Anyone else getting forced out of the mopar hobby?

[Harlow]

I've been looking around for my next project (was hoping to get a 2nd gen charger) but it looks like I can't even afford to get one on the road anytime soon. Its the initial price that is really killer. If you do all your own work (might not be perfect, but its cheap) getting the car running and driving isn't very expensive. 65-67 GTO's are tied with chargers as my favorite cars and I'm starting to think that I'm going to go with a tempest or lemans (same body style) which are a ton cheaper. Its too bad they didn't make another model that shared the charger body style so someone could get a cheaper car, but one that still shared a cool body style (like the satellite or coronet models).

[Ghoste]

You know of course that as soon as you give in to the dark side, you're going to come across an affordable Charger right in your neighborhood?

[Chargerfanatic]

Maybe that is his plan.

[69chargerboy]

Yes, a little. I have a lot of money and time into my 69 Charger restoration, at the point of no return, so this will be the last one I ever restore. From now on if I want an old Mopar, I'd rather pay for it already restored. For the price I put into my current restoration I could have bought a Really Nice restored 69 Charger with matching numbers 383. Or I could hold out and spend the extra cash for a restored R/T....   

[terrible one]

Heard that!

Hmmm let's see. . .

$3,600 for the car
$1,500 for engine
$1,000 for additional parts for engine
~$600 for trans
$200 for brake parts
$100 for paint

=$7,000

And I've still got to buy engine bay wiring, seats, and tires, so say another $1,000 to get it on the road

I'm spending as much of every paycheck ($800 every 2 weeks) as I can , and I've really contemplated just selling it a few times. . .

[TruckDriver]

Yup, was pretty much forced out. I want a Charger cause they are my favorite all time car. But I can't afford to restore them if they need a lot, and to but a good running and driving one, well, you need almost $8,000 just for that. And that is way over my affordability right now. That is why I'm looking into a '80s Monte Carlo SS or a Camero.

[skip68]

$100 for paint?     Please explain.  You're not upside down in the car terrible one and I think you're in good shape so don't sell.    I hear you Harlow.     That's why I'm looking at getting one or two more cars right now.  I'm thinking ahead a few years and I figure it's a good investment.    Chuck......

[terrible one]

$100 for paint?     Please explain.  You're not upside down in the car terrible one and I think you're in good shape so don't sell.    I hear you Harlow.     That's why I'm looking at getting one or two more cars right now.  I'm thinking ahead a few years and I figure it's a good investment.    Chuck......

Haha eh. . . Rustoleum.

Here's another shot of the paint, it's not perfect but works for me!



I understand that it's not a loss and that I'm really not in it all that much for Charger prices and it being so solid, but being in college makes it hard, both time and money-wise. (But mostly money haha)

[skip68]

 

[Dave22443]

Look at it this way Terrible One, if you can get on the road for... lets be generous and say another $2000.00.  Now, you've already spent by your own adminssion, somewhere around $7000.00.  That means, your total investment to on the road is going to be well under $10,000.00, after which time, you will have a car thats worth at least 50% more than that.  Add to that the bonus of the fact that these cars are almost always going to increase in value and you've got a win-win scenario.  Even if you got to the point where you couldn't spend money on it anymore, you've still got something thats going to continue to grow in value so there's no way your upside down on your investment.  (And I haven't even talked about the thrill of actually driving it!)  Are you going to stop and give up when you're already 85% done?  Hell no!  Your going to keep working on it, sometimes faster, sometimes at glacier speed, but you'll keep working on it and fulfilling a dream.  YOUR Dream!  Why?  Because thats what life is all about, living your dream. 

Thats not the reason why all of us do it, but its the reason you do, and its the reason why Harlow wants to and its the reason why I did do it.

I wanted my car for years before I finally got into a position to buy it.  And once I bought it, it took me another 6 years just to get started on it.  But now I have it and now I drive it and now I enjoy it, because now I can afford it.  And one day, you will too, and so will Harlow.

Don't give up guys.  The longer it takes you to achieve victory, the sweeter its going to taste when you finally do.

[dukeboy_318]

i know the feeling, dumb me should have boughten the 1970 340 cuda, 4spd and running, back in highschool, 4 yrs ago for 500 bucks!!!!!!!!!, god was i stupid

[bull]

I think a lot of it depends on what level of restoration you want too. Building a 100 points show car eliminates 95% right off the bat I'm sure so unfortunately we're stuck doing the best we can with what we have. Throughout the process of my restoration I've quicly learned that there would have to be some compromises on some things or it would never get done.

Finding and buying a Charger was about as much work as I wanted to endure and now I'd love for that to be my only consideration. Just remember folks, the ones that are already done are much less hassle and cost much less money than those that aren't.

[440charger68]

Heard that!

Hmmm let's see. . .

$3,600 for the car
$1,500 for engine
$1,000 for additional parts for engine
~$600 for trans
$200 for brake parts
$100 for paint

=$7,000

And I've still got to buy engine bay wiring, seats, and tires, so say another $1,000 to get it on the road

I'm spending as much of every paycheck ($800 every 2 weeks) as I can , and I've really contemplated just selling it a few times. . .

My 68 charger was alot cheaper,
800$ for the car
1000$ for impound
800$ for motor
300$ for paint
sand paper and other materials 2000$
interior 600$

Still not finished, but its a great daily driver, and it will make an excellent R/T clone when i am finished.
Still need another transmission, and i will have to repaint my car again.

[terrible one]

Look at it this way Terrible One, if you can get on the road for... lets be generous and say another $2000.00.  Now, you've already spent by your own adminssion, somewhere around $7000.00.  That means, your total investment to on the road is going to be well under $10,000.00, after which time, you will have a car thats worth at least 50% more than that.  Add to that the bonus of the fact that these cars are almost always going to increase in value and you've got a win-win scenario.  Even if you got to the point where you couldn't spend money on it anymore, you've still got something thats going to continue to grow in value so there's no way your upside down on your investment.  (And I haven't even talked about the thrill of actually driving it!)  Are you going to stop and give up when you're already 85% done?  Hell no!  Your going to keep working on it, sometimes faster, sometimes at glacier speed, but you'll keep working on it and fulfilling a dream.  YOUR Dream!  Why?  Because thats what life is all about, living your dream. 

Thats not the reason why all of us do it, but its the reason you do, and its the reason why Harlow wants to and its the reason why I did do it.

I wanted my car for years before I finally got into a position to buy it.  And once I bought it, it took me another 6 years just to get started on it.  But now I have it and now I drive it and now I enjoy it, because now I can afford it.  And one day, you will too, and so will Harlow.

Don't give up guys.  The longer it takes you to achieve victory, the sweeter its going to taste when you finally do.

Right on man, I appreciate your comments. I'm definitely going to keep at it, and I plan to have the damn thing running and driving before I move away. After the $8,000 that I projected to have into it in my previous post, it just leaves exhaust, driveshaft, and some little things, etc. so it should be around $9,000 when done, hopefully. I definitely went overboard with the motor, but it should be making about 400 horses. . . went ahead and passed on all the tired motorhome 440's and bit the bullet. Can't say I regret it, but it's definitely set the whole thing back a bit. It's all good though, I'm definitely not in the "I'm going to sell it" mood now, I've got a motor to finish up and drop in the car!

[Dave22443]

 

[1carcrazyguy]

Anyone else getting forced out of the mopar hobby?

Nope!    Just not buying my all time favorite cars just yet!  Instead of buying that AAR, RoadRunner and 70 Charger that I have wanted all my life, I have been having a little fun with a 71 Dart!    And just in case the money tree never grows, I bought a 73 Cuda and 71 Satellite to build my way if needed!!     Good luck in your search!         

[hemihead]

Not only is finding a car worth restoring a hassle anymore but parts prices aren't that great either . You 2nd Gen guys don't have it that bad but us 3rd Gen owners get raped . On my next project I'm going to build a Rod . Parts are cheaper .

[Dave22443]

I look at it this way...

$3000 for the Car
$600 in mechanical repairs
$1200 for running 383/727 (first engine replacement)
$1200 for first repaint
$1000 for new chrome and trim
$300 for disk brake conversion
$1500 for second repaint
$700 for new Magum rims
$300 for extra wide rear magnum rims (added later)
$1000 in tires
$400 for parts car (for engine that turned out to be unuseable)
$250 for 2nd 440 block
$2300 for performance rebuild of 440
$700 for new 727
$200 for Trans-go shift kit
etc.. etc.. etc..

Total Cost for driving around in a head turning '68 Charger R/T clone:  PRICELESS!   

[bull]

Someone should probably also add up the cost of therapy, marriage couseling, pain reliever, medical bills, beer and lost/stolen money on parts.

[Ghoste]

Yeah but I'd incur most of those costs no matter what I was doing.

[sick dawg]

Someone should probably also add up the cost of therapy, marriage couseling, pain reliever, medical bills, beer and lost/stolen money on parts.

I agree when it comes to the beer.  More beer went into my car than anything else. My friends are good guys and always help when needed, but they can drink some beer.  I cut my beer cost way down by getting a keg and putting it in an old ice box. I drilled a hole and mounted the tap on the door. My friends like it so much they ask me when they can come over to help work on something.  I used to feel bad asking buddies that work at a body shop all day to come over and do the same half the night, but beer seems to make it all o-kay. If you don't believe, get a cold keg and see how many volunteers come to your garage to help work on your car.

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

I always wanted to get into a 68-70 B body convertible but couldnt afford any that didnt need 20k of rust repair to get it drivable....had to venture over to the dark side to get a drop top......anyone going to the Ford Nationals this year at Carlisle? 

[hemihead]

Someone should probably also add up the cost of therapy, marriage couseling, pain reliever, medical bills, beer and lost/stolen money on parts.

I agree when it comes to the beer.  More beer went into my car than anything else. My friends are good guys and always help when needed, but they can drink some beer.  I cut my beer cost way down by getting a keg and putting it in an old ice box. I drilled a hole and mounted the tap on the door. My friends like it so much they ask me when they can come over to help work on something.  I used to feel bad asking buddies that work at a body shop all day to come over and do the same half the night, but beer seems to make it all o-kay. If you don't believe, get a cold keg and see how many volunteers come to your garage to help work on your car.

I wouldn't want anyone drinking to work on my car. And then I guess your friends all drove home ?

[bull]

Someone should probably also add up the cost of therapy, marriage couseling, pain reliever, medical bills, beer and lost/stolen money on parts.

I agree when it comes to the beer.  More beer went into my car than anything else. My friends are good guys and always help when needed, but they can drink some beer.  I cut my beer cost way down by getting a keg and putting it in an old ice box. I drilled a hole and mounted the tap on the door. My friends like it so much they ask me when they can come over to help work on something.  I used to feel bad asking buddies that work at a body shop all day to come over and do the same half the night, but beer seems to make it all o-kay. If you don't believe, get a cold keg and see how many volunteers come to your garage to help work on your car.

My brother-in-law has a setup like that. Our Canadian relatives are jealous because they can't get kegs up there for some reason.

[darkfiire5000]

Hell I used a college loan to get my charger that cost me $2000 and got the engine block for $75 on ebay.