JH23N0B question

[Beekeeper]

Hi everyone. Been a little while since I've been on here. Been busy with the projects.

Got a line on a 70 Challenger which I'm gonna check out in the morning. It's supposedly a numbers matching, unmolested JH23 car with the N code 383 and an original 4 speed console set up. The car is burnt orange in and out.

I'm told it needs quarters, trunk, and other rust repair but not twisted up. He claims to have build sheet, fender tag, clean title.

Guy wants 10k for it which sounds good if it's restorable. i was considering flipping it or keeping it and selling my 70 RT 4 speed car depending on which one is more easily restorable.

Are the burnt orange cars desirable if I sell it? It seems the N code engine with a 4 speed and console would be very desirable or is this just wishful thinking?

[Topcat]

Burnt Orange is freakin cool in my book.

[Beekeeper]

I'm excited to go check it out. I really like the orange interior. If it had the cloth inserts, it would be even cooler. I don't know if I like the burnt orange exterior but I admit the only cars I've seen needed new paint so it's not fair. I'd be tempted to keep this car and sell my RT if this one was equipped the way I like (power steering and brakes, RT style hood and rallye gauges) but it probably isn't. I'll post what I find.

[AARTA340]

Burnt Orange is a very cool color, especially when not all faded out. I really like the color, but for me, it is one of the worst colors once it is faded and spotty. But when new and shiny, they don't come any better. Now that I think about it, Plum Crazy is about the same, horrible when wore out, but a real eye catcher when new and shiny.

Let us know how the inspection went.

[anlauto]

If he wants $10K as a project, there's not a lot of room to flip it and make a profit  . Being a non-R/T in a colour that most buyers are not looking for doesn't help.

[Beekeeper]

If he wants $10K as a project, there's not a lot of room to flip it and make a profit  . Being a non-R/T in a colour that most buyers are not looking for doesn't help.

That's what's I was trying to determine. If the car was nicer than expected, I'd keep it for myself and restore, selling my 4 speed RT which would fetch good money. I expect that it's rougher than he claims so if I picked it up, it would be to flip on eBay for a quick buck.

I was hoping to hear that it's a desirable color combo. I was also hoping that being an original 383 4 speed with console and buckets might elevate it in desirability but doesn't sound like it. I'll be critical when inspecting it. I don't want to pay 10k for a car that only sells for 11k to just the right buyer.

He claims it has not been taken apart and still runs and drives. At least that's good...I hate buying parts cars and that's most of what's out there these days.

[TelisSE440]

I hope the car is in nice condition because, it does have some good combinations. But, to tell the truth, I would never sell the R/T. Can't you keep both and make a long restoration?

[anlauto]

It's a nice colour...but 98% of the BUYING public are looking for something more eye popping...red, orange, purple, lime green etc...

[1 Wild R/T]

It's a nice colour...but 98% of the BUYING public are looking for something more eye popping...red, orange, purple, lime green etc...

Buying or just looking.... I owned an FK5 R/T SE in the 70's & early 80's no one noticed it..... I could by going down the main cruising bivd here in town 20 MPH over the speed limit with smoke boiling off my tire & no one noticed.. They were all paying attention to the red Camaro....  My car's original paint was still beautiful, shiny & had good depth... Just not eye catching...

[anlauto]

Yup...and look at the list of the cars you have now

[1 Wild R/T]

Funny thing, I don't even like Red, never have... But I've owned a few red cars cause thats what I find... WWYD a real deal R/T convertible, it's rough but it's $300.....  Yeah I don't like red but that one is coming home with me.... Sorry, just the way it is...   I sold the 69 Road Runner which was R4 Performance Red which is really orange.... Bought it cause it came with a set of original paint 68 Coronet fenders that I needed for my Vert.... I kept it for 6-7 years but got tired of storing it & dumped it...  The Challenger R/T vert... Keeper, brought it back from the dead & really enjoy driving it..

[Beekeeper]

Just got back from checking it out. It was rough but a real time capsule. Still had its original Holley carb, air cleaner, carpet, jack, radio, door sticker., magnum wheels  etc., Even the 4 speed has the correct VIN. Significant rust but straight. I have had so many part car abominations that getting a car unmolested is worth it's weight in gold. Even the front seats are unripped. The rear seat is tore up on the top where the sun ate it up. No rat droppings which really surprised me. And it ran nice! I got to drive it but the clutch is kinda jacked up, the pedal is super low.

Making arrangements to get it home. I took a couple pics I'll post in a few. Once home, I'll put up better ones.

I am seriously considering putting my energy into this car rather than the RT. The RT would fetch good money since it's also a four speed and rust free and Go Mango. It has front end issues and needs a few pulls on a frame rack.

[TelisSE440]

So you've made up your mind? You are buying the SE Challenger?  That means that the R/T 

[Beekeeper]

Yep, made the deal. I'll get it home and spend quality time figuring out all the issues. It ran well but I'll give it a quick tune and check compression to see where it's really at. Fixing that clutch is high priority. It worked but it's ridiculously low like the push rod is too short.

Just talking with the wife and she's actually trying to convince me to keep both cars! Haha

I do like unique and this car is unique with that color combo. Turns out there were only 450 or so non RT cars with big blocks and four speeds. May not make it valuable but it does make it more unique. With that flat hood, color, and lack of stripes, it sure is a cool little factory sleeper!

[Beekeeper]

Pic #1