here is a Craigslist posting of the Charger; http://atlanta.craigslist.org/sat/cto/3206063004.html Doesn't show interior, it is worn but not bad at all. Doesn't seem to have carried many passengers! Would need some help though. It really is a good base for a resto, but I was afraid that the collector aspect wasn't there.

Thanks for the help.

[Ghoste]

Yes, much more involved than a Bug.

[NHCharger]

  After reviewing said car I may need to revise my labor costs  

[Gary42]

After reviewing said car I may need to revise my labor costs  

Not to laugh, but I have to admit, it is rough but as bad as I've seen some lately. First of all I would use caution when even considering purchasing this car. The guy claims to have over $5000.00 in it and it still appears to be original? It might be, but more along the line as, he got "Charger struck" back in the day, so now he is looking to off load it on someone else. It is what it is, a "base" plain 73 318 Charger which there is little or no demand for. Remember, if its numbers matching: it better be a 68-72 BB 4 speed MOPAR to even contemplate putting it in an ad. Numbers matching only counts when the car is considered "desireable," sorry but this one isn't. If I were to purchase it, probably around $1100.00 tops because he's admitting that there are allot more hidden "gems" that will need fixing. Have to agree with NHCharger, $30.00/hour is low for this restore. More like $45.00/hours and around 70/80 hours min, if everything goes in your favor: which you already know will "never" go in your favor.

[mrjel]

After reviewing said car I may need to revise my labor costs  

Yeah, UNLESS there were some repro metal available! but as is, 50 hours MIGHT get the metal straight, but not much else.

One point I forgot (it's not a biggie but is a labor issue) The door post was moved rearward about an inch, and ther is a slight ripple just under the vinyl top, behind the 1/4 window. I say no biggie because I have the stuff to pull that back with, and the 1/4 panel would need some surgery anyway. Don't know if you can tell,  but someone already decided to do some slicing there.

[Ghoste]

You pull that vinyl top back and you just might be in for another big shock.

[mrjel]

You pull that vinyl top back and you just might be in for another big shock.

Not really, I know what's under that too!  I did satisfy myself though that the window pinchwelds are not gone, and also there is no sign of leakage in the interior. But again, another labor grabber putting the roof back in order.

Oh well, I'll just replace the pans in my type 3 instead!

[Gary42]

You pull that vinyl top back and you just might be in for another big shock.

:cheers:Been there, and what a suprise I got, lol.......

[Ghoste]

No doubt, not many of the original vinyl top cars from Mopar that didn't become the rustiest nightmares around.