68 Hemi

[QuartermileCuda]

Just picked up a 68 Hemi for 69 car. Its complete minus the alt, ps, and brackets. (Never had them because motor was originally used in a factory as a back up to another fuel injected one.) Motor has never been apart and has very very low hours. Not even a varnish from oil on the heads. Here is the only pic I have. What do you think its worth?

[69bronzeT5]

What's the vin number on it? There's a chance the car is still out there I would love to see pictures of your Charger btw, I also have a T5 '69

[QuartermileCuda]

There is no vin on the block. The engine its self was ordered by a factory that crashed cars way back when. (It was one of four) This one specifically was the secondary and was only used when a heavy car or truck had to be pulled. Then just recently the place switched to electric motors because it was cheaper and sold all of the Hemis. So the motor is blank where the vin should be.

Here are the pics of the Charger. We just picked it up from a storage unit. Its needing a resto. Original 383 is long gone with the 4 speed. Someone replaced it with a 400 and automatic. I don't know why. Shes in need of Both quarters and both front frame rails. Good thing is that the interior is perfect besides the rug and everything in the dash works. Overall the car was a good buy for what we paid.

[69bronzeT5]

T5 with tan interior....very nice. Mine was originally T5 with black interior. Vinyl buckets with cloth inserts and a buddy seat.

[Oldschool]

That's a pretty cool piece right there...      I am curious what the folks think it is really worth.  That is sort of like running across a car in a barn except it is an engine in a barn. A survivor so to speak.

[QuartermileCuda]

Indeed it is. We are very lucky to have the motor. For years there was pair of mopar guys we now know that had heard about how this facility (called Calspan) was going to switch from the hemis to electric motors from a guy they knew on the inside. We had just recently become friends with them and they didn't know us very well. But they were really good guys and told us about these four motors. And they had told us that if they were able to get the motors, the inside guy and the two friends would each take one and let us buy the fourth.  Eventually our friends just stopped hearing from the inside guy because nothing was going on (supposedly).

Then one day this past spring I walked into a local auto body shop with the header panel for my cuda to have it sandblasted. As I am walking through the messy shop I look over and see a engine sitting under a small cover. Making my way over to the guy I was going to go see I take a "shortcut" past it so I can take a closer look. Thats when I saw It was a Complete 426 with its original tranny attached. I find the shop owner and hand him my part then immediately ask him about the motor. He informs me that it was just dropped off from a place called Calspan and that he has three others on the way to his shop. And that they are all for sale.

Immediately after I walk out I call my dad and tell him what I have just stumbled upon. Instead of calling the shop my dad calls the two guys who had told us about the Hemis, tell them where they are and that they have first pick. (They were very happy we didn't screw them over) Next day we call the shop owner and all of us put a down payment on the one we picked out. (Inside guy didn't get a shot at one though since he dropped the ball )

 About a week later word finally gets out that the motors were sold and everyone who was after them started to come out of the woodwork. Thats when I was able to see how lucky we really were. Even if the inside guy had come through our chances were slim.
This has to be the greatest Mopar experience ever and I had never dreamed that we would ever run into an "Engine in a Barn" find.

[72hemi]

That is one heck of a story. Not sure what it is really worth but I would guess A LOT. If you don't mind me asking what did you pay for it?

[QuartermileCuda]

My old man wont tell me. But I would guess around 9 for it. Thats with the transmission to.

[72hemi]

I would say that is a pretty good deal. Without a VIN on the pad I believe that would classify it as a warranty block and being complete with the transmission, carbs, and exhaust manifolds is probably worth at least 15k.

[73Chally]

I'd have to say the sky could be the limit.  It could be worth 15K, or it could be worth 50K because of what it is.  If you're looking to sell it, you might start with Ebay and just put a ridiculous reserve on it to gauge interest.  You might run into some brokers that might want to run it through an auction house, too.  Who knows?