First project buy - can someone help me with some advice and/or opinions?

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Hope this isnt taken wrong but maybe a car needing only minor resto would be apropriate for a first project. There are a lot of people who start cars and dont finish because they get frustrated and give up because it takes so long. Start simple and work your way up. JMHO
 
daredevil said:
Hope this isnt taken wrong but maybe a car needing only minor resto would be apropriate for a first project. There are a lot of people who start cars and dont finish because they get frustrated and give up because it takes so long. Start simple and work your way up. JMHO
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not taken the wrong way at all ...thank you for the advice, I'm going to do my research and try and follow it :read2:
 
Xsapper041 said:
The time has come to start looking for my first project, and I think I may have found it. It's a '69 Dart ...been stored in a garage for 25 years and needs rear quarters and a floor for sure but other than that I think everything else is there and workable. I'm no expert though, and as the car is 12 hours from me it's not practical to go for a drive and have a look at it.

The guy selling it has a website with 8 pages of photos of the car, and he's willing to take more for me if I want to see something specific. If someone is willing to have a quick look at the photos for me I can send you the link or even post it up here if that's allowed.

The car is in the Ottawa area (Gatineau actually) maybe someone knows of the car already?? Here's the link http://jopar.ca/

Thanks,
Dean
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Hey I live in Fred too. Don't be too hasty in buying something that needs a lot of work for the cost of a lot of dollars and a long distance away. Depending on what your looking for, budget etc, I may be able to help. P.m me
 
Hi. I was speaking to a friend of mine earlier who knows of the Dart on P.E.I. and apparently it has been sold. Will keep my eyes and ears open. Bobby
 
For a 1st project buy a running, driving car that isn't all rusted out.

You might not get the exact car you want, but you can move up later.

Take a class in auto body to learn how to do the body work yourself, then fix up a car that is worthy of restoration.

there was a 71 or 72 dart for sale with good interior, decent paint and tires. he was asking $5,500

It is a whole lot better to pay for shipping on a good car than pay $1,000's on body work. Major panel replacements will cost big $$$$$
 
WildCat said:
For a 1st project buy a running, driving car that isn't all rusted out
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Good advice here. You'll find plenty of work that needs to be done, even on a running, driving car. I spent a year working on my Challenger to get it running reliably enough to use it as my daily driver, and I still haven't addressed any of it's rust issues. And it was a complete, running car when I bought it.

I frequently see a-body's for sale, a lot of them are running cars. Nearly all of them cost under $6k, some a lot less, even for rust free running cars. I am in California, so most of the cars around here are pretty rust free, but it would be way more cost effective to pay to have a car shipped than pay $4k for a rust bucket.

If money is a big problem, look at 4 doors. I've seen VERY clean, running 4 door darts and valiants sell for under $2k.
 
72bluNblu said:
Good advice here. You'll find plenty of work that needs to be done, even on a running, driving car. I spent a year working on my Challenger to get it running reliably enough to use it as my daily driver, and I still haven't addressed any of it's rust issues. And it was a complete, running car when I bought it.

I frequently see a-body's for sale, a lot of them are running cars. Nearly all of them cost under $6k, some a lot less, even for rust free running cars. I am in California, so most of the cars around here are pretty rust free, but it would be way more cost effective to pay to have a car shipped than pay $4k for a rust bucket.

If money is a big problem, look at 4 doors. I've seen VERY clean, running 4 door darts and valiants sell for under $2k.
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money's not the problem ..well, not nearly as much of a problem as my location is!! I wouldn't mind paying to ship a car, from what I understand it's not "that" expensive, what i have absolutely no experience with is trying to get it across the border.

Do you have any idea what it would cost to ship a car from california to Maine?
 
money's not the problem ..well, not nearly as much of a problem as my location is!! I wouldn't mind paying to ship a car, from what I understand it's not "that" expensive, what i have absolutely no experience with is trying to get it across the border.

Do you have any idea what it would cost to ship a car from california to Maine?
 
Welcome to FABO..I live in Nova Scotia !

I bought a '75 duster that was rust free..in Nova Scotia...only 34K miles on it as well...so it can be done. I will send ya pics if you like..

Just as a comment in this economy, buy one that has already been restored..it will cost you less than having to restore one and you jump into this great hobby immediately..perhaps it may not be as fun as you thought.....then you can buy a bucket case once you know exactly what you want...I suspect most wives don't like seeing a rust heap in the garage or losing you every night and weekend. You sound like you are REALLY keen on buying so you should be very careful.

I have never understood the prejudice about post '72 dusters / darts because they are better cars..i s it just the grill that is off ? Who knows..

Cheers
Grassy..hope to see you at one of the shows this year..
 
There are some great deals in California & Oregon and as long as you get a running car its not that expensive to ship it to the east cost. I'm in Halifax and we're doing a fair bit of panel replacement on an H code 73 Duster. All depends on what you want and how much work you're willing to put into it. I know my next vehicle will be coming from the west coast!
 
Cars also rust in BC :)

Restored cars on this board are going at wholesale prices..however, he may prefer to chase the rustbug rather than driving...

Ian.
 
grassy said:
Welcome to FABO..I live in Nova Scotia !

I bought a '75 duster that was rust free..in Nova Scotia...only 34K miles on it as well...so it can be done. I will send ya pics if you like..

Just as a comment in this economy, buy one that has already been restored..it will cost you less than having to restore one and you jump into this great hobby immediately..perhaps it may not be as fun as you thought.....then you can buy a bucket case once you know exactly what you want...I suspect most wives don't like seeing a rust heap in the garage or losing you every night and weekend. You sound like you are REALLY keen on buying so you should be very careful.

I have never understood the prejudice about post '72 dusters / darts because they are better cars..i s it just the grill that is off ? Who knows..

Cheers
Grassy..hope to see you at one of the shows this year..
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Again, I appreciate the suggestion to be careful - I do have a tendency to jump into things that way

on the post '72 cars ...it's not really the year, it's the look. I also don't care much for the "looks" of most pre-'67 cars. In my personal opinion (everyone's taste is different) 1969 was THE year for cars ..you can't go wrong no matter which brand or model.

As stated in a different post somewhere (still trying to get used to navigating around this board) I'm not really familiar with the dusters or any other pre-'72 cars but I know I've seen some i like and some I don't. i'm not sure whether it has anything to do with a specific model/tear or if it's just the level of customization that either attracts me or turns me away. I'm new here and the last thing I want to do is insult someone's baby, so I'm hesitant to say what it is I DON'T like about specific years/models but I'll give one example (again, just a matter of personal taste): post '69 darts - I don't like the taillights in the bumper and i prefer that front end on the demon. Having said that ..my taste in that regard is just superficial so if there was such a thing as a '72 with '69 grille and '67 taillights & bumper I'd see no reason not to buy it

am I making sense at all?

edit:so to answer your question - yes, for me it's as vain as the grill being off:-D
 
yhzrt said:
There are some great deals in California & Oregon and as long as you get a running car its not that expensive to ship it to the east cost. I'm in Halifax and we're doing a fair bit of panel replacement on an H code 73 Duster. All depends on what you want and how much work you're willing to put into it. I know my next vehicle will be coming from the west coast!
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let me put it this way" I'd prefer to be able to say "look what I built" than "look what I bought"

I have a motorcycle that most people can't identify (pisses the harley guys off once they see the radiator :toothy10:) and I always get "I didn't know they made those" to which the answer is simply "they don't"

But I do know what you're saying ...i don't mind welding/fabrication, making my own parts ...but I would have to farm out the paint & 85% of the prep $$$. I'll learn my own interior work and I'm not afraid to learn most of my own motor work.
 
I couldn't agree more either. There is something to be said for building the car yourself, or most of it and being able to say that when its finished. I'm just saying I won't do it a second time! Once is enough and I'm ok with that. But I would like another someday, either a car or truck and it will come from the west coast. Good luck on whatever you choose, it will all work out!
 
grassy said:
Cars also rust in BC :)

Restored cars on this board are going at wholesale prices..however, he may prefer to chase the rustbug rather than driving...

Ian.
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it's starting to look like chasing the rustbag is an ideal SECOND build. I see less satisfaction on buying a finished car. Maybe the happy medium is something that is done but needs assembly and a motor rebuild ...or done but needs paint and a V-8???

and yes I'd love to see your pics
 
...I was thinking Canadian ..I was thinking about the salt free roads in Alberta and Sask....Ooops..my bad..

I have been there, don't it and have the pics with the resto gig....I have no desire to be chasing the rust bug in another car..it seems to me that when the car gets the rust bug, it is very hard to get it out.

Rather then starting a really big restore..perhaps you could get a car that you can do a rolling resto on..all work and no play does not go over with a family assuming you have on..this is coming from my expeience with a family. My last car was a turnkey..I just prettied it up but was able to drive it from no salt to salt so to speak. My first was when I was single..I put in a lot of hours..but it did't impact anyone.

The duster, my kid's car is rust free, I wouldn't have bought it if is was..we tinkered with it last year and plan to do a bunch this year..I happen to love doing this...

I know what you say about years..my fav is a 69 charger r/t ..b5 with white vinyl roof ..it was my buds car..he also had a 71 and 73 which I wasn't crazy about..yes the cut off is probably 1970...however, buying one for a resto mod with the kids just isn't in the cards..and it has been noticed that to get in at the groud floor where the values are going up is the a-body..

Regardless of what ever opinion we give to you ..you know it is worth what you paid for it and the bottom line is you will buy a MOPAR in the condition and the price point you are comfortable with..btw, I will be doing powder coating and a very good price..

Can you pm me with your e-mail addy.

Ian
 
grassy said:
...I was thinking Canadian ..I was thinking about the salt free roads in Alberta and Sask....Ooops..my bad..

I have been there, don't it and have the pics with the resto gig....I have no desire to be chasing the rust bug in another car..it seems to me that when the car gets the rust bug, it is very hard to get it out.

Rather then starting a really big restore..perhaps you could get a car that you can do a rolling resto on..all work and no play does not go over with a family assuming you have on..this is coming from my expeience with a family. My last car was a turnkey..I just prettied it up but was able to drive it from no salt to salt so to speak. My first was when I was single..I put in a lot of hours..but it did't impact anyone.

The duster, my kid's car is rust free, I wouldn't have bought it if is was..we tinkered with it last year and plan to do a bunch this year..I happen to love doing this...

I know what you say about years..my fav is a 69 charger r/t ..b5 with white vinyl roof ..it was my buds car..he also had a 71 and 73 which I wasn't crazy about..yes the cut off is probably 1970...however, buying one for a resto mod with the kids just isn't in the cards..and it has been noticed that to get in at the groud floor where the values are going up is the a-body..

Regardless of what ever opinion we give to you ..you know it is worth what you paid for it and the bottom line is you will buy a MOPAR in the condition and the price point you are comfortable with..btw, I will be doing powder coating and a very good price..

Can you pm me with your e-mail addy.

Ian
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grassy! where have you been hiding? so you are starting to do powder coating? for public or just personal stuff?
 
Buy a rust free car, cheaper to buy a finished car everytime. California or Arizona
 
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