Help Needed! Buy car with missing Fender Tag?

[Oz_Scott_74Cuda]

Hey guys,

This is my first post, Im from Australia (Melbourne) and Im looking to buy my first Mopar, a 74 Barracuda, 318, 727 column shift with allegedly matching numbers, in need of a full resto.

I have the VIN and have decoded it and it checks out as expected. It is:  BH23G4B136024

My main concern with buying this car is that the fender tag has apparently "corroded away" although the edges are still "screwed on" according to the seller.

I have search through the past topics but was unable to find any reference to this problem. Apologies if you've dealt with it before.
 
So my questions for you guys are:

- Are there any factory or club records which would allow you to trace what options your car had in the abscence of a fender tag?

- Are fender tags and ID plates worth anything, ie could they be removed and used to rebirth a car as a higher spec model?
(I dont want to do this, i was just wondering if it was possible and if there are any low lifes out there who do it, as it is a problem with some big dollar Aussie muscle cars)

- Will a missing fender tag severvely drop the price of the restored car, considering that this is only a base model barracuda really and the engine type and number can be verified without this tag?

- Any other hints or information that i should ask the seller for to check out this car?
   
You should keep in mind that i havent seen the car in person yet, so am negotiating via email, as it is located about 3000 miles away on the other side of our big country.

Cheers,

  Scott

[Bullitt-]

can't answer your question but wanted to say HOWDY & welcome. There are plenty of others here that will be of some help. Also there are several Ausies that are regulars here that you might hook up with & maybe get the lowdown on the vehicle in question. 

[Bondavi]

If you can locate a broadcast sheet for the car, THAT will save your back. These are printouts of each car's details, order codes, options, etc. These are essential for getting a fender tag reproduction through several sources, one being Galen Tag Services here at: http://www.gvgovier.com/fendertag.htm

Places to look for a broadcast sheet are:

Taped to the back side / top of the glove box insert.
Under the front bucket seats in the springs
Inside the bucket seat backs
Under the rear seat bottom
Inside the rear seat back.
Under the package tray(speaker shelf)
Under the carpet

You can find as little as one, or as many as several. Sometimes the sheets for the wrong car will mistakenedly be put on your car. If you do find orphan sheets, let Barry Washington aka BarryT/A know at sixpak340@att.net (he is the registry keeper for 70 Ebodies, but recovers lost sheets).

Good luck and let us know if anything come out of your search! 

[Alaskan_TA]

I checked that VIN against my files, I do not know of anything for it. Your best bet is to find a broadcast sheet in it an Bondavi mentioned.

Welcome to the site and best of luck with the car!

Barry

[Hemi Challenger]

Welcome to Cuda-Challenger.Com  Post some more Pictures of your Mopar and your Plan I can not help you on your Fender Tag  Good Luck

[Rev-It-Up]

Welcome to the forum Scott!  I hope the purchase works out for you.  Let us know!

[Oldschool]

Welcome aboard!      Good luck with the car----hope you find a build sheet....     

[Super Blue 72]

Welcome, Oz_Scott_74Cuda!   

Good suggestion by Bondavi to look for the build sheet.  Other than that, I don't think there are any records.  The only cars that I know that you can find records for are Pontiacs as Pontiac Historical Service has factory records. 

If you do get the car you can show lots of pics on this site and some of the members may be able to recognize the factory options the car came with (or added later in its life).  For example that looks like a factory side stripe in flat black but the mirror looks aftermarket.  Everyone can through in thier 2 cents if you have pics, even before you get it.

Fender tags are worth something to some people because as you stated, they can make a higher spec model from a base car.  You'll see fender tags sold on Ebay every so often.

Being a '74 318 car in my opinion the missing fender tag shouldn't drop the value of the car significantly.  Just my thoughts.  If it were a '70 Cuda 440, that might be a different story.

Looks like a nice project.  Any more pics?  I would imagine these cars are tough to find down your way.  Definately ask for way more pics.  If this is 3000 miles away you better make sure it's worth you time to see it.

Would you keep it stock?  Complete restoration?  Bigger engine?

[Oz_Scott_74Cuda]

Thanks for the welcomes and helpful info guys.

I will definitely look for any broadcast sheets once the car comes my way. In the final stages of negotiation now so all is looking good.

I have a lot more photos (some posted below) and am generally happy with the condition of the car. It has a fair bit of rust that needs cutting out (spots on the fenders, front floors, rear quarters (the black replacement skins are just screwed on at the moment), and sills) but the car seems 99% complete, is driveable and the panels that arent rusty look pretty straight. I can do all the paint and panel work and my time and elbow grease is free, so for the price im paying im pretty happy. Glass and seals are good, windows still wind up and down, grille and tail lights are all good. Interior needs redoing but the prices for the repro stuff seem reasonable.

Considering the way fuel prices are going, Im happy to stay with the matching numbers 318 / 727 for the moment, I'll open it up and check the bottom end and hopefully leave it as is. Will probably buy new heads with hardened valve seats to run on unleaded and go to a four barrel intake and carby. Converting it to run on dual fuel (gas and liquid petroleum gas) would probably be a smart option as LPG here in australia is less than half the price of regular petrol and i plan on putting a lot of miles on this car. Once its on the road I might consider building up a 383 stroker / manual in the future, if finances allow it. One step at a time for now.

One other question I had... what paint color do you think the car is? I've heard of one called lemon twist, were there any other yellows offered on these models? I plan to redo the original colour or something close to it, with the black side stripe of course. Half the reason Im buying this car is due to the pics I saw on GoodysGotACuda's website. Its exactly the car I had in my head when i originally started looking for a project. The blacked out 10 slotters (if thats what you call em) really work with the yellow and the side stripe. Looks smooth, old school and mean. What do they say about being immitation being the sincerest form of flattery...?

Will keep you updated on progress with the buy.

Cheers,

Scott

     

[Oz_Scott_74Cuda]

My previous projects and current daily drivers, the whiote one is an Australian 1964 EH Holden (GM Australia), the green an Australian 1963 XL Falcon.
If I get the barracuda I'll have one car from each of the big three.

The race car is one of 5 I've built as part of the Formula SAE competition, where engineering students design and build their own race car in a year. Comp started in the US but has since spread around the globe. Good fun, these cars really move and corner.

[Super Blue 72]

Hi Oz!

Nice cars!  Everytime I think of Holdens I think of the Night Rider from Mad Max!

Check out the link for paint codes:

http://www.mymopar.com/tools.htm

Here's a 1974 brochure:

http://www.stockmopar.com/plymouth-barracuda/1974-brochure/12.html

[4Cruizn]

Welcome to cc.com!  Thats a decent looking car you're looking at and that looks like a really nice grill.  Hope it works out for ya!  Enjoy the site!    

[daves70]

Good luck with the car and WELCOME to the site. Lots of knowledge here.

[70RTdroptop]

Yeah, a big welcome to you! Hang around, you'll find out pretty much everything you need to know right here. Lots of great people here with tons of know-how.

[70 rtse]

Why has it got an over head console in it.Where is the car located what state.