Advice - $$$ needed and is it worth restoring a 70 Barracuda V6 Column

[BHoene]

I have been looking for a 70 Challenger or 70-71  Barracuda to restore.  I found a 70 Barracuda that is very solid.  It needs the lower rear quarters replaced, but all the rest of the metal is good.  The vinal top, floor, trunk, glass, doors and interior look really good.  The down side...it is a column shift and 6 cylinder.  It comes with a 440 and auto transmission not date correct.  My plan would be to put a console in it, drop a 340 and clone it as an AAR, or drop the big block in it and put a shaker hood etc and build it the way I want it.  Any advice regarding putting the money into a clone, or spend the extra up front for a true cuda and restore?  The asking price is $10,000. 

[Cuda Cody]

If you doing either to resale for a profit, I would stay away from both.  It's really 6 of one half dozen of the other.  An original numbers matching big block or AAR will cost a heck of a lot more to start with than a slant 6 or non numbers car.  In the end they both cost about the same to restore.

$10K seems high for a slant six unless it's SUPER clean and rust free. 

[brads70]

  with Cody. If your doing it for resale.... I doubt it will work money wise.
On the other hand if your not concerned about numbers matching sort of thing and just want a cool car/dream car than sure , go for it. That way you can customize it how you want, have fun and not worry about the value so much.

That's what I did ( mine is a /6 car) . I think 10K is too much though? Got any pictures? I can't see " just" the quarters in need of replacing and nothing else. 
Mine had the column shift also and I converted it to a slap stick set up. Not a big deal really.
Welcome to the site also!

[TorOrange]

10k is pretty high for what it is. Unless stated already if the rest is super solid. It's a buyers market better to wait for other deals to pop up. I'll send you a bunch of craigslist ads for under 15k if you want? Right now I know of 1 70 cuda for 10k off the top of my head so they are out there.

Just let me know if distance matters.

[challengermaniac]

Pleeeeeese listen to the guys here. What you are going through is the desire to own a great car by selling out for a partial car that you want to clone which in the end will cost tooooo much money and time and in the end when it's all done there is a high likelyhood that you won't be fully satisfied and then decide to sell it resulting in a great loss.  You will be much better off continuing to save up for the best quality car you can afford that is in driver-plus condition.  We are here to help you in any way we can.

[Challenger6pak]

 :iagree:It is all great advice. 

[AARCUDADEN]

For 10k i'd certainly think you could at least find a v8 Cuda of some sorts for the money my 

[BHoene]

Thanks everybody for the great advice!  I appreciate the warm welcome also.

I think I'll keep looking.

Have a great weekend,
Ben

 

[brads70]

Here are a few pictures Ben e-mailed me....

[Challenger6pak]

It looks pretty solid.   Not worth $10,000.

[Chryco Psycho]

try offering less , it can cost a lot to fix a bad body , but generally I agree you shoul dbe able to find a better starting point .
 I would only seriously look at this car if you are going to keep it forever

[brads70]

Here are a few more....

[brads70]

more

[TorOrange]

That does look pretty solid, but still can't see 10k for a slant6 Barracuda roller.
Myabe if he threw in a blown hemi or it was a cuda roller. 

[dutch]

I bet you will find a whole bunch of holes in the usual spots when it has been media blasted.  This won`t stop with just the lower rear qtrs    I know many think it BS, but I like to see cars like this kept with the 6 cylinder in it. They seem to be getting rarer than hemi cars...