The Dodge Challenger Message Board

Last week my son and I bought three cars from a old yard that had just started crushing. A 66 Lincon, 62 Impala and a 73 Challenger. It was really sad to see those old cars go to the crusher. The Challenger is as to be expected, rusty. It has a different VIN on the dash than from the door and body so I may never see a title. It is a plain Jane 318 car without AC and no Rally nothing. It is complete less the rear bumper, valance and radio. The trunk is so rusty that the right spring shackle is inside now an the engine crank case has more water than oil.

I would like to ask a few questions of those with more experience than myself.

1. As the rear frame rails will have to be replaced I had considered a tub and make a drag car.

2. Sell that whole car for parts and put a little aside for work on a better car.

3. Go for a proper restoration in hopes of a title.

Any advise would be appreciated.

(I hope I can down load better pictures if necessary)

I'd say restore it if you have the time and money. Picture don't look too bad. Do you have any better ones? I know its not a 70 or 71 and has no ralley options but it's still a challenger. And it deserves a resto. Can you believe they are crushing these things.

Has that got the painted side stripe? I could do with a decent photo of that if you could send one to me. Please.

I know people who have parted out better cars. But I also know people that have spent years restoring worst that have turned out fine.

Going by current prices and availability i think I would be tempted to restore it. I would not go the pro street route because I would be looking to sell this car when it is looking better. But then you have the problem with the title.

Would it help to remove the dash pad and just use the chassis and engine number to get the title?

Thanks for the advise. The dash VIN shows a 340 car and was last titled as such. The body is a "G" car. I suppose the title would be a small thing compared to restoration. The strips are painted on probably during a referb in the 80's. Pro Street sounds like fun but would be expensive. I will try to post a better picture.

The 50 kb picture limit is a killer. I will send you the pictures Dave.

If you use that Irfan View that I mention in the Test Messages bit to reduce the size of your images they will come out clear and a lot bigger. A 50k image should be about 600x500 pixels in size which is big enough for our uses.

Ok. This is a pic resized with irfan 500X307.

Now we can see it! Thanks.

And it is only 40.2K!

(Message edited by roppa440 on January 31, 2003)

That was the good side. This is why I considered a tub.

Doug,

I say go forward and restore if you can. I also have a plain jane 72 and right now the outside needs much work. I have rust in the cowl, and around the trunk lid, under the rear and front glass, quarter panels etc. But I have been upgrading the mechanicals (now including a rebuilt, bored out 318 w/help from friends)and I will get there eventually. Future includes front and rear sway bars, disk brakes and a/c. Go for it!

I have put the car up for sale to free up some money for another project. I don't expect to find a buyer. The car is rough but I have worked with worse. My first Challenger was in not much better condition when I started restoration. It was incomplete and put me hunting a lot of parts. At least this car is for the most part all there. Duane I may end up restoring it. Thanks for the support.