What's this? Another WIW on a 71 Cuda clone?

[willhaven]

Yes, another helpless "give me your input" type of thread.

http://www.cudaworld.com/adDetail.asp?cat_id=10&sub_id=0&ad_id=1433

The car was originally a 318 car from TX. The trunk and quarters were replaced (for the 2nd time) from above the body line. The wheel houses are still original, however.
4 Speed 18 spline transmission.
Dana rear.
Shaker hood.
Power front disc brakes. Power steering.
440 6 pack bored and stroked to 500CI. The block is apparently a high-nickel content 73 block.
Originally an A/C car that still retains the A/C dash, but has no A/C mechanicals under the hood. Is it possible to fit A/C with a 6 pack shaker?

I know the listed price looks high, especially for a clone car. I just want to make sure I spit back a reasonable offer.

I'm still trying to get some resto and undercarriage pics. He said that the outside of the car had been taken down the bare metal, so I'm still not entirely how thorough or recent the resto is. But, for now, let's assume this is a high quality restoration that is very fresh.

I was thinking, with all of these options, it's probably in the high 40's or low 50's. Am I nuts? What do you guys think? 

[jeryst]

Take the price of a restored 318 car. This varies according to what part of the country you are in, who is doing the work, and how much of it you are going to do yourself. Add the price of a hemi and shaker hood. That's what you can make your own for. Go from there.

[72hemi]

It is not as quite as simple as that. There are a lot of parts that you need to take into account, especially if you are looking at correctness, emblems, tail panel trim. This car is really nice, but there have been several oversights, like the tail panel trim, and the ac control panel for rallye gauges. These things may or amy not be important to you, but if they are they can be quite pricey. Now there are kits available to run ac on hemi and 6 pack cars with or without shakers. With factory BS23V1 cars selling for 250k, somewhere in the mid 50k range or maybe a little more is probably not out of line.

[willhaven]

The trim doesn't bother me too much. Are any of those trims reproduced? How much would finding used ones cost? A grand maybe?

Also, what are the differences between the rallye and non-rallye AC switches? The curve for the left-most gauge I assume?

[n9671x2]

Why are you settling for a clone if your looking in the price range you are looking in??   This thing will be back together soon.   2 fendertag broadcast sheet car.   Factory shaker with all original shaker pieces, billboard car, roadlamps, beautiful original rallye cluster, roadlamp car with all original components, factory leather interior, factory fast ratio t/a steerbox (availalbe on late built 71 340 e bodies), console cassette, tinted glass, light group.   380 horse crate motor in the car and numbers motor on the stand.

[6packCuda]

It is not as quite as simple as that. There are a lot of parts that you need to take into account, especially if you are looking at correctness, emblems, tail panel trim. This car is really nice, but there have been several oversights, like the tail panel trim, and the ac control panel for rallye gauges. These things may or amy not be important to you, but if they are they can be quite pricey. Now there are kits available to run ac on hemi and 6 pack cars with or without shakers. With factory BS23V1 cars selling for 250k, somewhere in the mid 50k range or maybe a little more is probably not out of line.

75,000 seems pretty steep to me.

[willhaven]

Why are you settling for a clone if your looking in the price range you are looking in??

I want a non-numbers car because eventually I'd like to do a modern Hemi swap and a modern aftermarket suspension. I'm looking for a restored finished car so I have a solid foundation to work on and I don't have to deal with any rust issues any time soon.

[n9671x2]

I want a non-numbers car because eventually I'd like to do a modern Hemi swap and a modern aftermarket suspension. I'm looking for a restored finished car so I have a solid foundation to work on and I don't have to deal with any rust issues any time soon.

  Sounds fair enough, and I know these cars aren't falling from the sky, but are you willing/wanting to pay a taller dollar for a good drivetrain like this black car has in it to shelf it all down the road?   Shopping for a 71 only?   Just seems like you could get into something more reasonable than what alot of guys are asking for these clones.

[willhaven]

I'd take a well restored 318 over this car. The problem is, every car that's been well restored has been cloned.

I figure any excess parts I don't end up using could be put into the next car. The car after this one might be where I attempt to do a real shell restoration.

I just want to make sure I don't get hung up in that project stage and lose interest. And, yes, I'm only really looking for a 71 right now, though 70 AAR and T/A clone cars might be nice as well.

[willhaven]

More images.

Apparently it wasn't rotisserie restored. The inside was scraped down and the outside was ground and sanded down to metal before the work was done. And, from the pics, obviously more than the quarters and trunk were replaced. Looks like fairly solid work though.

The gills obviously aren't original. The shaker is a flat hood conversion. The Dana was taken from a RoadRunner (I think a narrowed rear is a plus).

I'm definitely starting to think mid-50s as well.

Any other guesses from those more knowledgeable than I?

[Lunchbox]

Why are you settling for a clone if your looking in the price range you are looking in??   This thing will be back together soon.   2 fendertag broadcast sheet car.   Factory shaker with all original shaker pieces, billboard car, roadlamps, beautiful original rallye cluster, roadlamp car with all original components, factory leather interior, factory fast ratio t/a steerbox (availalbe on late built 71 340 e bodies), console cassette, tinted glass, light group.   380 horse crate motor in the car and numbers motor on the stand.

That car is perfect 

More images.

Apparently it wasn't rotisserie restored. The inside was scraped down and the outside was ground and sanded down to metal before the work was done. And, from the pics, obviously more than the quarters and trunk were replaced. Looks like fairly solid work though.

The gills obviously aren't original. The shaker is a flat hood conversion. The Dana was taken from a RoadRunner (I think a narrowed rear is a plus).

I'm definitely starting to think mid-50s as well.

Any other guesses from those more knowledgeable than I?

Just from taking my car apart I can't believe the asking price for that car not be rotisserie restored. It may look good for a few years but all those little areas not taken care of in that type or restoration will start poping up in a few short years. i.e Was the backside of the fenders even touched?

 
Lunch

Lunch

[Choppintime]

I would think if your willing to pay mid to high 50's for a car you could put yourself into a real Cuda rather than a clone. Nothing wrong with clones but for that kind of money you can probably find a numbers 71 Cuda that would be pretty damn nice. In the long run a numbers car with some pedigree will be a better investment. Not that the hobby is all about money/investment but it's nice to justify spending that kind of cabbage.

Again, I'm not bashing clones - my car is far from anything original. Not actually a 'clone' but it doesn't fit in the original paint dab category at all. 

[willhaven]

The thing is I would eventually want to do a custom job with the car. Shaved signals and door handles, etc. That and a trick suspension and 5 or 6 speed manual as well. I wouldn't want to cut up anything other than a 318 or /6 car if I could get away with it.

I just don't understand why some of these clones are so expensive. Maybe that's why they're not selling quickly. 

Maybe I should just suck it up and start off with an original base model driver that needs a restoration instead of a clone car that somebody wants too much for.

[72hemi]

The clones can get real expensive because the parts are real expensive and numbers matching cars are throught the roof. If you do all of the work yourself a hemi clone especially a 71 could easily cost 50k or more depending on how "correct" you want to make it, same with 440 6 pack cars, and then if you pay someone to do work the price can easily clear 100k.

[willhaven]

The problem with restoring a clone is, unless you do it yourself (and sometimes even if you do), the investment doesn't seem to pay off. It seems like many of the guys selling these clones are hoping to recoup the cost of the restoration which hardly ever seems to happen.

I see original big block cars (383s) and small block cars (340s) cloned to 440-6 cars not clearing the mid to high 40s on eBay (and not hitting reserve even) and people want the same or more for a 318 or /6 cloned to the same level.

I'm a bit anxious to get a car now that I have the money for one, but I'm not going to pay more than a car is actually worth.

I will undoubtedly be posting more cars in the weeks and months ahead as I search. I hope you guys keep chiming in with your pricing opinions since I'm new to the game and all. I appreciate all the feedback so far.