Rust belt 73

[Skeleton73]

 

I've been reading for a while, but decided to actually post something.

I've got a 73 340-4spd that I'm restoring. Toronto car that turned out to be made of bondo, window screen and one bad patch job after another. Turned into the resto from hell. Roof, every exterior panel, floors, trunk 1/2 the firewal and the entire front clip has been replaced with new or good used sheetmetal.  I'd say there's maybe 30% of the original metal left...

I'm now pretty sure that the shell isn't original. It looks like it was orginally an automatic car, probably a base model. I suspect the dash & other key parts were swapped over to this shell years ago (and if i've I'd known that, I would have bought another shell before things got this crazy!)

Stock body so far, but I addded the US Car Tool weld-in subframe connectors. It's been at the shop for 2 years, but they're going full speed at it right now, and it goes on the rotissere this week.

Trying to decide on colours. It was Autumn Bronze, but I've decided against that colour. I've got a mint black interior, so going with that. But what to put on the outside? 

[71340RT]

Welcome to the site. Looks like you will have a nice ride when you get the Challenger done. These cars rusted pretty fast if they were in the snow belt and I have seen many saved that were in the shape you are talking about. Keep us posted with pictures of your progress and I would paint it the color you have always wanted to have because you are the person that has to be happy with the color on the car when it is done.

[Bullitt-]

Great to hear from you Skeleton73. Nice to see your getting it done. Opinion on color BLACK works for me especailly on the 72-4 Challeys. 

[70RAG383]

Welcome to the board.  I'd go with one of the high impact colours - plum crazy, ralley red, lemon twist etc..

I have a "Toronto" Challenger too and have been accumulating lots of sheet metal over the last year before I start the restoration.  I'm looking for a resto shop in the GTA to work on the car.  Are you happy with the guys that are working on your car?

Dave

[Carlwalski]

I believe black works best on the 72-74 Challengers. Helps the "sad mouth grille" out well. Also, black just looks bad ar$e. How did the subframe connectors go? I have a box of them ready to be welded in place in the next 3-5 months, hopefully it went smoothly for you? The box they come in is small, I thought they were full sized ready to weld in, guess prior welded first is required?

Welcome to the board. 

[Skeleton73]

I bought it out of the local buy & sell paper, from a guy operating an illegal repair shop out of an old rental house garage. Over in Etobicoke, which is just west of Toronto. He had a nice red 70 4spd AAR cuda under a tarp next to the house. That was his dream project.  Unfortunately that one wasn't for sale.

Here's what it looked like after I'd been driving it for a few weeks.  I removed the air shocks and window tinting, stuck some plates on it and drove while trying to decide what to do. It's amazing what primer will cover.

Spent the winter out in the snow before heading to the shop. More pics when I can dig them up.

[Topcat]

Coming along nice.
What are those bars standing up for?

[SilverChally]

Wow, add 4 headlights and some cheesy flares itd look almost just like the 70 rt Im restoring!  Most of these cars have been repaired like yours.  I had a belvedere that the floors were basically made of fiberglass, pop can quarters on a 70 runner, street signs even   Looks like your ahead of it finally!  I hate picking colors, especially for my own cars, so I wont be much help there. 

[RusTy/SE]

Silver...with black 71 style non-R/T stripes. No rallye model side louvers or engine callouts to detract from things...and a blacked out tail panel

Hmmm, now that i think about it, remove the side stripes and go with a hood blackout as the only striping. Black out the grille; keep the header panel body color though

Russ
 

[Super Blue 72]

Hi, Skeleton73! 

You had quite a work out with that body!  It'll be a sweet ride when your done!

Like others have said, black looks good on these cars.  Plum Crazy looks cool too, IMO!

Your front end looks like it has a splash of '70 in it.  Is that a chrome moulding going around the headlights and hood trim?  Do you have any closer front end pics?  Looks real interesting! 

[Skeleton73]

Thanks for all the feedback. While black is a wicked choice, I'm leaning towards Lemon Twist. I wanted either a custom metalflake colour, or a High Impact colour. I've been checking out everybody's Challenger pics, and I think that's my favourite "Stock" colour.

(Update - Lemon Twist is out. Stilll looking)

There was a wicked looking 72 or 73 Challenger Rallye at the Toronto auto auction about 8 years ago that was triple black. A mint restoration that went for $14K Canadian. I wonder what happend to that car. I've never seen it at a crusie or show since.

Those bars are holding the chassis rigid as they weld it back together. The body is welded to the floor in the shots. Floors and rockers were replaced, so not much to give the car any strength.

Dave, you asked about the shop. I'd totally reccomend Scugog Collision & Restoration in Port Perry. Brian's a great guy and his metal work is very nice. I've know him for years. He's built a lot of nice street rods, race cars and restored several musclecars.

[Skeleton73]

Made it up to the shop on the weekend, and got see what progress they've made. Here's the latest with the chassi welding done, and the car in epoxy primer. US Tool connectors are fully welded in, and PG Torque boxes are added.

In picture 2, you can see one of 2 remaining original exterior panels, the one between the window & the trunk <sigh>. On the bright side, I'll have a brand new 1973 dodge! 

[Skeleton73]

Close-ups of the chassis. Connectors fit almost perfectly. Torque boxes clean up the corners nicely.

If I had factory floors, or the one-piece floor from goodmark, it would have been perfect...

The replacement front frame clip was an unexpected bonus that I got with my parts car, turned out to be one the best parts I got!

[Bullitt-]

Skelton, looks like your getting it done the right way.. keep us posted. 

[Street_Challenged73]

The car is looking great, Skeleton73!   Those subframe connectors really look clean and factory-appearing under there.