69 charger for $2000? *update page 6*

[Pat1973charger]

Hey everyone, I have been poking around the board here for a few months and am in absolute awe of the knowledge you guys have! I live in Nova Scotia, Canada. I have been restoring a 73 charger SE for the past few months, slow going since it is so rusty and not much repop metal made. I have a question for you charger guru's. I recently found a 69 charger for sale about 6 hours from me. It's a basket case to say the least, basically if I was to buy it and restore it, when finished would be about 90% amd metal. It has no interior, no fenders no engine. It does have a mint condition oem hood, 727 with big block bell housing, all good glass , two good condition oem doors and comes with all new goodmark front and rear floor pans. It also has. 70 coronet to go with it with no title that is stripped down quite a bit, also no interior or fenders etx and no title. The guy is firm on $3000 cdn for everything he has, just wondering what you guys thought of this price. Thanks for any input!

[crj1968]

Personally, when I see cars like that I see a car that needs $30K easy dropped into it. Which is only worth it if it is something very special.

Whatever you added up cost wise to "fix it"  double that number.   

[Ryan]

If it were an R/T then maybe.... Otherwise I would suggest walking away and wait for somthing better 

[Mike DC]

"Is $3000 a decent price for all this stuff?" is one question. 

"Should I take on this project?" is a different question.

 

[myk]

As long as the year is 1988 then yes-$3K will get you a nice Charger...

[Tilar]

Are the frame rails good? How about the roof structure? Do you have any pictures by chance to give us an idea to what they look like?

I didn't see you mention the gauge cluster or grill on the Charger, you can easily wrap up as much for just those two parts as you're paying for both cars if the parts are not there. As far as the metal goes,  well chances are you'll need to replace it on any charger you buy whether it's a rare optioned R/T car or a small block car so that brings it down to "Is it the car you want" or is there enough there and are you willing to add what it would take to make it a car you would want?

If you can find enough parts on the two that you can salvage by parting/scraping them both out to pay for your investment, plus your time going to get them then you haven't lost anything but 6 hours away to get two cars isn't going to be cheap in itself.

[Pat1973charger]

Thanks for the replies, I was thinking the same thing, I have been looking for a 69 for over 15 years so that's why I even considered it, they just don't show up around here. When I saw the 73 I thought it was as close as I'd ever come so I picked it up but deep down it's not what I really want. I told the guy I was probabaly looking at sinking 20-30k to restore it so I I'd like I pay around 1000-1500 max and he never got back to me, maybe I made him mad. Anyway thanks again!

[Dreamcar]

Are the frame rails good? How about the roof structure? Do you have any pictures by chance to give us an idea to what they look like?

I didn't see you mention the gauge cluster or grill on the Charger, you can easily wrap up as much for just those two parts as you're paying for both cars if the parts are not there. As far as the metal goes,  well chances are you'll need to replace it on any charger you buy whether it's a rare optioned R/T car or a small block car so that brings it down to "Is it the car you want" or is there enough there and are you willing to add what it would take to make it a car you would want?

If you can find enough parts on the two that you can salvage by parting/scraping them both out to pay for your investment, plus your time going to get them then you haven't lost anything but 6 hours away to get two cars isn't going to be cheap in itself.

However, i live in Canada too and understand that they are a little more difficult to find, especially in the maritimes. Let's say the 69 deal is 1.5k overpriced. If it costs you 40k to restore and you're willing to put in the work, is paying 1.5k more are the beginning a big deal to you? I'm not noticing many 69 Chargers around with prices going down. Plus, if ever you decide to travel further away to find a better one, don't forget that eating up 1.5n in truck/trailer rental, gas, food, and hotels is easily done.

I'd say if the frame and structure is decent, then consider it seriously . Does it have a fender tag?

[BrianShaughnessy]

The cost of what's left of it is almost inconsequential compared to the amount it's gonna cost to fix it up.   

[Bowers]

This one is in terrible condition. Spoke to the guy and he didn't even want to take pics of it in the daytime. Roof is shot and my best guess is that so the the frame rails as well. $3k is way too high.

[Baldwinvette77]

Is the coronet a 4 door or 2 door? 

[Back N Black]

I'm in New Brunswick and saw the ad on Kijiji, it look to be in bad shape. I would not take on a project that big. 

[hawkeye]

Some of these cars are in such bad shape that you couldn't afford to fix them even if it was given to you.  Better to travel and pay to have it hauled home than fighting with a rust bucket for years.   

[Dreamcar]

OK, so I just found the add. Now that I see the car, it looks like its about 5 years ahead of mine in being left alone to rot, and missing more parts...makes me glad mine was picked up from sitting in a field by 70Sublime just recently and not a few years down the road. Goes to show that seeing the car says much more than any description.

http://www.kijiji.ca/v-classic-cars/cape-breton/69-charger-70-coronet/592013583?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true

[Pat1973charger]

Looks very rough for sure thst why I posted to see if I was passing up possibly my only chance in a 69 ever but I can see where the 30-40k restoration value can come from when you start to see what's parts are worth. I would do the resto myself but it'll still be a boatload of money sunk into a not so "special" charger. Thanks again for the input!

Edit: I also asked for more pics and he didn't seem interested in taking any, which struck me as strange!

[crj1968]

Edit: I also asked for more pics and he didn't seem interested in taking any, which struck me as strange!

Why? Those pictures are fantastic.    

Sad to see it all rotted away like that but such is the fate of many cool cars. 

Now possibly if you could snag up both cars  and they have things that other could use you may be able to help some people out and make a buck. 8.75 rears can bring some $$, just about any salvagable 69 charger part is worth something to someone.   

[70 sublime]

If it was closer I would buy it

I doubt I would fix it but there are so many little bits that you would use on another Charger or even just to go look at it for a pattern of how something might go together

I have never fixed one Charger without having another car around for the extra parts

If you can afford the $$ and the space to store it go get it put it under a roof up on blocks to keep it from getting any worse

Someday it could be the last project Charger left and will look good to someone 

[70 sublime]

double post

[Pat1973charger]

I have mixed emotions on it one one had its a complete wreck and money put on the other had, it's a 69 charger!

[Dreamcar]

Take a day trip and go see it in the daylight...maybe it looms worse in pictures

[nvrbdn]

i agree. you wont really know whats there without seeing it in person. could be some useful stuff.

[Pat1973charger]

That's exactly what I was thinking on doing. I do still have the 73 which I know is much better even though it needs a lot of metal work at least I have it all minus one se louver, windshield and a center console

[VegasCharger]

That is one LAZY A$$ seller.
He probably doesn't want to sell the cars (wifey) thus putting a high price tag on them.
And OMG those crappy pics. Again being lazy.
I mean could you at least remove the stuff off the doors before snapping a shot!
This is 2014 the age of great technology in picture taking.
Time to throw away that camera that takes a roll of 110 film.

As far as the Charger/Coronet goes, for me if they were down the street from me I'd buy them, well that's if I thought there were value to the cars after looking at them in person. By value I mean is it worth fixing up? At how much cost? It's a NON R/T so that weighs in. Can I partially part some of the combined cars to fund this project? Can I part both cars totally to make a profit towards the car I'm really after.

Just my       

[Pat1973charger]

Like I said they are about 6 hours one way, I don't mind that going to look at them, I can take wifes Mazda 3 but to get them it would be two trips with my ram and trailer prob close to 300 in fuel each time. Lots of variables

[nvrbdn]

if i was at all serious about possibly buying these cars, i would tow my trailer with me to go for a look. that would cut out a whole trip back if you buy.