1968 r/t--worth it?

[Brian in GA]

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/cto/3573944110.html

This ole boy lives right up the road from me and told me about this car he bought at an auction.  Sounded real good on the phone until I looked at the pics.  Gonna go see it tomorrow after work--maybe. 

What he told me about the car:

R/T, although it's missing the vin plate, and I think the fender tag as well. 
Rust around the rear quarters, and rust holes in the trunk lid. 
NO rust around the back glass.
Originally a copper-colored car with black interior
440 hp date coded motor that will turn (NOT turn over), but valves are stuck
3:23 sure grip rear end
AUto tranny with console
only add on seems to be vinyl top, rear stripe and power brakes
Driver's fender bent as shown in pics
Armrests in great shape but door trim below them needs replacing


I was all excited about the car until I looked at the pics.  As you can see, it's a big project to start at $8500 out of the gate.  Especially with no vin.  What good is a "numbers matching" motor and tranny if you don't even have the numbers for the body? 

At any rate, let me know what you think.  My first blush is, this price is way too high for what you're getting and what all will have to be done to it. 

[GordonGriggs]

I don't think its worth that much money especially if the vin tag and possibly fender tag is missing. I paid 12k for a running 69 charger that had a clear title and amateur restoration.

[1974dodgecharger]

bawwww.....I have a 1968 charger myself, 572 hemi, 8 speed manual, posi traction, body perfect off the line stored in a garage, ALL MATCHING NUMBERS, but no VIN either 

Dude can claim what he wants he has no VIN!!!

[Brian in GA]

Thanks, Gordon & 74.  That was my thinking.  In today's market, I'd have given $8500 if it was a true numbers matching and I could drive it around the yard, but this thing looks like it's been sitting up quite a while.  Seats all torn, surface rust everywhere, and that's just from the pics.  I really don't want to have to do a total resto. And in this shape, it'll really need to be torn completely down for rust treatment and paint.  

[bakerhillpins]

Jezus, where was that car stored, in a vault in Oklahoma.    

Personally, no its not worth it. I'd say half that would be a strech.

[hatersaurusrex]

Without the VIN I'd be really careful because somewhere else there is a rebody wearing that original VIN.

[stripedelete]

How do you get around no vin?

[1974dodgecharger]

Without the VIN I'd be really careful because somewhere else there is a rebody wearing that original VIN.

Very good point! 

I mean serioulsy did the VIN grow legs and leave the R/T 

[stripedelete]

Without the VIN I'd be really careful because somewhere else there is a rebody wearing that original VIN.

Very good point! 

I mean serioulsy did the VIN grow legs and leave the R/T 

You're right.  It probably sat unsecured or semi abandoned for a long time and some one grabed them (I wonder if the guy has a title.)  Or,,, it may have been at the center of a family dispute and the sibling with the title also has the tags (and effectively - the car).   Either way, I'll bet there is a pretty good strory behind it.

[bull]

Jezus, where was that car stored, in a vault in Oklahoma.    

Or maybe it was used as a submarine?

Personally, no its not worth it. I'd say half that would be a strech.

Yea, cut the price in half and then subtract $500-$1,000

[Brightyellow69rtse]

pass!!

[XS29L9Bxxxxxx]

$1,000 at best, but that's probably a stretch 

[johnnyseville]

If no VIN, then it is a part car, too bad.  Make an offer based on what it has that can be used to finish another Charger with a VIN.   Highly unlikey any one else will look at it differently.

[Homerr]

Isn't this going to get a salvage title with a new state issued VIN?

[surmanajaja]

without a vin I would not touch it, and enginebay looks like it was rescued from a lake. 2k car if the if has enough usable parts but have to see in person to decide.. 

[Mike DC]

$1000?    

No VIN = parts car?  


Let's jump it at Dukesfest and then see if everyone still thinks it was pretty worthless anyway.



I don't think any one of you would declare that thing a $1000 parts car if it was yours.  
Even if you can't prove the VIN there is plenty of demand for rebuildable 318 cars.  

[Cooter]

Jezus, where was that car stored, in a vault in Oklahoma.    

Funny you mentioned that, Looks to be a '57-'58 Plymouth in the background on 1st photo.

[Cooter]

$1000?    

No VIN = parts car?  


Let's jump it at Dukesfest and then see if everyone still thinks it was pretty worthless anyway.



I don't think any one of you would declare that thing a $1000 parts car if it was yours.  
Even if you can't prove the VIN there is plenty of demand for rebuildable 318 cars.  

[tan top]

  no vin or fender tag  , would give this a miss     although prolly is a R/T but  never know , & not woth the agro ,

on the other hand  , IF it had fender & vin tag  & IS a R/T , & the under side chacked out  real good  NO major rot  , just floor & trunk pan etc etc ,  & IF it could be bought for less than  $ 6000  , would say go get it    

[tan top]

 

[Brian in GA]

Gonna go look at it today.  I was thinking, maybe I'll hit the lottery and the build sheet is still there.  Or maybe an old tag receipt or insurance card in the glovebox.  But I kind of doubt it.  I suppose if I was lucky enough to find that, aren't there services out there that make vin plates and/or fender tags when yours is beyond restoration?   

Don't know how much I can talk this guy down on the price--he spends his spare time buying old mopars like this and flips it, been doing it pretty regular for a couple of years now.  

I believe I can use the missing VIN to my advantage (as a price negotiating tool), Georgia doesn't require a title on anything older than a 1986, so the title isn't a problem, but as was mentioned--that means the proper VIN for this car could very well be riding around out there on another body somewhere.  And I can't register and tag it without a VIN.  How in the world would I establish ownership?    

I guess we'll see what we see.  I'll keep you guys posted---thanks for the comments and guidance.  

[NHCharger]

Surprised they were able to auction it off with out a VIN. I would double check, maybe missing the fender tag but the VIN is still there.
I looked at a 68 RT in the same shape a few years ago. Had a 383, 2bbl that would turn over. I passed at $4,200.00. Next guy bought it, washed it, got the motor running and sold it on Ebay for 13.5k

[Brian in GA]

Well, I went and looked at it.  Yeek. 

It's got considerably more rust than he told me, which I suspected from looking at the pics.  Trunk pan is so full of dirt and acorns it's impossible to tell the condition, but the rear end is rusty, both lower quarters and outer wheel wells will need to be replaced, the passenger door, hood, the list goes on and on.  I didn't want to pull up the aftermarket red carpet and look at the floors, I'd seen enough.  The entire car is full of acorns from squirrels, rats, chipmunks, whatever.  So you can figure on the wiring being chewed up.  From what I can tell, I believe the car really was an r/t, especially since the vin plate was pulled off the dash and the fender tag has been removed.  Why do that to a non-r/t?  And I sneaked a peek at the auction paperwork--it said "No VIN--Parts." 

SO he bought it as a parts car and is now selling it as an r/t.  This one ain't for me.  Maybe after a good soda blasting you could see what you've got, but this thing is way to far gone for me to fool with.  A COMPLETE resto on a car that hasn't been in running shape in many years, rust on every panel. 

Thank you guys for all your input.   

[charger_fan_4ever]

 And I can't register and tag it without a VIN.  How in the world would I establish ownership?    

That right there equals parts car.

[six-tee-nine]

Thats just sad since it might be possible to save that car but no one is going to take the risk of burning his fingers on a non vin or fender tag car. Prolly end up in his back yard for another 30 years or end as a parts donor....