New Intro for Former Member - Just Purchased 1971 Challenger - Sacramento Area

[ElDoradoCuda]

Hello Everyone,

I was a member in 2008 with a 1973 Barracuda that I unfortunately had to sell.  I've been off of this great site since then (couldn't stand reading about what I couldn't have), but finally was able to purchase another E body.  I'm picking it up from San Rafael tomorrow morning.  Some of you in Northern California might have seen it briefly on Craigslist earlier this week advertised for $5,200.

The car is a 1971 Challenger R/T.  It has a pretty straight body, minimal rust, really ugly paint with a peeled-off vinyl roof, decent interior with non-original back seat, good paperwork, fender tag, and has all of the cool original R/T stuff still on it with no modifications, other than the fact that the 383 is not numbers matching and not stock.  It is an original 383 4 speed car, though, with rally dash and the original transmission, shifter, and rear end.  I'll post pictures after I pick it up.  The guy pulled the ad after I bought it so I didn't have a chance to copy the pictures from it.

The bad news:  The motor was running but worn when he parked it many years ago, and he took off the carb and a few other things (which he still has in boxes).  It will need rebuilding, and since it is not a numbers matching engine we will probably replace it with a 440.  The car also hit a curb, but this did not cause external body damage.  He says it pulls to left, though, so I guess this could be anything from an alignment to frame damage.  Also, he says the car was originally blue, (did not say what hue), but was since painted Top Banana very nicely, and then finally blue again in a falling-off-rattle-can quality.

This car is actually for my son, who turned 18 today.  He is now obligated to sell his 1971 Formula 400 Firebird, which we started fixing up together when he was 15 and is now his daily driver.  His ultimate desire, however, has always been to get an E body with a 4 speed, so I'm hoping we can get this thing back on the road as soon as possible for both of our enjoyment.

Anyway, it is great to be back!

[brads70]

Hey, Welcome back!    Post up some pictures when you can! 

[ChallengerHK]

Welcome back

[moparman82]

Welcome back to the family!

[ElDoradoCuda]

Thanks guys!  And now I already have a question...  Maybe I should post to another thread, but does anyone know whether the Rally Wheels on 1971 Challenger R/Ts were 14 inches or 15?  I've seen spec charts showing 14", but then many cars are advertised as having 'factory 15 x 7 rally wheels'.  Maybe the advertisers really mean 'factory but not correct for this car', or where they an option?  Or am I wrong about 14" rally wheels on this car?

[mopardave]

WELCOME !!!!!!!!

[Oldschool]

Welcome back....           

[Haddixj]

Welcome back I am in shingle springs. Look forward to seeing the pics

[erat340]

Welcome back! I live in Sac/Rosemont. You up in Eldo Hills?

[ElDoradoCuda]

Thanks again for the warm welcomes!  I'm actually off 49, 3 miles south of Poor Reds bbq in the town of El Dorado.

[Haddixj]

Cool been through that way a bunch of times. We should try to meet up at some point the Mopars in the park show is a nice local Mopar show that happens in June. Let me know if you need something welded or turned

[ElDoradoCuda]

Thanks haddixj, you might have seen my wife in her car from time to time.  She had a 2010 Plum Crazy R/T Challenger with a white stripe, which she unfortunately sold last summer and now regrets!

[convtchallenger]

Thanks guys!  And now I already have a question...  Maybe I should post to another thread, but does anyone know whether the Rally Wheels on 1971 Challenger R/Ts were 14 inches or 15?  I've seen spec charts showing 14", but then many cars are advertised as having 'factory 15 x 7 rally wheels'.  Maybe the advertisers really mean 'factory but not correct for this car', or where they an option?  Or am I wrong about 14" rally wheels on this car?

Welcome, to answer your question the car could have had either the broadcast sheet if your car has one)  would tell.

[ElDoradoCuda]

Well, we got the car yesterday and it is safe in our garage now.  The wierd yellow patches on the roof are from a prior repaint.  The car was originally Gunmtal Grey, then a thorough respray in yellow was done.  At that time the vinyl top was removed, the top was painted yellow, then a new vinyl top was put on, which was peeled off by the last owner to protect the metal.  Finally, a cheap exterior-only respray was done in the original color.  All of this (except peeling off the vinyl top) was done prior to the previous owner, and he has owned the car since 1988.  He kept it under a breathable cover and bought a new cover every two years.  The car held up pretty well, all things considered.

What is not visible on these pictures (since we were rushing to beat the rain and just pushed the car in and against a wall) is that on the passenger side there is a bad dent in the rocker panel.  It is not enough to mess up the fit of the door, but it is still ugly.  Also, the right rear quarter panel has been hit and badly fixed at the tail end of it, and will need some re-working.

The previous owner also included a new correctly-numbered rebuilt Holly carb, still in plastic, and a code-correct new distributor as well.  He also included a very nice extra set of door panels (the ones on the car have speaker holes in them), and a bunch of other stuff he collected over the past 25 years for the car.

By the way, I'll be looking to sell the later-model 14" rally wheels and will be looking for 15 x 7s.  The wheels on it now are from a 73 Challenger he used to own.

We are pretty excited to get started on this thing!  Thanks again to you all for the warm welcome!

[Jamiez]

Great looking starting point   Keep us up to date on the restoration.  We love pictures

 

Any cool options on the Fender tag/Broadcast sheet?