70 Challenger, some info needed.

[Doc74]

Hey E body gang

At this moment in time, how much would it cost to own a '70 chally as project, driver or show condition? Let's say a somewhere in the middle model, not bone stock, no converts and hemi's.
What are the big differerences in price except engine, which options cost the most ?
I wouldn't be buying one anytime soon but I like being prepared so next year when I do browse around I don't get a heart attack or something.
I love the way it looks and altough certainly a plus, it wouldn't have to be all original, wouldn't even need an engine, all I'd need is everything there so I can replace or restore. Kinda like my charger, see pics here http://users.telenet.be/dirk.peeters3/69%20Charger/
What would I be spending for a project and what do I need to look out for, typical problems or pieces missing, bad dealers like hlpag,...?
Any info is greatly appreciated.

[4Cruizn]

The 70 model is one of the more desirable years. 

[Carlwalski]

Very hard to say exactly but as rough ballpark figures IMO this is roughly how the market sits:

1970 Challenger project car (with non-#'s engine) $2,000 - $6,000
1970 'Cuda Project car (with non-#'s engine) $5,000 - $12,000

1970 Challenger Driver condition (needs some good TLC) $12,000 - $18,000
1970 'Cuda Driver condition (needs some good TLC) $18 - $28,000

1970 Challenger in show condition (number 1-2 car) $40,000+
1970 Cuda in show condition (number 1-2 car) $55,000+

1971 Challenger in show condition with a 383 (number 1-2 car) $30,000+
1971 'Cuda with in show condition with a 383/440 (number 1-2 car) $75,000+


1972-74 Cudas and Challengers vary plenty but you can pick up many good bargains whether it be a rolling chassis or a fully restored 1974 Rallye packaged Challenger. So it's truly hard to gauge how the market is due to the fact these years haven't really found their true market value ranges yet. IMO in 5-10 years we'll see the later year cars settle down in a price bracket range, definitely higher than now.


4-Speeds usually fetch more than TorqueFlites unless they are on a low production car say for an example: 1-27 Automatics built etc.
Also, high optioned and rare option cars eg: Sunroof or rare color combo cars hit some high price ranges due to investers.
The HEMIs are well out of the range of your average Joe HEMI 'Cudas being the top of the dollar value.


0.02c

Cheers,
NZ440R/T

[70RT440SHAKER]

in 1971 the only 440 in Challenger were sixpacks, so the price for 440 in a 1971 challenger would be in the neighborhood of 70 grand if its a number # car and in 1.st condition

[Carlwalski]

Too true forgot about that....too much info to post. It was only 5hp more than the 1970 440 Magnum engine.

[Tropicalcats]

Doc
i have to say I agree the 70 Challenger is the car. I would start looking sooner than later as the prices on these will only continue up. I think NZ hit the price range pretty much on target. If you find one snap it up. The 70s go rather quick.

[Doc74]

Allright, I checked ebay a bit, snooped around and took in account your recommendations and prices and altough it's not as bad as I thought, not waiting too long would be a good idea, alas I can't just now, I wouldn't know where to park it.
I could do it in a year and it would be a project car, afterall that's what I want to do. Any parts I should start looking for maybe ? Rare things or stuff that will surely be busted and hard to find ?
Thanks for the help and advice people

[Carlwalski]

Hard to say, you can usually tell when restoring a car yourself what you'll need.

Main things to find would be:

 - Seats (not sure of your condition) Tracks etc...
 - Dash parts
 - Grill Pieces (Headlight Bezels)
 - Trunk Moldings are hard, they now make "OK" repros
 - Rallye Dash parts
 - Wiring Loom (Year One has excellent looms)

Hard to say really. The list above is basically just a check list for you I guess.


Cheers,
Carl

[Doc74]

NZ would I be terribly off saying it's comparable to a 69 Charger in case of finding certain parts and paying for them through the nose, falling over in shock at every mopar nats and such looking at prices ? 
I am commited to this, I really would love to have a Challenger next to the Charger, then again who wouldn't. So I better start looking around, a year's gone before you know it.
One more thing....I've never even been in an E body so I don't know what to expect from handling and such, performance I can guess since they all got the same engines but how does it corner and better yet how nicely does it drift ? The Charger's sweet in corners but they'd better be damn wide !
Sorry for overloading you guys with stuff you probably answered a million times but I'm a newbie here but tell you what, you can ask me anything Charger related, 68-69 spec, and I'll do my best to answer it. 
Thanks for all the assistance fellas.

[Carlwalski]

NZ would I be terribly off saying it's comparable to a 69 Charger in case of finding certain parts and paying for them through the nose....

You'll be folking out more for Challenger items/parts, no question. As for hard to find, I'm am not too sure on Charger pieces but one would imagine with the quantity built of cars built between each body style finding parts for a Charger would be a lot easier.
(Just go search through the 300+ cars the Dukes boys recked) lol

You should definitely become a member of eBay, I'm from New Zealand and have just recently gotten my 100+ feedback.
The good thing about being in America is compared to here it isn't too much hassle to sought it out if something should go wrong, especially in a major purchase such as a car, engine, seats, glass etc.... The part supply on eBay is endless, without eBay I would be stuck.

The Challenger will definitely be worth doing and by the sounds of your posts you'd do a good resto and also do it right.
Done right the Challenger will owe you some money at first but with a few enjoying years of driving it you still gain that money back with fun and love for the great car. By that stage the car will still be offering good money so if selling was your game and investment it is.


Cheers,
Carl

[Street_Challenged73]

I think NZ hit most of the prices within their appropriate ranges.  The best deal I've known to date is one of my neighbors back home found a restorable, yet rusty '70 Challenger for $150.00.  The previous owner was around 22 and it was just sitting on the outskirts of the woods.  On the flipside, I've known of a '70 Challenger RT/SE that's just sitting and rusting away even though the owner's been offered $8,500.00 about five years ago.  Good luck with your searching, Doc74.

[FY1443433]

To all,

  This is the greatest board I have ever seen.  Always great news! It's amazing, people who don't know one another putting out useful information  You guys are fantastic.

FY1