Found a 68 thats been sitting maybe 20 years - intro - PICS and now Video!

[Swilling]

Hey Guys,

Name is Sam, Im Australian born and raised but living in the US the past near 10 years.
I'm traditionally a Pontiac guy, and have a couple cars thats ive been working on, current resto is about 70% done.

Between 2007-2010 i was working and living in Vancouver Canada, driving my 77 Trans Am to work on nice days, i had a comment from a workmate who dug my car and told me about this 68 Charger he had just after highschool.  He was planning on restoring. I moved back to California and then out to Texas and now back in California, over the past 6 years. I kept in touch with this guy, every 6 months or so id send him an email or make a comment towards him asking about when he was going to sell me the car.

Approximately 12 months ago, out of the blue, he contacts me "How serious are you about buying the charger?"
I jumped at the Opportunity.  Money changed hands and then i though i should at least ask what color it is.  

So now i have this 68 charger that is apparently originally a Gold with white interior car.  It "has some rust" but that does not scare me one bit.

I have no pictures of the car and very little info, i also found out the car is located in Alberta Canada.  Due to work constraints ive not been able to go collect the car, but i've finally been able to get some downtime , and December 25th this year, my girlfirend and i, are headed for a Roadtrip to go load it on a trailer and drag it back to Northern California.

i'll be taking lots of pictures and i'm just insanely excited about this. Its such a mystery, the last i heard was that it was on the road around 1997, so its been sitting for some time.  

Not to mention i've been sitting on this over a year now, with no way to actually see it or go get the thing.. you can imagine the anticipation.

Anyhow, i thought id share and bring you guys along for the ride.  

So as of Christmas day, we'll be on the road. I'm going to keep an eye out on the weather, unfortunately if it gets bad, as much as i don't want to. i still may have to cancel the trip.    I'll be headed out through Nevada/idaho/montana and crossing into Alberta at the Shelby border.  

If anyone lives along that route, id love to be able to get some advance weather knowledge to be able to best forsee what we're in for.  

I can't believe its been over a year, everyday ive thought about this moment of going to unearth a 68 Charger that i know little about.  Exciting and scary at the same time and its all, finally coming to a close

Once again, if anyone has driven that route this time of year, id be happy to hear of any pointers or information.

I posted a thread over on the B body forum and have a bit more detail of what i'm up to, but i wanted to make sure you guys could be along for the ride also.

Cheers,
Sam

[v21hemicharger]

Where in Nor Cal are you.  I'm near Chico and here is mine that's been in the area it's whole life.

[skip68]

Welcome Sam.      Looking forwards to pictures.   

[VegasCharger]

Welcome aboard Sam

Thanks for sharing your story.

I hope that 68 turns out being a good find.

I'd much rather do a road trip to collect a 1968 Charger on Christmas, sounds like a lot of fun as long as the driving conditions are somewhat descent.

Good luck and happy holidays!

[myk]

You've never actually seen the car?

[polywideblock]

welcome to the site       as said   pics we need pics   

[TPR]

Hi Sam, welcome aboard.
Sounds like you're in for one hell of a road trip.
I hope it will be worth it. Sight unseen is one thing, but zero pictures is even scarier.
Good luck Mate.
TPR

[Mytur Binsdirti]

[68pplcharger]

 

[lukedukem]

Hey Guys,

Name is Sam, Im Australian born and raised but living in the US the past near 10 years.
I'm traditionally a Pontiac guy, and have a couple cars thats ive been working on, current resto is about 70% done.

Between 2007-2010 i was working and living in Vancouver Canada, driving my 77 Trans Am to work on nice days, i had a comment from a workmate who dug my car and told me about this 68 Charger he had just after highschool.  He was planning on restoring. I moved back to California and then out to Texas and now back in California, over the past 6 years. I kept in touch with this guy, every 6 months or so id send him an email or make a comment towards him asking about when he was going to sell me the car.

Approximately 12 months ago, out of the blue, he contacts me "How serious are you about buying the charger?"
I jumped at the Opportunity.  Money changed hands and then i though i should at least ask what color it is. 

So now i have this 68 charger that is apparently originally a Gold with white interior car.  It "has some rust" but that does not scare me one bit.

I have no pictures of the car and very little info, i also found out the car is located in Alberta Canada.  Due to work constraints ive not been able to go collect the car, but i've finally been able to get some downtime , and December 25th this year, my girlfirend and i, are headed for a Roadtrip to go load it on a trailer and drag it back to Northern California.

i'll be taking lots of pictures and i'm just insanely excited about this. Its such a mystery, the last i heard was that it was on the road around 1997, so its been sitting for some time. 

Not to mention i've been sitting on this over a year now, with no way to actually see it or go get the thing.. you can imagine the anticipation.

Anyhow, i thought id share and bring you guys along for the ride. 

So as of Christmas day, we'll be on the road. I'm going to keep an eye out on the weather, unfortunately if it gets bad, as much as i don't want to. i still may have to cancel the trip.    I'll be headed out through Nevada/idaho/montana and crossing into Alberta at the Shelby border. 

If anyone lives along that route, id love to be able to get some advance weather knowledge to be able to best forsee what we're in for.   

I can't believe its been over a year, everyday ive thought about this moment of going to unearth a 68 Charger that i know little about.  Exciting and scary at the same time and its all, finally coming to a close

Once again, if anyone has driven that route this time of year, id be happy to hear of any pointers or information.

I posted a thread over on the B body forum and have a bit more detail of what i'm up to, but i wanted to make sure you guys could be along for the ride also.

Cheers,
Sam

be careful please, that is going to be the busiest time to drive. no matter where in the country you are traveling.

Luke

[skip68]

Please tell me you have a title and bill of sale.  I'd also want to talk to whoever is storing the car and have some up to date pictures sent.  Also make sure the car is accessible and can be loaded. 

[Mogre]

Welcome aboard. Sounds like a great xmas present. I hope you have all the paper work done for the border crossing.

[Kern Dog]

This ought to support my contention that buyers of these "rare" cars NEED TO SHARE THE PRICE PAID in order to help the hobby. That gold "Raaaaaaare" Coronet R/T that GRAYBO posted about is not identical, but similar and since he failed to share the price he paid, there is no guideline on prices.
Buyers looking to make offers on these cars will probably do one of two things: Either throw out a low ball offer and piss off the owner or they will pay waaaaay too much. People that buy these cars and spew.the price we paid will remain private. The amount we paid is not important are just being selfish. They care more for themselves by essentially broadcasting about their score, rather than being a part of something and sharing information.

[cazz]

The weather should hold out for you we have very little to no snow here as of yet and looks like not much in the forecast till after Christmas. Good news for you... I live central so were abouts in Alberta is the car located? might be able to give you better updates soon coming....

[Swilling]

Thank you all for the Warm welcome.

Appreciate it.

A couple quick answers,

I'm in Santa Rosa, Sonoma County - your gold 68 looks gorgeous!!

The car is being stored in my friends mothers house. He has not been back home for a long time, and moved to Japan indefinitely. When he contacted me he said he never would have sold the car if he stayed in North America, and he was following my most recent restoration and appreciated the work ive been doing and i guess came to the conclusion that i would do the car justice with a restoration it needs. So was happy that it would go to a decent home. And he mentioned that to me when he finally said he'd sell it to me.

I paid $10,000 for the car. I'm pretty good at lowballing, and im always trying to get the best deal in town. But he came at me with the price and said he thought it was more than fair, and i did not argue it or try to squeeze a better deal out of it. He likes the idea he'll be able to see the car progress and also not worry about an Auction or dealing with an overseas sale since he's already left the country. I have no problem stating how much i paid, if someone asks me, i'll tell them.

The few bits of info i have were there is some "new" sheet metal for it, including a floor pan patch and a rocker.  I'm well prepared to do a full restoration, quarters, the whole deal. I did ask him if it was a vinyl top and it is not, so i may luck out and not need to do a roof skin. But im expecting rockers, rear window quarters and most likley fenders will need replacing or at the very least some patching.

I build all my own engines and transmissions, even a set of headers from scratch on my current GTO project.  I'm on my first attempt at body and paint work, but did a quarter and floor replacement, and even replaced the factory lead and very happy with the results.

For that price, im not expecting much at all as i mentioned, more importantly i'm looking forward to another cool project, with more challenges, as i love to learn.

I contacted the border and spoke to a supervisor, i was told that since it was built in north America and is returning to the USA, i wont require any taxes and it skips all the DOT stuff obviously due to age. I looked into using a broker, but after i realized how little is required for a car of this age.. ill save the 200 bucks and show up , do the paperwork when i get there.

and yes, no pictures, no real concept of condition, but as long as i get there and whatever is left of it, is in fact, a 68 charger, and not an 86 Lebaron, i'm already ahead of the game in my book.

Cazz - the car is located in Red Deer.  Ive been watching the highway Cameras and looking at weather, i'll be taking my 13' 4wd silverado 1500 and picking up a trailer at a Red Deer uhual.  I've dragged project cars all over the country but never in snow/ice.  So i am still slightly hesitant about the drive back with the car and the ice. Right now im about 75/25 going/not going. i would love any and all info...as much as i dont want to wait aanother moinute, i have to prepare myself to just cancel the trip for the safe return of the car. Would be horrendous to have it survive all this time in a garage then something happen due to bad weather on the way home.

I'll be taking lots of pictures and lots of video of the trip. 

Thanks guys,
Sam.

[RECHRGD]

Just be sure you have some good soft winter tires and you should be fine.  Take plenty of food and water with you in case of anything unforeseen.  I'm near Spokane WA. and took my '68 to a mopar show in Red Deer many years ago.  Beautiful country, but it will be mostly white this time of year.  BTW, snow is predicted in this area almost everyday from tomorrow up to the 25th.

[tan top]

hello & welcome 

looking forward to seeing pictures & stuff 

[stripedelete]

Sounds like my kind of adventure.  I wish I could ride along.

A Tablet with the Intellicast app.  might be your best friend.

Welcome and safe travels.

[Challenger340]

I live in southern B.C. but I drive regularily back & forth to Calgary ab. Picking up/dropping off and Dyno'ing Engines.

Just drive careful, be aware of the forecasts, and you should be fine.
"Dead Rear" (Red Deer) is only about 1 hr 45 mns North of Calgary on Hwy #2, the #2 can be tricky during a winter storm, one of the resources I use is Environment Canada.
You can search local weather in Alberta as you go here:
http://weather.gc.ca/forecast/canada/index_e.html?id=AB

Good Luck and nice find ! 

[Kern Dog]

Thank you very much for sharing the price!   

[skip68]

I can't wait to see the car.  Be sure to get some pictures just as it sits when you first see it.   

[Kern Dog]

Absolutely. The dust, the crap on it, everything. It is great to see these cars get UNearthed!

[Ghoste]

Welcome to the group, thats a great way to jump in. 

[sanders7981]

  loving this story and find!  We NEED pics!!!  Good luck and safe travels to get it. 

[cavemanno1]

Welcome mate!

You Ozzie's have balls 
I though i was crazy buying a rust bucket for $10k on ebay from the other side of the pond,but at least i saw pictures of it and i always wanted one of them.But if you want something go for it and make it work!

I would do the trip if i were you just to make your "find" more adventurous.I'm pretty sure they are good at cleaning of the snow from the road over there.

Take your time,some warm cloths,food,water and someone who is fun to be with!

All the best!