What's it worth: 73 Chally

[NCtrueconservative]

Hey y'all,

  Just wanted to get some opinions on what your asking price would be if this was your car. This is my 73 challenger. It was a factory Rallye car, but was olive green from the factory. Basically all new sheet metal around besides the doors and roof. Self made floor patches. No rust on body at all. Surface rust on frame (it wasn't a frame off resto). Paint job is a 10 footer, not perfect. New carpet and weatherstripping. Has a rebuilt 340, 4 barrel, with mild cam. Auto, slapstick. 3:23 open rear. Still missing a headliner, needs a dash pad (or dash cap), and seats need reupholstered. Only factory gauge that doesn't work is the clock. Wipers don't work consistently. Bumpers, etc. could use a re-chrome.

I know it's not a sellers market necessarily, and not saying I will sell it at all in my lifetime, just wanted to kind of get an idea of what a good starting point would be right now. Thanks guys!

[anlauto]

$12K - $15K 

[ec_co]

$12K - $15K 

 

I see '73-'74 Challengers in that condition several times over the last few years, they all fall into the $12-$17k range

[burdar]

I'm going to disagree.  I see them in the $15k range but I don't see them selling at that price...at least not on a regular basis.  People don't want to spend big $ for a 72-74 even if it's a full on show car with perfect everything.  What's the top of the market for a perfect 340/360 4-speed car?  $30k?  And you'll have to wait a long time for someone to pay that.  I don't see how "drivers" can be worth $15k.  If I were in the market, I can't see myself paying even $10k.  I'm sure I'm alone on this but I'll say $8500 for a fairly quick sale. 

[NCtrueconservative]

About what I figured...pondering about selling it and saving up for a new challenger or maybe even a viper (who knows) in the future. Not in a hurry to sell, but it would be nice to have a car I could enjoy with the flip of a switch when I do have free time, instead of having to make sure the thing is gonna start and packing a tool box in the trunk when I take it out just in case, you know how these old cars are. That said, I do love the old cars. Just thinking out loud. Would be nice to get in and go with a new Chally

[HP2]

Address the shortcoming of the old car so you can use it like a new car. Dependable wiring, electric fuel pump to refill evaporated fuel bolws, decent wiper blades, etc. No reason why you couldn't use it more regularly.

[70chall440]

throw a FI Tech EFI system and you will drive it every day.

[blown motor]

Address the shortcoming of the old car so you can use it like a new car. Dependable wiring, electric fuel pump to refill evaporated fuel bolws, decent wiper blades, etc. No reason why you couldn't use it more regularly.

    

I have a 74. Rebuilt the motor and tranny (not by choice) new brake calipers and pads, coil, plug wires, ECU, had the rear end gone over, etc,etc. I drive it with total confidence and have less in it than a newer Challenger.

[NCtrueconservative]

Very good points by all

[djais1801]

there is a mystique about older cars...even in driver condition you will still get the head turns and thumbs up...unless you're going for a hellcat, very few people are gonna be looking at a car that is seen every two seconds on the road.  further more, you daily drive a chally r/t within 5 yrs you'll be close to the 12-15k and it will continue to depreciate. Yours won't go much lower, as long as you don't over restore a 72-74 chally.

[dave73chally]

If you're already thinking about a price tag to get out of the 73 and creature comforts of a new car, you may have made up your own mind.

I'm building mine for me, addressing a lot of the shortcomings and will still have a lot less in it than a brand new rt/scat pack/hellcat etc. It'll also hold steady on it's value rather than continually depreciating. It's also cool having something that a guy with a wad of cash can't go to the dealership and order/drive home same day.

[NCtrueconservative]

there is a mystique about older cars...even in driver condition you will still get the head turns and thumbs up...unless you're going for a hellcat, very few people are gonna be looking at a car that is seen every two seconds on the road.  further more, you daily drive a chally r/t within 5 yrs you'll be close to the 12-15k and it will continue to depreciate. Yours won't go much lower, as long as you don't over restore a 72-74 chally.

Ain't it crazy how much cars depreciate, even the minute you drive them off the lot? It's crazy. Any car that I do get, will not be a daily driver. I use my 73 as a weekend cruiser. Don't go to many car shows or anything, but do drive it to church, the drag strips, and local cruise ins from time to time during the summer. Currently the car is not in the shape it was in those pictures. Had a crazy busy summer and fall and didn't get to start the car at all. Also, seems like I still have a mouse problem within the car, so I almost dread looking at what they have ate up haha. It's under a car port unfortunately, so I would need to do some work to get it cleaned up and started again for sure. Had looked into a rental unit to store it through the winter and let me collect some parts that I could put on the car during the spring, but had an offer to sell the car within the family that just made me think. All the input is really great

[ec_co]

I also like the idea of just modernizing what you have for comfort and reliability. as said, you certainly won't lose any more value as you would with something new and you'll be into less in the long run. FiTech has a great inexpensive EFI conversion to help with reliability and not having to tune it all the time. http://fitechefi.com/   or drop in a modern Hemi.

[djais1801]

a friend of mine has a 74 cuda that's a mild resto mod...has a fuel injected 5.7, auto, seats out of an audi...just drove it 10hrs to Canada. it's really a sweet ride.

[jimynick]

I've got a 74 and drove it today, carburated and the original engine untouched. While FI is nice, it's also unnecessary and expensive, too. If you spend the money and time to get the car back to it's original state of tune there's no reason it won't work just fine. You've also got to find that state of mind that allows you to be comfortable with the car as it is and simply verifying that the fuel, brake and steering systems work as designed should help to give you more confidence and enjoyment driving it. Hopefully, you'll find that peace of mind with it's attendant happiness. Good luck