Author Topic: 1971 Challenger Convertible Barn Find (Read 15251 times)

mknltz79 · « **on:** July 23, 2012 - 10:48:31 PM »

Hello everyone. I�m new here and wanted to get your opinion on this 71 Challenger Convertible. The owner has had it in his barn since 1984 (The inspection sticker from that year is still on the window). He recently moved it outside this spring because he needed the room. I asked him about the car and he told me the motor turns over but he didn�t put much effort into try to get it to run.

It�s a 318 automatic with a floor shifter and console. The car is all there and the top looks to be in excellent condition. All of the interior is there but would need to be cleaned up or reupholstered. In short the car needs a resto but it�s all there, solid and the body is in great shape with minor dings here and there. Underneath is solid and the body has a little surface rust on the lower panels. I was looking to see what would be a reasonable price to offer him. I asked him if he would consider selling it and he told me he would be. Any thoughts on what this car is worth?

THANKS!!!

wiging19 · « **Reply #1 on:** July 23, 2012 - 11:11:55 PM »

Like anything it all depends. You need to show some pictures of the interior and exterior. Common rust areas are the rear quarters, trunk area and driver side floor pan. If you can look at the unibody under the car to see if it is rusted/damaged it is important to know. Having all the parts for the car is a very good thing. Just can't tell from the one picture how good things are. The problem you have is for $24k - $34K you can get a completely rebuilt car in todays market. Even if the car is in excellent shape you spend probably $5K in getting the drive train completely gone through. That doesn't deal with the paint or interior work you probably want to do. So maybe another $3K for interior work. So you can expect to pay ball park $10K in work after the sale.

From his point of view people were paying $30K back in 2006 for convertible shells when the market was very hot. Ask him what he thinks a fair price is but my thoughts is anything over $15k and you can probably purchase a running vert cheaper. It is very easy to drop alot of money on a vert because everything you buy seems to cost $500 - $1,000 at a shot. Just my experience owning a vert. I bought a running vert in 1997 for $3k and immediately put another $25k into it. Drove it for a few years and then upgraded several parts of the suspension/drive train for another $35k. Alot depends on if you do most the work yourself or have others do it for you.

mknltz79 · « **Reply #2 on:** July 24, 2012 - 12:02:43 AM »

Thanks for the feedback Wiging19! I only have the one photo and I�m kicking myself for not taking more to post here. I know it�s hard to tell from the one picture but the car looks to be in great shape. I will check the areas you mentioned and crawl under to inspect the unibody. The interior was all there but I�m assuming the seats will need to be recovered. So just to be clear, if everything checks out rust / damage wise I shouldn�t offer anything over $15k? I�m obviously going to try to pay as little as possible but it�s nice to know where to stop. Thanks for the info Wiging19!

challengermaniac · « **Reply #3 on:** July 24, 2012 - 01:30:37 AM »

What thought have you given as to where you would want to go with the car? IE: restore it to original stock condition or change out the drivetrain to a 340 or big block with a manual transmission? Once you answer that question, start putting some numbers together as to costs for parts & labor. Either way you go, if you are not doing the majority of the labor, you will likely spend more than what you would buying a completed car as noted above. We just want you to make the best decision and certainly avoid the "now what do I do" question.

Jocigar · « **Reply #4 on:** July 24, 2012 - 09:19:42 AM »

If I may,
I am surprised that it is not worth more? Were the production numbers much higher for them vs the barra/cuda verts?

burdar · « **Reply #5 on:** July 24, 2012 - 11:33:29 AM »

I'd say $10-$12 You need to make sure it's really as good as you think it is. From the picture you posted, there may have been some right front damage at some point. It looks like it has a 72-74 fender on it. Look at the side marker...

Grec · « **Reply #6 on:** July 24, 2012 - 04:34:23 PM »

Quote from: burdar on July 24, 2012 - 11:33:29 AM

I'd say $10-$12 You need to make sure it's really as good as you think it is. From the picture you posted, there may have been some right front damage at some point. It looks like it has a 72-74 fender on it. Look at the side marker...

Good eye!

70RAG383 · « **Reply #7 on:** July 24, 2012 - 09:39:46 PM »

'71 was the last year for convertibles so that makes it worth something. If the frame rails and cross members are in good shape then its'worth $15k for sure. If it's the original top and it's in good shape then that's an excellent sign. Kinda weird that it's got a 72-74 fender on it given the headlight buckets are much different than a '71, yet someone made it work. Check it out thoroughly as others have suggested.

burdar · « **Reply #8 on:** July 24, 2012 - 09:48:09 PM »

It looks like the tire has paint on it. It could have been wrecked...fixed and just parked.

challengermaniac · « **Reply #9 on:** July 24, 2012 - 10:03:51 PM »

Quote from: challengermaniac on July 24, 2012 - 01:30:37 AM

What thought have you given as to where you would want to go with the car? IE: restore it to original stock condition or change out the drivetrain to a 340 or big block with a manual transmission? Once you answer that question, start putting some numbers together as to costs for parts & labor. Either way you go, if you are not doing the majority of the labor, you will likely spend more than what you would buying a completed car as noted above. We just want you to make the best decision and certainly avoid the "now what do I do" question.

As pointed out in other threads, a 70 Challenger Vert with a NOM Hemi & manual transmission is still the car that is bringing all the money. You might make out okay if you head in that direction with enough resources.

wally426ci · « **Reply #10 on:** July 25, 2012 - 07:19:12 AM »

Get a fender tag decode. Good lukc finding e-body convertibles at all so offer him something quick because he is probably researching auction prices as we speak.

ShelbyDogg · « **Reply #11 on:** August 02, 2012 - 11:22:27 PM »

I paid $15K for mine. All of the Challenger convertibles were $40K. Mine was a total rust bucket but complete. Plus I had a garage full of parts.

http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=44869.0

If you don't jump on that, somebody else will, then you'll kick yourself FOREVER for not buying it. I wanted a a 71 Vert to build my pace car. Found mine on Ebay and did the "buy it now" to kill off all of the low bidders after I talked to the seller.
Yours even has a good top. Anything on that car can be repaired so quit screwing around and start talking money to the guy. So many of my friends now want a convertible Soooooooo bad.

JayBee · « **Reply #12 on:** August 03, 2012 - 08:10:34 AM »

Look what e-body convertible recently sold on e-bay for $14,100.00. Mind you, it is a 383 car.

http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=85626.15

AARudy · « **Reply #13 on:** August 07, 2012 - 12:31:46 AM »

In my opinion depending on condition the car is worth more then 15k.. (of course try to buy it for less) I just turned down a offer of $33k for my 71 convertible - it is a numbers matching 383 2bbl, automatic.. interior is mint and original, car is rock solid though and a factory orange car. Somebody wanting that car will easily throw down 18/20k for it in my opinion - the guy looking for that ragtop is gonna be the HEMI clone guy who is ready to drop 50k with no problem to redo that car.. the buyers are still out there even in this bad economy.

ShelbyDogg · « **Reply #14 on:** August 07, 2012 - 08:38:15 AM »

Quote from: AARudy on August 07, 2012 - 12:31:46 AM

In my opinion depending on condition the car is worth more then 15k.. (of course try to buy it for less) I just turned down a offer of $33k for my 71 convertible - it is a numbers matching 383 2bbl, automatic..

What was that guy smoking?
A 71 Cuda convertible big block car, and he is trying to lowball you. That's a nice looking car.

Author Topic: 1971 Challenger Convertible Barn Find (Read 15251 times)

mknltz79

1971 Challenger Convertible Barn Find

wiging19

Re: 1971 Challenger Convertible Barn Find

mknltz79

Re: 1971 Challenger Convertible Barn Find

challengermaniac

Re: 1971 Challenger Convertible Barn Find

Jocigar

Re: 1971 Challenger Convertible Barn Find

burdar

Re: 1971 Challenger Convertible Barn Find

Grec

Re: 1971 Challenger Convertible Barn Find

70RAG383

Re: 1971 Challenger Convertible Barn Find

burdar

Re: 1971 Challenger Convertible Barn Find

challengermaniac

Re: 1971 Challenger Convertible Barn Find

wally426ci

Re: 1971 Challenger Convertible Barn Find

ShelbyDogg

Re: 1971 Challenger Convertible Barn Find

JayBee

Re: 1971 Challenger Convertible Barn Find

AARudy

Re: 1971 Challenger Convertible Barn Find

ShelbyDogg

Re: 1971 Challenger Convertible Barn Find