1974 Cuda Project Question

[Cv2065]

Hi all,

Finally been able to get around looking again for a Cuda/Challenger project. I am not a skilled body man, so have been looking for something where most or all of the body work has been completed. I am however competent as a 'weekend' mechanic and compulsive tinkerer, and this will be my first restoration. I am looking forward to it, but want to be sure that I don't get in over my head like I've read so many do by biting off more than I can chew.

That said, I found a car locally that I'm going to take a look at tomorrow.The car is a '74 Cuda with original 360 and 727. the owner states that the motor has never been pulled or rebuilt, but starts and runs great, and the car is drivable. I get the impression that its been sitting for a bit without ever being started. All of the metal work is said to be complete, including floor pans and trunk, and the car is ready for primer and paint. Some interior/exterior assembly is left and the interior looks like it needs some work.

While I realize there are a lot variables left unanswered until I see the car, I thought that I would share the pics that I do have to get some preliminary opinions on the car's bodywork and value. i did ask for a fender tag and VIN, but the fender tag has been lost and am awaiting the VIN tonight.  The owner seems to think that the Dodge can send out a new fender tag, but I know this to not be true. The broadcast sheet was found, but too damaged to be of any use. I should have some pics of the engine bay and underbody soon, and will post them as well.

Again, opinions and suggestions are appreciated and thanks in advance!

[Cv2065]

Sorry guys. I jacked up the photos in the first post, but should be good to go now. Thanks.

[4Cruizn]

Looks like a decent project . . . Definitely going to need better picture and your report after viewing the car to make a good determination as of value and readiness to complete.  Obviously a paint job will be needed and many other parts . . .

[Cv2065]

Thanks 4C. I forgot to mention that the owner replaced the metal on the roof of the car, and stated that the new piece was first glued and then welded, "just like the factory". I'm not really aware of how the original cars were assembled. Was this the method?

Thanks again.

[Rich G]

You never know how good a body is until its sandblasted and see what is hiding under the body work and also how the body repairs were done. Paint and primer hides a lot for a little while. I would look to see how complete the car is. Any missing pieces will be expensive or hard to replace. How much is the car? I try to figure what a done cars cost. Then look at what you got and what it needs to get done and then you'll have an idea what the car is worth. Forget about Dodge sending you a new tag. You can get one made but it wont come from Dodge. Don't want to scare you off because a project car is great, just don't want you to get sticker shock when the bills start racking up. If you buy it though your at the right place for help and advice. Good luck!

[Cv2065]

Thanks Rich. It seems a bit difficult to really pin a final price when restored for these cars. Big range from driver to rotisserie. Not sure what a numbers car for this year would do to the resale value.  I've seen $16K, all the way up to $39K for a '74. Ebay bidders get a little crazy from time to time, so that even makes things more difficult.

Take the median and you are around $25-$26 for a car that is not perfect, but decent restoration. Again, just guessing, so its hard to understand part costs vs. total investment, compared to what you could sell it for. I wouldn't initially buy to sell, as I think Challengers/Cudas are the pinnacle of muscle cars, but of course, in the event that you have to, you don't want to lose your shorts either.

[torredcuda]

I`d be leary of the quality of the bodywork as it looks amatuerish form the pics but without seeing what`s underneath it`s hard to tell.Try to bring somwone along who knows what to look for to see if the metal and mud work work was done right and is truely ready for primer and paint.

[Cv2065]

I had a chance to swing in today. The car looked a lot better than I thought it would. All of the panels were new metal from AMD, including the roof. Apparently, a guy that does body work at the local BMW dealership did all of the metal work for 1/2 price as a favor to the family. The floor pans were replaced with a one piece instead of any patching. The lines looked straight for the most part. There were a couple of 3"x3" square areas on the front end that were rough and needed to be sanded out.  The doors closed well, and the gaps seemed consistent around the car. With no fender tag, I can't be sure what the original color options were, as one owner said the original color was black, and the other said it was green. The car does have A/C which is nice, but the parts need to be replaced. The VIN did verify that it was a true Cuda and originally came with a 360.

The motor was a little rough. One said that it had been pulled before, the other said that it had not, so not sure there, but it looks like it never had been. I had a problem finding the partial VIN on the block as it was blocked by the header and couldn't find on the cowl or radiator support either. They said that they would send it later, but sent the casting information instead, so I'm still not sure if it is indeed a numbers car.  One of the headers had a small leak and the car had a problem starting, most likely due to the battery, but once it started, it remained idling. It also had another small leak in the compartment, but couldn't really pinpoint just where with a quick look.

My concern would be with respect to the cost of finishing. I saw the metal receipts, and they do indeed have $6K invested in that category alone. They are asking $10K, but the way that I figure it, just headlining the big items, I'd probably be looking at another $10K in driver quality paint, engine rebuild, new interior, and rims/tires. I didn't' get a chance to run through the gears on the transmission as it had a problem starting after the first run, so there could be additional costs there. And of course that doesn't account for any other incidentals such as new electrical harness, dash, brake job, new A/C parts, headliner, etc. I'm sure that these numbers are conservative.

I've included some additional pics. Any thoughts/opinions would be appreciated.

Thanks again guys.
 

[Rich G]

10k for the car is a bit on the high side for a 74 but if it does have new metal on it and it was done right its not that bad. The plus that I see is that it has AC and a rallley dash ( which will cost around 1k if it doesn't work.) From the pics of the package tray I'd say the car was originally green. Check around the firewall by the master cyl. That's a typical rust area. 10k to rebuild the engine, get it painted and a new interior is not going to happen unless you do all the work yourself. The bad news is a 74 is not a high dollar car and you'll probably spend more then it is worth when your done. Not that is a bad thing but that's just the way it is. These cars aint cheap to build. I sold my perfect 73 Cuda for 20k 2 yrs ago to build my 71 Cuda that I paid 5k for a car that needed everything. Didn't think it was that bad until I blasted it. That was a bad day. But what the heck It's only money. If it was me and I just wanted a Cuda and was not looking to fix it and sell it, I'd buy it. Just try to chew him down a bit.

[CudaChris74]

Looks decent,I feel worth around the 7-8k range, bring cash and see what happens, i missed a '70 challenger around me for 12k that was in decent condition.
In 1984 i sold my '74 for $2100, It had a '70 340, cost was $90 all rebuilt, a free 727 which taught me how to rebuild transmissions and $50 for a 4:10 rear meatball, I remember spending all summer wet sanding, and lucky for me I lived next door to a master tech that helped me and he painted it for free.
That Car helped me learn to being a 30 yr Master Tech myself but I work for Ford and typing this on my lunch break in my bay.

Back then we had access to many car's all for dirt cheap....who knew!!

[CUDA JAS]

I had a chance to swing in today. The car looked a lot better than I thought it would. All of the panels were new metal from AMD, including the roof. Apparently, a guy that does body work at the local BMW dealership did all of the metal work for 1/2 price as a favor to the family. The floor pans were replaced with a one piece instead of any patching. The lines looked straight for the most part. There were a couple of 3"x3" square areas on the front end that were rough and needed to be sanded out.  The doors closed well, and the gaps seemed consistent around the car. With no fender tag, I can't be sure what the original color options were, as one owner said the original color was black, and the other said it was green. The car does have A/C which is nice, but the parts need to be replaced. The VIN did verify that it was a true Cuda and originally came with a 360.

The motor was a little rough. One said that it had been pulled before, the other said that it had not, so not sure there, but it looks like it never had been. I had a problem finding the partial VIN on the block as it was blocked by the header and couldn't find on the cowl or radiator support either. They said that they would send it later, but sent the casting information instead, so I'm still not sure if it is indeed a numbers car.  One of the headers had a small leak and the car had a problem starting, most likely due to the battery, but once it started, it remained idling. It also had another small leak in the compartment, but couldn't really pinpoint just where with a quick look.

My concern would be with respect to the cost of finishing. I saw the metal receipts, and they do indeed have $6K invested in that category alone. They are asking $10K, but the way that I figure it, just headlining the big items, I'd probably be looking at another $10K in driver quality paint, engine rebuild, new interior, and rims/tires. I didn't' get a chance to run through the gears on the transmission as it had a problem starting after the first run, so there could be additional costs there. And of course that doesn't account for any other incidentals such as new electrical harness, dash, brake job, new A/C parts, headliner, etc. I'm sure that these numbers are conservative.

I've included some additional pics. Any thoughts/opinions would be appreciated.

Thanks again guys.

I am gonna say walk away..for several reasons:

1 you have two owners that are sayign dffiernet things about the car...whiuch means one of them is wrong, but niether is sure.

2.  The metal work was done by a family freind as a favour.  Man that could mean all kinds of things...but likely the guy was working for next to nothing and if he new they were intent on selling the car, he likely did poor quality work.  the fact that he works at a BMW shop means nothing!

3. No partial VIN# on cowl and rad support, these should be easily visable.  If they are not, coudl be a red flag.  There is also a partial VIn on the trunk rail.

4. The flor pans were replaced...I call BS based on your pics.  That pass side florr pan looks preety rough for new metal.  It coudl just be your pics, but I woudl ook real close at that.  if they were replaced, were any frame rails replaced, do they need to be, are they thin now?

Over all, 10K is high, and you will easily doubel your estiamte to finish that car, unless you do a lot of the work yourself.

As i said, I woudl likely walk away, or at least take a good hard look at a few of the things I mentioed above.

Where are you located, I am sure a member would be happy to take a look at the car with you.

Good luck.

Jason

[blcd74]

To do a complete restore it cost me about $16,000 for my 74 cuda. And it had no rust and never wrecked

[torredcuda]

I agree with floor pans looking original and still have surface rust underneath the paint. I f they are not honest about that I wouldn`t trust the bodywork to be done right either-reciepts don`t mean the parts were installed on that car. I would also walk, maybe run away as too much BS going on unless you can get it for $4-5000.

[loco340cuda]

I would also walk, maybe run away as too much BS going on unless you can get it for $4-5000.

 

[torredcuda]

Look at the last 2 pics of the passenger side quarter/trunk/roof pillar area-the seam between the trunk filer and the quarter is GONE! Filled with body filler or what??