Advice on buying a 1971 Challenger

[FuriusDodge]

I have the opportunity of buying a 1971 Dodge Challenger R/T. It's almost compleat but needs a full interior and exterior restoration. However, the engine is not the original, it's a 383 from a 1963 Chrysler Newport. There's a posibility of getting a 440 engine from a 1967-68 Chrysler Imperial.

I have several questions: A Challenger without the original engine (the drivetrain is also not the original) is still worth something? How much? Is the Newport engine similar to the one used in the Challenger? (I guess not since there is an 8 year gap). Is the 440 engine from the Imperial the same as the one used in the Challenger?

They are asking 4.5k for the car with the 383 engine. With the 440 I guess would be a bit more, perhaps 5.5k. I live in Peru, outside the US and it's not easy to get a Challenger. Please advice!

Also there will be a 1970 Challenger available, fully restored and with matching numbers for around 13k. But I guess I will have to restore it again. I've seen the work of those guys and it is very bad. Whichone is a better buy?

thanks,
Javier

[Challenger6pak]

The price on either car seems reasonable.  I would go for the restored one due to the cost of your getting Challenger parts where you live.  Also if you can post some pics we can give more accurate advice. 

[Street_Challenged73]

Welcome to the site, Javier!!   I'd say the first option for the '71 Challenger shell (the complete car minus the interior & engine) is the better deal for you.  It sounds like it'd be in pretty decent shape and the shells for '70-'71 E-bodies even here in the states in fair condition usually sell for between $3,500-$6,000.00, depending on what it left the factory with.  As for the '70, if you think it'd need to be re-restored, the money it would take to do things the right way would probably outweigh what it'd cost to redo the '71 properly.

[71340RT]

Welcome to the site. The challenger that will already be restored may not be such a good by if you have to do it over again but if parts are hard to find you will want a complete car to start with.

[FuriusDodge]

The car has almost no rust, all the panels are good. Just needs a paint job. The interior is compleat, but all panels are in bad shape, can they be restored or must be replaced? The upholstery is not original, must be redonde, also the ceiling and carpet. The instrument panel is compleat, front console needs work. Some exterior chromes are missing. The front grill is broken.

My major concern is that it has a 383 engine from a 1963 Newport. If I want the 440, it would be 1,000 more. But, it's not the 6-pak, it has only 2 carbs. Perhaps it can be converted? And is the 440 engine taken from a 1967-68 Chrysler Imperial the same as the one used on the Challenger (with the 6-pak conversion)?

I may be able to send some pics so you can see the car. Has almost no paint on it since the owner started restoring it but decided to sell.

[daves70]

Highly unlikely the imperial engine had the same compression and cam as the challey six-pack.

[FuriusDodge]

Here are some pics of the car. By the way, how do you tell if it's an R/T? (Besides the VIN Number)

[Challenger6pak]

This 71 needs an entire redo.  It will need many, many parts. Even though the other car may not be restored correctly does it need all these parts.  I ask because I have redone a car foreign to the US.  Parts killed me in shipping.  You may have the same problem.  It is a question you will have to weigh out between the 2 cars.  Do you have pics of the 70?  The VIN is the key element in finding out if the car was built as an R/T.  The Vin should match the vin stamped on the cowl and the radiator core support.  If they do not match there is a problem.