Hi everyone, looks like a great place to learn more about these things. I've been a Chevy or Hotrod guy with Chevy parts mixed in forever. Always liked the looks of some of the Mopars but never owned one till now. I traded off my 32 Ford 3 Window Coupe on this 73 Challenger. I know, it's not a 70 or 71 but I kinda like the looks of the 72 - 74 cars. Everyone likes pictures and I have a few along with a video if I can figure out how to add it too. I know it's not an original 73 color and the Go Wing was not offered for these but they are what I'd have done if I built it and add to the look.
https://youtu.be/scOYcgPLHaM
I do have some questions about this one. I've usually been able to figure out the past history of a car based on the various things that have been done to it over the years. This one is exceptionally clean, it started out life as a 318 car with column shift red in color with a black vinyl top. Somewhere in it's life it's been painted Plum Krazy and had a mildly built 74 forged crank 440/727 with shift kit transplanted.
I have a few buddies that are really into the Mopars that own Challengers and Cudas come look at it to get their opinions. They seemed somewhat confused also, lots of changes to the car but with condition they think it could be original mileage. First thing one of them did as i opened up the drivers door was kneel down and try to lift the door, no play at all and they close with a light finger touch. I'll post pictures to show some of the things I'm questioning and maybe someone on here will recognize the car and can help with it's history. I traded Laverne Mayfield my 32, he lives in Quincy Illinois even up for it. Maybe someone on here might know of him, seems he has had a lot of classic cars.
Speedometer shows 18658.9 miles, and all numbers are perfectly even across. The far left number "1" is really yellowed compared to the other digits. The battery is located in the trunk and it has two small switches located in the ashtray. It had 4.10 gears which I've swapped out for 3.55 sure grip. It had a 741 center and the 3.55 is a 489. A good buddy that races Challengers swapped me even up, I now owe him big time. The rear of the car is approx 2 to 3 inches higher than what I'd consider stock, no airshocks or shackles. It has a B&M ratchet shifter with no consol (since it was a column shift car which I've now switched columns to correct floor model column). Someone mentioned checking the brake and gas pedal, they appear to be original and have no wear. Can't tell about the carpet whether it's original or now.
The 440 looks like it was meant to be in there with no goobered up looking wiring or hoses. It does have factory air conditioning still intact and does have the large 440 size radiator, air conditioning condenser and also a large transmission cooler that appears to be factory installed with all the hoses/lines being routed correctly and tied in after the radiator trans cooler lines. The engine compartment is not the factory red like the car was originally but now is all black. Someone took the time to take everything off the firewall and paint behind it. A buddy fixed me up with a dual snorkel air cleaner off a 71 cuda 383, a bit of sandblasting, paint and a new pie pan made it look a bit too new in the engine compartment.
I had the back seat out today getting to the rear window shelf pad to repaint it, was still good shape but slightly discolored. While I had the side panels off I peeked into the rear window area under the shelf and the rear wind down windows by the inner fender/rocker panel area and and zero rust anywhere on the inside panels. The trunk is perfect with factory undercoating with only a couple spots where it was loose from the metal. There is a 1" circle under the vinyl roof that is raised slightly so it'll have to be addressed down the road and on each side right in front of the rear wheels I can feel 2 or 3 tiny bubbles in the paint so that is another area to get addressed before it gets bad.
While changing the rear end chunk I got a chance to look around and still found no rust with factory undercoating everywhere. Frame rails and all floor pans look like new and even where the outer fender joins up with the inner fender still is excellent condition. Interior is excellent great except where the chrome has flaked off the button for the air conditioner control. Dash looks like new with no cracks and door panels only have a slight discoloring where it looks like someone knee rubbed getting in and out.
Question is, could it be possible this is original miles? Illinois doesn't require mileage to be added to the title and the owner I purchased it from said it was his Brother-In-Laws and his wife ended up with it. I asked and he said it should be original miles. I told our local title department I wasn't sure and it would be hard to believe it was that low but am now having second thoughts and might get it amended to being original.
Someone sure went to a lot of work swapping engine (which is slightly built) and color to make it look so correct, with battery in rear and the shifter I wonder if it was used for weekend class racing or just a car someone redid the way they liked it and let it set? Possibly wasn't driven when new and then was switched over? Won't bother me if it that low original miles or turned over but sure would like others opinions that know more about these things.
I got it to be a driver and occasionally show so numbers matching doesn't matter to me, I've had matching cars before and they didn't drive any different than non-matching. Think the E-body cars are some of the best looking of the Muscle Car era, don't know how I somehow didn't pay more attention to them back in the day.
I had lots of trade options for my Hotrod, not sure if I lost, broke even or gained on the trade but I'm pretty happy with it so far. There just aren't too many Mopars locally at our local Ohio Valley Cruises or Shows and this one had everything set up just the way I'd do one if I started from scratch. Too many Camaros, Nova's, Chevelle's and Mustangs around and wanted something different. Well, spent enough time bending everyones ear, looking forward to learning more about these things and cleaning it up a bit more before cruising season hits.
Interesting part of the trade was I initially bought my 32 Ford just West of St. Louis, the present owner lives 2 hours East of St. Louis so a good chance people will see the old Ford and recognize it again. Guess it went back home, I was told the Challenger came from out West somewhere. Always a mystery to solve. Kinda feel like the Brothers on Oak Island, seems one mystery leads to another on this car.
Thanks
