The $100,000 resto-mod question......need opinions.

[GodSpeed Rides]

Well here you are



Of course you will need brakes, frame stiffening, suspension, etc. $100K going to be light. I have been building my Cuda for a long time, have $40K in it and no where near done. I wont have $100K in it, but it will not be as nice as what you are looking for.

Better idea, go to the Auctions and find the gem and buy it; you will be money ahead.

Thank you so much for your kindness in posting this information for me.    I am really staring to like you Mopar guys!! 

[GodSpeed Rides]

Ok guys I have looked a quite a few cars for our resto mod project and decided to pull the trigger last week.  I had decided to buy as nice of a car as I could get my hands on.  Last week a car caught my eye and I decided I was going to buy it.  I really liked the owner and I purchased it sight unseen.  We went up and grabbed it a few days ago and WOW the car was a lot nicer than I thought.  It has had one paint job on it since new.  This car unbelievably solid.  Yes there might be a little something hiding but it can't be much if there is anything.  53K miles.  Original 318 motor, original interior, factory air, automatic.... paperwork, build sheet......just a nice car.  I almost feel guilty wanting to put a hemi in this car.  I am a car builder but this ugly color is growing on me.  What do you guys think.........I almost feel unAmerican doing this but I guess its all about the value when its done.    I did get a shot of it with a brand new 2016 Hellcat today..........

<a

[anlauto]

Nice car

[dfrazz]

Wow!  That is a beautiful vert!  I think you are right in feeling guilty about swapping a Hemi in that all original Challenger.  But, it is your car now so do what you want.

[jimynick]

There ya go. That's a nice place to start, for sure! Beats trying to jig-saw one back together. Enjoy- and don't forget to keep us all up to speed with photos as you go. 

[70chall440]

ahh the dichotomy of car building; start with something nice and original and alter the crap out of it or start with something terrible and alter the crap out of it... You are doing the right thing and will be happy you went this route. If you are at all concerned about it, just be very smart on what changes you make and pick proven combinations that do not chop the car up. That said, anything can be brought back if someone has enough money, however when you are done (assuming it done well) you will be exceptionally happy with it and enjoy the crap out of it. I also believe it will be worth far more than it is now.

[Cudaragtop]

A very solid starting point for sure. Looking forward to progress reports and lots of pictures. 
 

[IMNCARN82]

Welcome!  Nice car!     Can't see that color pulling big numbers.  IMO.     So RMS stuff?   Thing about rest-mods is everything is custom. Get ready.  You are definitely in the right place!   These people here are the best. Not like other sites at all.   And surf through the resto section,You'll get the idea. There's plenty of high end builds around here!   Great looking donor car too, I woulda stuck to a 1970 as they seem to be a little more predictable at that level. Again just my opinion.  Gonna be interesting to watch this one.   Please keep us posted!!       R/T

[Mpdlawdog]

This would have been a good start.....
http://columbus.craigslist.org/cto/5410742820.html

[dave73chally]

Nice buy! Are you building it to keep or flip?

[Katfish]

How much?

[AARuFAST]

L@@K's Good. 
I would drive it in sunny Florida  for a year.  Then decide on the clone.

 
 Clean up engine.  Replace hoses NOS,
Correct cap Battery.
See if it has a exhaust heat riser an is operational. Check the date code on tires...

Is that a RR horn.  Beep Beep;

[70chall440]

a 5.7 or 6.1 will look good in there.

[GodSpeed Rides]

Lots of good comments here. I bought this car to do a project for a friend.  A few years ago I build him a 70 Chevelle Convertible and it came out beautiful.  He got tired of it after a year and I ended up selling it to the place kicker for the Pittsburg Steelers.  He decided he wanted a challenger so here we go.  I don't mind saying I paid $41K for the car.  As it was already said so accurately you either start with a bad car and spend tons of money on metal and parts or you buy a  better car. In my opinion this is the right way to go because the car is super nice. 

I am having a meeting tomorrow on the car to discuss budget with my friend (customer).  We are repainting the car because he hates the color and right now it looks like triple black. I most likely put a cloth top on it.......something high quality.  I don't like the look of the original material on the tops.   The stance needs some work.  Again new to the Mopar but looking at Hotchkis complete suspension or possibly RideTech 4 link and use coilers instead of the air shocks.  We will do a leather interior and do something killer with the seats. It will have Vintage air and some aftermarket gauges......maybe Dakota Digital VHX .......looking for a carbon fiber dash insert.    Quite frankly the motor is up in the air.  At first the owner did not want anything to do with the 318 but now he is not sure.  I guess we could put some heads and fuel injection on this motor and it would work for now.

Any thoughts?



I apologize for a Chevy posted here but this is the Chevelle I built for him a few years ago.

[Cudaragtop]

Fuel Injection with a Six Pack Maybe?