1970 Charger Newbie, looking for deals on Ebay.

[charger_fan_4ever]

There is also the scenario where we look at cars and say ya thats way too much $$ i will wait it out and get a better one. 5 years goes by and that same car you saw is now 25% more $$ and in worse shape.

I think its human nature to think this way cars houses ect always seem to expensive, but then 5 years later we say damn should have bought that one.

Im not going back saying jump on that parts car and buy it, but we have to consider future costs.

People said 5 years ago or so we wont ever see the prices bounce back to pre 2008 prices. I think we are there now. I see a lot of 60k r/ts out there.

I guess what im trying to say is dont focus too hard either on getting the perfect project at perfect price. Seems to always be that we feel we are paying too much for what we are getting.

I know in 2008 when i bought my 70 r/t rust bucket i thought 5k was top price even too much, but it was the only r/t with good rails within about 8 hours driving distance. 9 years later to buy the same car be looking at 10k.

[sean257]

Last summer I bought a 70 R/T that ran with a non numbers later 440.  No body rust, and the trunk was fine.  Interior was very worn.  All total it took another $30k on top of the $15k. I did no frame work, no major drive train work. No window work except windshield.   Interior was about $8k.  Look up what the console or dash plates cost, then the shifter knob, seat foam, seat covers, little things like visors, other big dollar items like door pads...
Every piece of exterior trim will cost you dearly.  Make sure it has an in tact grill on front and the correct rear trim around the lights.  A repop grill is $3k. Luckily I had that stuff.  I wanted to find a date correct 440 as mine wasn't very fast, but I figured that would set me back another $5k or more.

Also the more rare it is will help you recover some of your money when you decide to sell it.  It would cost about the same money to restore a base 318 car as it would an R/T but the R/T will be worth a lot more.  I got lucky on that one...

While you're waiting you could always pick up an 80's/90's car for $5-10k to play with in the meanwhile.  They seem to be on the upswing value wise so you may be able to learn a bit a make some money on it towards your Charger as you continue to save.

[charger_fan_4ever]

 It would cost about the same money to restore a base 318 car as it would an R/T but the R/T will be worth a lot more.  I got lucky on that one...

Very good point.

Imo when looking at a basket case that needs it all i wouldnt even consider a non r/t as Sean mentioned it costs the same to restore the exterior/interior where the bulk of the $$ is spent.

[gaust024]

chargerfan_4_ever: good point, hadn't thought about that. In the long run the R/T would definitely be worth it.

[70 sublime]

I think at this point in time you buy what you can find in the condition you are looking for if one pops up
Most always feel they have paid too much to get their car but a few years later looking at the prices of the day you will feel good with what you ended up with

You can always work on a Charger and sell it off at a later date to trade up to an R/T
The R/T will most likely cost more in the future but the car you could have now should also be worth more

Also being your first Charger it would be better to learn some skills on a less valuable car and work your way up to the good stuff later 

[crj1968]

I think at this point in time you buy what you can find in the condition you are looking for if one pops up

I agree, it's not like looking for a 65 mustang coupe, you will only have so many opportunities.

Get with the local Mopar clubs in your area and start asking around. You'd be surprised what stuff people have stashed away that they may let go..many of these cars switch hands through friends (trades) and word of mouth.

Some people just don't bother with craigslist and ebay etc...

[gaust024]

That's true, from what I've seen there are a lot more Camaros and Mustangs around. I think what I'm going to do now is keep looking for Chargers, but I want to meet up to see people's Chargers here in Minnesota. That will give me better first hand experience rather than looking stuff up online.

[darbgnik]

i have a 70 that im going to be fixing and maybe selling. will be rust free with all new AMD metal and inner structure of car epoxied inside out. it will have all rebuilt suspension with new 440 leafs, rebuilt front suspension, new torsions, disc brake conversion, with stainless fuel and brake lines, new amd glass with moldings, body work done and in primer for paint. only thing missing will be drivetrain. i was gonna ask 22-23k for it. 

Now this is a car to start with. Make no mistake, there will still be plenty of "project" left by buying this one, but it will all be doable, with most any skill set. One of those rusted hulks for 5 grand might get you all the pieces that are hard to find, and nickel and dime you to death.

[Laowho]

i have a 70 that im going to be fixing and maybe selling. will be rust free with all new AMD metal and inner structure of car epoxied inside out. it will have all rebuilt suspension with new 440 leafs, rebuilt front suspension, new torsions, disc brake conversion, with stainless fuel and brake lines, new amd glass with moldings, body work done and in primer for paint. only thing missing will be drivetrain. i was gonna ask 22-23k for it. 

Now this is a car to start with. Make no mistake, there will still be plenty of "project" left by buying this one, but it will all be doable, with most any skill set. One of those rusted hulks for 5 grand might get you all the pieces that are hard to find, and nickel and dime you to death.

What I was gonna say, especially if you follow his work here. That, then fit it any way you like. Won't find better work for less. The chance to rotisserie this car is nirvana, and buying ours mostly completed didn't allow us this, so I'll be spending lotsa time on my back. Follow the various builds here, see who did what, and consider what level of work/restoration you're talking. With a CB body, you have nuthin to consider other than your moving bits. Nice.

[whitehatspecial]

May be something here that would work for someone.

https://westernmass.craigslist.org/cto/6122150916.html

[fastmark]

Find the most rust free body you can find. Borrow money if you have to. Get an RT. I live in Texas so I'm used to rust free cars. You will spend MORE in the long run fixing a rusty car. They all need new motors and interior unless they are freshly restored. Look up Charger-bodie's thread on the B 7 car I sold him and ask him if buying that rust free car was worth it. He replaces sheet metal for a living. I think these Chargers will continue to rise in value for the foreseeable future. I paid $13,000 in  07 for my rust free 70 RT. That was top dollar. I think I can make some money on it now😎