Finally--after 4+ years

[Skunkworks Challenger]

January 14, 2007 I started up my 70 Challenger RT (owned since 1990) at it's storage spot in my shop, drove it around the outside a few turns, back into the shop and began a 4+year restoration.  It is not yet complete but it's getting closer.  I had it on a rotisserie for two years doing body work and rust repair.  I replaced panels front and rear of each rear wheel.  The floors only need pin hole repair.  After stripping off four previous paint jobs and lots of bondo there was not a straight panel on it.  I removed the 340 that was in it and replaced it with a 440 because it was originally a big block car.  I did all the body and mechanical work but left the final body finishing to the pros.  Earlier this week I drove it onto my trailer and took it to Fenders and Fins in Woodinville, Washington for paint.  Fenders and Fins is a very fine restoration shop that prefers MOPARS. Here, in these pictures you see it in "color" primer.  Next they will block sand, level any spot I may have missed and do a base coat-clear coat finish on it.  It will be the fender tag specified Fj5 Sublime with a white longitudinal stripe down each side (also fender tag specified).  I thought some of you would be interested in this story.  PK

[72rtchallenger]

looks great, always nice to see the paint go on,,

[Chlngrcrzy]

Body gaps look almost perfect from the photos.  I am so stinking jealous. You did a great job!   

[brads70]

Sublime??? Yuck! 







   love ! Looks great!

[Todd Smith]

  Looking GREAT!!!!!!

[bb71challenger]

Great looking ride! Congrats on getting close to finishing. I need to get off my ass and finish mine. Threads like this only serve to motivate me so keep on keepin on!

[Skunkworks Challenger]

Thanks for the kind words guys.  Sublime?  It wouldn't be my first choice but I can live with it.  I'm just doing the car as close to fender tag as I can.  About the only difference will be a 440 instead of the original 383 which was long gone.   That wouldn't be a hard thing to change if it ever gets in the hands of a purist. This car will have rear seat shoulder belts as per the fender tag code of C-14.  PK

[brads70]

Thanks for the kind words guys.  Sublime?  It wouldn't be my first choice but I can live with it.

When I first got mine I took one look at the sumlime and thought...Oh man this thing has got to be painted! But after awhile it grew on me and now I like it. My garage is white so when I turned on the lights it looked like a glowing nuclear reactor in there!

[femtnmax]

Looking good PK, can't wait to see it out in the sun.

[Skunkworks Challenger]

We actually got some sun today, a rare commodity here in western Washington.  Yea, I'm  kind of a black, red, blue or white kind of guy but will be happy with the Sublime.  The car will be a little different, having the white longitudinal stripe as the only thing keeping it from being monotone Sublime.  The fender tag made no mention of a vinyl top yet at some point in the car's history it had a vinyl top.  I uncovered the holes for the trim when I stripped it.  Looking at how the car was equipped I'm guessing it was a special order car and when it arrived at the dealer the purchaser thought it to be too plain or bare or something and had the dealer install a vinyl top.  I'm following the fender tag as close as possible and let the chips fall as they may.  I will post some pictures when I get it back.  PK

[Skunkworks Challenger]

I have a progress report on my Challenger.  It is now painted FJ5 Sublime with a longitudinal white stripe as per the fender tag.  These pictures show it immediately after the clear coat was applied and before blocking and buffing.  It appears not very much blocking will be necessary.  PK

[brads70]

That looks stunning!     What colour seats will it have?  White or black?

[Skunkworks Challenger]

Brad
The "nuke reactor" has black interior, thankfully. with leather front buckets.  PK

[brads70]

Brad
The "nuke reactor" has black interior, thankfully. with leather front buckets.  PK

Nice! It would look great with either IMO.

[GranCuda1970]

OHHH HEEEeeLLL YeeEEAHH that looks really good Love that paint , love the way it just pops out at you!! The white call outs look good too.