70 Barracuda - 318 Project

[71_340Challenger]

In my local Craigslist there was an ad for a 70 Barracuda that was originally a 318 car with a column shift torqueflite 727, an 8 3/4 rearend, 4 wheel drum brakes, originally an AC car w/ std gagues for $4500. I went and checked it out this weekend and took some pics that I will attach and was able to get him down to $4000.  There is rust in both fenders at the lower bottom corner near the door and up near the front leading edge. Some patch work has already been done on the quarters and into the lower rocker but it does not look very well done based on the welds that are still visible. The trunk has been cut out, but a new 2 piece pan is included. There is some rust in the firewall and the radiator core support as well as the drivers inner fender under the batter location. The rear portion of both the inner and outer fender wells are rusted out. It had had the 4 speed hump added and a new column without the shift is included. Glass is all there and appears to be in pretty good shape as do the door and interior panels. The kick panels are cut up for speakers and there is no carpet, headliner, package tray or sail panels. The door handles and window cranks are included as are the rear tail light senses and the front bezels (even though one is cracked up pretty bad). Back seat and drivers seat have are newly reupholstered, but there is no passenger seat. No grill, header panel lower valance in the front or rear, no fuel tank, no engine or transmission. Power steering pump and gear box are there. We did not dig through all the boxes, but there is supposed to be a master cylinder and brake booster included. Give all this and the pics, is it worth $4000? It seems kind of high to me given all of the missing pieces (guess it is 60-75% complete), but it is a 70 barracuda. I am thinking it would make a nice compliment to my 71 Challenger.

Also available for sale is a complete, date code correct 70 340 6-pack setup and A833 4 speed with the pistol grip shifter in excellent condition. The only parts to the motor that are missing are the correct date code connecting rods and a cam shaft w/ lifters. He wants $4500 for that. All the machine work as been done to the block and heads (block now bored to 0.060 over). This seems like a pretty good deal. This almost seals the deal for me, I want manual trans in my cars. The only why to ride in a muscle car in my opinion. But at $8500 for the whole thing, I want to make sure and see what you guys think. I told him I would let him know middle of the week if I was interested. Thanks in advance.

The remainder of the pics I have are located at: http://www.villagephotos.com/pubbrowse.asp?folder_id=2023252

[nakita7]

There's still many thousands of dollars to be applied to that car. Average deal to me.

[71_340Challenger]

I agree nakita7. I went through and added the major items up, excluding paint, and came up with needing around $15k-$20k to get it back to a good cruiser based on all the things that were missing and the sheetmetal work that looked like needed to be done and/or redone. And that figure is with me doing most of the work. Does anybody have some recent (last 6-9 months) information on what they have paid or know that other people have paid for a similar project? I would love to have this car and do an AAR clone with the 6 barrel and 4 speed. But, it seems that the starting price here is high considering what it needs.

['Cuda Hunter]

Is there no fender tag??  Or build sheet? 

  What are the numbers and stamps on the 340 engine? 

  Seems a little pricey to me. 

[71_340Challenger]

No, there was no fender tag or build sheet. It does have a clear title and the VIN is a match between the door and the dash. I forgot to look for the stamped VIN number on the cowl, but given it is a 318 barracuda with 4 wheel drum brakes, I did not chase the VIN very far. I took a couple of pictures of the VIN, but they did not turn out very well. I was going to try to decifer them tonight and run it to see what it decodes as.

As for the engine and 4 speed trans, I did not check the numbers/stamps on the engine. I don't believe it was originally a 6 pack engine, just a 340 that was date code correct. I am not hung up on the date code correct portion, but would love to have a 6 pack/4 speed car none-the-less.

They guy runs a small junk yard about an hour north of my house and he seemed honest, but I don't know him at all. He seemed to think he could take to Wildcat Auto Wrecking (near Portland, OR) and get $4000 for the body of the car. That seems high to me, especially for a place like Wildcat that needs to turn around and part out or sell it as is and turn a profit.

My position now is my 71 is nearing completion. I have not done a full resto or anything on it, but I have almost got it back and road worthy again. I would like to some day do a total resto on it, but I want to enjoy it for a while before I do. So, I was thinking something like this Cuda would give me something to tink and play with in the meantime. The other option right now is to bite the bullet and get a new 09 Challenger, either an R/T or SRT8 with a 6 speed manual. So, my decision boils down to restoring a 70 Cuda and putting $25k-$30k into it (including paint and the cost of the car) or spend $35k-$45k on the 09. The 09's are here (so far) are not demanding the $15k-$20k over MSRP like the 08's.

Thanks for the input guys.

['Cuda Hunter]

  I do think the price is high given that it has so many parts missing.  Since there is no fender tag or build sheet, that doesn't help the price either.  Having a matching title is pretty important but since the guy who owns it runs a yard I would definitely hunt down the vin stamp numbers just to make sure as you never know where a yard car has been. 
  Probably 3 K since the car is so close and has the title.  that is my two cents any way.  Comes down to it, 4 K is worth it if you simply don't mind paying the extra to have a car that is so close and accessible.   Looks like it can definitely be brought back to life. 
  Getting a new chally won't do you much aside from the drive and washing it alot.  A 70 will give you many hours in the garage with friends and family.  Go for the cuda!!

[71_340Challenger]

I was able to decifer the VIN from my not so good pics. Here is what I got: BH23G0E132591 and according to the door tag, it was manufactured on 2-19-70.

'CudaHunter, I was thinking along the same lines as you, that $3000 seemed a more reasonable price. But, location is fairly close to me. I am just looking at all of the $ for the missing or beyond repair pieces. I guess at least this way I know what is missing and/or crap, so I won't be suprised later on. A lot os sheetmetal work it looks like for sure. I am not shy about getting in and doing it though. I also agree with your statement of the differences between a 70 cuda and an 09 Challenger. And I do love the tinkering part on these cars. Can't do that on a new one that's for sure. The only appealing thing for the new is that the wife is on board and gung ho for letting me spend the money on the new one. Not so much on the 70.

I did also find another car near Portland, OR. Anyone live near Washougal? It would be nice to have someone check it out if they were closer than me. I am about 3.5 hours away. It is a grand coupe that is pretty much complete except the motor. It was originally a 383 car with an 8 3/4. It does not appear to have as much rust as the one looked at. He wants $7500 for it. Any thoughts? Tough without pictures, but I am trying to get some from the sell. Thanks.

[71_340Challenger]

I got some more information on the 70 Gran Coupe. The vin is BP23L0E126522. It codes out to oringinally a 383, 727 Grand coupe. According to the seller, the original color was Plum Crazy, but there are no fender tags or build sheets to go with the car. Attached are some pics he did send. He is asking $7500. Anyone have any thoughts if this is a better buy than the other 70 I was considering. It seems more complete and with less rust in what I have seen so far. I have asked for more pics and information, but have not gotten it yet. If anyone lives near Portland, OR and could check this car out, I would appreciate it. Thanks.

['Cuda Hunter]

Looks like a better buy to me.  Especially since neither car has fender tags. 
 I don't think it was purple originally but I could be wrong. 
  The rear fender has some hint of a metallic orange or bronze.  Inside the rear window well just below the window it looks like the same color.  You would really have to tear the car apart to make sure of what the original color is. 
  I still think it is a little high since no tags or sheets. 
  Interior looks pretty good.  Does it have an engine and tranny present? 

[tb3cuda]

 That car in Portland has been for sale for a while now.  I bet you can talk him down a bit on the price.  Seems like a decent car.  Good luck.