1970 R/T Black - V1G

[sean257]

It is a cheapish ($160) Grant steering wheel.  I have the original black wheel that came in the car, but it needs a center and ring, and for the price of those parts, I just got the Grant wheel.  I thought about getting an OEM style wood wheel, but didn't want to spend $750.00 for a wheel that didn't even come in this particular car originally.

I did the same thing with testing the volts. It is low because it is on the dimmer circuit I figure, which makes sense, but so are the dash lights and they do work.  That is where I just stopped and put the incandescent back in...

[Dino]

Hehe that's exactly what I did as well. I never use my dimmer, I always have it on full so I may just run straight power to the gear indicator if I can't fix it.

That's a pretty good price for that wheel. Is it real wood or real plastic? I have the woodgrain sim wheel in mine but I'd love to have a wheel with actual wood, and something a bit smaller than the current 16" diameter would be nice.

[sean257]

Let me know if that works!   I'm honestly not sure about the wood. I originally got the wood wheel with the rivets/pins or whatever.  It was definitely real, but the quality was horrible, like I thought I might honestly get a splinter, the front and rear were not lined up flush everywhere, and the metal ring in the center was offset to the inside instead of being flush, so there was a gap all the way around the outside.

[Dino]

Yikes! I'd rather not get splinters in my fingers! Not a big fan of the riveted wheels in these cars anyway. Would you happen to know the model number of this wheel?

No doubt tapping power from another bulb would make the gear indicator work. I won't be doing so for a long time to come though. I just don't have time to work on the car these days.

[sean257]

I've been driving the car as much as the weather will allow, but have decided to put it up for sale and move to something cheaper to drive around in.  I'd like to get middle 40's, and don't mind if I have to drive it all spring and summer 

Before and after

[Baldwinvette77]

How much are you asking? i can't afford it anyway, but still 

[jww426]

Its heartwarming to see a family project as cool as this.
And its a lucky man indeed to involve his kids, although I think child labor laws may have some jurisdiction here.
What does the car look like now?
I have my eye on a 70.
Well done.
JWW

[sean257]

Thank you.  I was surprised that the little guy didn't mind sanding.  He would just sit there and sand for an hour straight.  I haven't done anything to it since December other than drive it, so it looks like the pictures towards the bottom of page 3.  If you are seriously interested, I have hundreds of pictures.  There are all kinds of little things I did not do, trunk mat, washer tank and pump, under hood details, etc. and I never will because I just want to drive it and have it look good.  I don't go to car shows or anything like that.  We take it out to eat, take the kids to/from school, drive it to work from time to time and all of that sort of stuff.  I have never had a car that gets this kind of attention though, and we've had GT500, factory five cobra, 455 T/A, and even a damn fire truck!  Holy hell, I'm surprised we haven't cause accidents from people trying to check this car out.  Last week a guy came into where we were having dinner and sat at the bar, just waiting to see who was driving it, so he could check it out and take some pictures.

I put it on Craigslist here in St. Louis for $46,800 figuring people would want to talk me down a few thousand.  Worst case, I can just keep driving it until it is worth it.    There are soooo many different cars that I want, but I can only afford one or two at a time.   I can tell you that I will likely not buy a classic car that needs restored ever again.  I figure if I did four or five more just like this one, I would be flat broke  

[Charger_Fan]

I love the shots in the original owner's driveway, it's even the same house! Love the "calendar" shots too, that is really a sharp looking car. Wish I could afford it, because I would gladly take that one off your hands.

[sean257]

In contrast to all of the "overpriced" cars, mine must of been the opposite, because it sold the day after I put it up.

Thanks for the comments and the help. Keep it real in the Charger world!   

[TheBipolarRoller]

Awesome thread. Great family project... bonding time with the kids. Best of all.... you enjoy just driving it. You can't get any better than that.

[darbgnik]

In contrast to all of the "overpriced" cars, mine must of been the opposite, because it sold the day after I put it up.

Thanks for the comments and the help. Keep it real in the Charger world!   

Let's see....
Original black Gen 2 charger
Actual R/T car
New, done right paint job
Restored interior

Wouldn't put this sled in the overpriced category at 46K, I've got more than that in my originally 318 powered car.

[sean257]

The place that ended up buying my Charger already sold it.  I do not know how much they ended up asking, or getting because it didn't stay on their website long enough to add pictures or a price.  I'd have to guess upper 50's at a minimum.

We ended up staying with a dodge for now, but only one kid can ride at a time.  Who knew these had gotten so affordable...

[darbgnik]

Gen 2 Vipers are great bang for the buck, and seem to be near the bottom of their depreciation, congrats!

[Charger_Fan]

That's a Gen 2? I guess I don't know my Vipers, does it show? Regardless, that's a good looking car, congrats! 

[darbgnik]

That's a Gen 2? I guess I don't know my Vipers, does it show? Regardless, that's a good looking car, congrats! 

IIRC........

Gen 1 are 1992 to 1995
Gen 2 are 1996 to 2002
Gen 3 are 2003 to 2006
Gen 4 are 2008 to 2010
Gen 5 are 2013 to 2017

And I guessed his is a Gen 2 by the fact that is when the GTS came out, and the lack of side exhaust.

[Charger_Fan]

And I guessed his is a Gen 2 by the fact that is when the GTS came out, and the lack of side exhaust.

Makes sense to me, I'd buy into that reasoning. 

[moparchris]

Yes, that Viper is a "Gen 2".  I'm surprised more Mopar muscle guys aren't getting into these cars.  I have a 99 Viper GTS and I have to say it is so far superior to any of our vintage Chargers it is like night and day.  You can get a very nice Gen2 GTS for between 35-45K and an R/T for 28-35K it makes me wonder why would someone want to spend 60K for a vintage Charger R/T other than just to have the look?

( I can hear the screams already starting)

[charger_fan_4ever]

If it wasnt a 2nd gen the next mopar id have would be a srt challenger. But noway im spending 30k on a used challenger. 2nd gens prices will hold or gains. anything newer will only decrease in value. imo

[darbgnik]

Yes, that Viper is a "Gen 2".  I'm surprised more Mopar muscle guys aren't getting into these cars.  I have a 99 Viper GTS and I have to say it is so far superior to any of our vintage Chargers it is like night and day.  You can get a very nice Gen2 GTS for between 35-45K and an R/T for 28-35K it makes me wonder why would someone want to spend 60K for a vintage Charger R/T other than just to have the look?

( I can hear the screams already starting)

There's a simple solution. Buy both. I have a 2015 Viper and am still putting the finishing touches on the Charger. They have very different purposes and I wouldn't ever compare the two.

I think anyone buying muscle cars in search of sports car performance may be looking in the wrong place.

But I like both. For very different reasons.

[sean257]

Yes, that Viper is a "Gen 2".  I'm surprised more Mopar muscle guys aren't getting into these cars.  I have a 99 Viper GTS and I have to say it is so far superior to any of our vintage Chargers it is like night and day.  You can get a very nice Gen2 GTS for between 35-45K and an R/T for 28-35K it makes me wonder why would someone want to spend 60K for a vintage Charger R/T other than just to have the look?

( I can hear the screams already starting)

There's a simple solution. Buy both. I have a 2015 Viper and am still putting the finishing touches on the Charger. They have very different purposes and I wouldn't ever compare the two.

I think anyone buying muscle cars in search of sports car performance may be looking in the wrong place.

But I like both. For very different reasons.

It's a 1997 Gen II. I really like driving it.  It honestly doesn't get near the attention that the Charger did, which can be a good thing, at the times that you don't have the time to spend talking to people.   

I'd have the Viper and the Charger if I had the money and space.  And a Ferrari 328, Lamborghini countach, 68 Cadillac Coupe de Ville,  1963 Lincoln, 1970 Chevelle 454ss, another factory 5 cobra, square body regular cab short bed chevy, any prewar car.......................................................