Who cares!??

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moparodbuster

moparodbuster

moparodbuster
Joined
Jul 12, 2006
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Location
Melbourne, Australia
I'm not sure how to say this or if anyone else feels like I do, but is it right to violate a classic config? I mean how many factory dream mopars have we all seen violated by neglect, a stupid change by the owner, or just plain replacing w/non chrysler, aftermarket junk' where the 'magic' of that special factory config is lost 4-ever? I mean I'm serious when I say it should be illegal to violate historic pieces. It is actually, but not in the classic care market. These old mopars ARE just that... classic historic pieces, a lot of them trading for more than famous works of art! But the difference is that the law isn't gonna make anyone respect 'thier' historic value... it's completely up to us! The good thing is that most classic mopar owners are owners out of love of the vehicle. It's the rich, 'money is no option' investment collectors that hoard all the best of the best in warehouses to auction later for profit only that piss me off! I'm not one of the rich mopar collectors, so I'll never be able to enjoy sitting behind the wheel of those beautifull beasts... mainly because their value has been so over-inflated by these people that the true lovers of these cars who put their heart and soul into resto-ing their A-bodies with pride, are robbed of the availability/affordability of the cream of the crop by the rich investor-collector types.
I know it sounds like sour grapes, and it is to a point.
And I know my '72 Demon 340, missing it's orig. trans. & eng. dont make a ripple in the lake of all those over-valued other mopars, but it's just as awesome to me and as my part in the mopar comunity, I just wanna do the best by it... that means not screwing it up by violating the factory config. unless having it's orig. eng/tranny missing already shuts the door on it's collectability??
One day when I'm gone, my Demon's still gonna be here and what I leave to the world, I want to be the best representation of classic mopar muscle. Don't ask me why I care so much about 'em... I just do.
With that said, do I change the interior/exterior colors to what I think would look cooler, or is it still at a point where it 'should' be restored to OG?
 
"I mean how many factory dream mopars have we all seen violated by neglect, a stupid change by the owner, or just plain replacing w/non chrysler, aftermarket junk' where the 'magic' of that special factory config is lost 4-ever?"



i know that this is a touchy subject. i agree with this 100% except for /6 then all bets are off. don't get me wrong i like seeing all cars running. i would prefer having them fixed and running than to be sitting in the woods rotting. i just wish some good cars would be saved as they were, rather than gutting them to race or drop a bigblock in from a 318. to each his own i guess.....
 
I am 180 degrees opposed to your view point. I have been driving for almost 40 years now and grew up and started driving when these cars were fresh off the show room floor. They were made to be driven and enjoyed and that includes modifing them.

Just as it is today there are two groups of people that were purchasing these cars when they were new; The ones that were really into them and started modifying them as soon as they got them home and those that had them for transportation. So, my opinion is that modifying the cars is part of the history of these cars.

I am approaching 40 years as a licensed driver, purchased my first new car when I was 20 and have purchased a new car at least every 5-7 years since. Not one of them has been left stock and as long as I am physically capable I will continue to modify my cars to my liking and/or to make improvements on how they left the factory.

My 68 Barracuda was originally a 2 option (AM radio and undercoating), \6 3spd manual car. It now has a 67 interior (because I picked up some nice 67 items so I changed over the rest), a 70 color (because the 68 colors were to bland for me), mid 70's 360 (because I wanted a performance car), a 4spd (same as the 360), disk brakes (because I drive the car and I want it to stop), 8.25 rear (because I needed something to handle the 360) and a multitude of other changes. I also have a multitude of aftermarket parts on the car because they are far superior to what the factory offered and improve the driving experience for me. If it had been illegal for me to make those changes, this car would have been crushed by now because i would hauled it off to the junk yard.

If I was in the financial position to purchase a 71 Hemi, 4spd, vert Barracuda it wouldn't be stock for long.

I fully support everyone's idea's on what their car should be. Someone had a picture from Carlisle of a 70 Challenger with what looked like the roof off a Buick Vista Cruiser wagon grafted on making a Challenger wagon. Certainly not something I would do but what I see from the pic was they did a great job and the car looked cool.

I say do what ever floats your boat and respect what floats everyone else's boat. There is enough folks out there that are into the concours restoration thing that there will always be samples of how they left the factory for people to see.
 
To a degree I agree with you about the RARE high performance models, AND ONLY the rare ones. I bought my 68 GTS convertible in 1983 with full intentions of putting a big block in it. After I found out how rare it was that idea was dropped. BUT, a two-barrel V8 or a /6 car, all bets are off and out come the cutting tools.
 
I agree, if it wern't for the filthy rich dirt bags buying up the ultra rare 100% original cars as investments, a lot of them may have already fell into the hands of people like dgc or myself and would be "gone forever" so to speak.

By that same merit if it wernt for guys like him and I, there would be even fewer yet left because I am sure many feel the same, I bought it and I can make it into what I like. If I couldn't and it were just a dd vehicle, it would be where the rest of my dd's are ( I rarely ever let a vehicle leave my hands to another owner, they all end up stripped and crushed, thats why I have a lot of parts laying around for whatever project I fancy next).

I have made (2) 4 door satelites, (2) 2 door satelites, a 74 Grand Fury, 78 Dodge Colt, a 71 Dart, a 73 Buick Opel GT, and an 82 Mazda 626 all meet the crusher (that Mazda was actually an awsome car for a ricer!) None of them (except the opel, and that was taken by an accident) were a collectible, but they supply parts for others and myself yet to this day for our more collectible (so to speak) cars.

I say do what makes you happy, if your worried about collectibilty, then hold on to original parts unitl you decide you wanna sell it and put them back if you think it will increase the value. Even altered old muscle will sell in these days of overinflatted rip-off garbage fuels prices, as an example, my 73 Dart Swinger (original /6 with auto and 7 1/4) that I have swapped in a mid 70's 360, heavily modded 904, late 50's 8 3/4 and custom backspaced 8" stock style wheels and paint that has stains, little rust bubbles in the typical spots, and strips of paint peeled away where the prior owner had glued non factory moulding to it, still gets people asking me if I will sell it or if I am interested in selling it. My answer is/has/and always will be "You can't afford what I want for it" ie I wouldn't sell it. My kids and wife like it to much so they get it when I am gone, and with any luck it will be in better shape then than now and I will have taught them how to care for and maintain it (hopefully gas will still exist then too).

In other words do whatever rings your bell man.
 
I have a few toy's,(my Duster being one of them). I have placed a value of "nothing" on them. Why? They are not for sale!! Placing a "value" on something,to me,means it can be bought. I have a son & a grandaughter who can decide their "value",when I'm gone. I hope they will place the same "value" on at least some of them. My Duster will not be matching #'s,and sure won't be stock,but it will be a-body mopar. :lurk: :salute:
 
my 64 was kind of a basket case when i got it (still is). slant six, push botton...gone now. my 64 will be modified big time. heres my thinking though. im bringing my car uptodate. new suspension, fuel injection ect. im not starting with a super nice car though either. that said, my car is what i call a real survivor. survivor has many meanings, but for me my car will "survive" the ages to come. what if the combustion engine finally gets over taken by an electric motor or some other type of engine, say 20-30 years from now, and gasonline goes way up, so that eventually our cars engines are really hard to get gas or parts for. will you garage your beloved car? not me. if engine parts become super rare or maybe something crazy like gas is super high because its not in use anymore (like lead gas is now), ill look into converting my 64 over to whats powering the new cars. thats only if i can no longer supply gas or parts for my combustion engine. my car will "survive" by being able to evolve with change. my passion for my car is not just for the rumble of a v8 under the hood, (although i do love that sound), no my love is for the open road, the top down, and the wind in my hair.
all orginal cars are nice, but will eventually become museum pieces, behind ropes. not my lil 64, i want her to come along with me. i didnt get to share the last 40 years with her, but i hope to keep her uptodate and running on the road where she should be. how much do you like your car? will you bring it into the future with you? or will you leave it behind to the past? if your taking her along, best get a few extra fenders,bumpers, hoods and trunk lids, just in case you see a fender bender along the way.
sorry to get all emotional, but i really love my 64 :love4: and i dont want to leave her behind.

my64dart.jpg
 
Anybody can restore a classic. I takes a real man to cut one up........ Just kidding.

Speaking for one that has done the resto thing many times, it all depends on the individual. It's his car. He wants to put his personal touch to it; no matter how bizzarrrr it might be.
For too long I restored cars, and finally realizing, that I was not doing it for myself. Always the next 'guy'. Personally, I'm much happier doing the cut 'n chop thing. Course I didn't start with a high stakes ride, either.
 
i agree 100% lenweiler. why would someone restore a car to complete factory spec (overspray and all)? to win at car shows, or to show in a museum, nothing wrong with either. the reasoning behind the first is to win the judges approval. the closer the car is to factory the better shot at winning. which means your poor car is getting judged on its looks from some strange guy. if ya loose big, its like your cars being insulted. "NO, not good enough, your overspray goes too far in". just think about how crushed your cars feelings are (just kidding of course). the museum piece is to show examples of what was. How many factory spec 1970 cudas do we need rolling down the street (or on the back of a trailer)? dont get me wrong i dont mind seeing cars like this now and again, but havent we seen page after page of them in Mopar Muscle? when you do your car the way you want its like a breath of fresh air. orginal cars are cool, but changing your car to what you want is even cooler.
back in 64 my lil 64 began life as a slant six with push botton tranny, 40 years later shes being reborn. new style hemi with EFI, Alterktion k member, five speed, and all wheel disc brakes. am i doing this to win at shows? not really. i just wanted to update my car. having a little 3100lb car with over 400hp calls for bigger brakes and better steering. will it be a show stopper? i dont care. one of the reasons ill take her to shows is to spread the gospel on new hemi swaps. if someone likes my car ill gladly tell him or her what it takes to do it. at the end of the day, even without a "win" i can still jump in my car, fire her up and drive her home. nothing wrong with a trailer queen, but you cant do :burnout: with a museum piece. i guess you could, but nos rubber is expensive.
 
My thought has always been...you own it, you build it. However, I would personally have a hard time cutting up a numbers matching hemi or 440 6pack car.
 
I drive past a 69, 340-S ,4spd, Barracuda (complete)almost every day. On several occasions, I`ve stopped to ask the guy if he would sell it. He always has a new story about the "DAY" he`s going to restore it. I`ve given up on him, and meanwhile the car just sits there being eaten by mice and rotting away! Now that`s criminal.
 
I believe in doing what you want..so long as you don't destroy it. I'll admit, I think Chip Foose has screwed up many an old musclecar with his 20" wheels and outlandish paint. I was especially mad when he ovehauled a 67 Charger that was damn nice to start with.

My dad and I have restored numerous cars over the years to show winning condition, including a 68 Vette convertible, 70 Swinger 340, 66 Charger, 57 Chrylser Town and Country, 2 Corvairs, 67 Stang convertible, 64 Fairlane 500, and the list goes on.

My Dart is the FIRST old car that I have ever built that is not a restoration. I like the car, otherwise I wouldn't have bought it. But I am building it the way I want. Personally I think installing 4 wheel disc brakes, or better electrical systems isn't going to ultimately hurt a car. It is just going to make it more pleasureable to drive, and ultimately that is the purpose behind owning a car. I could NEVER own a car that had to be trailered around.

There is a guy in our car club with an original 440/727 Charger Daytona. He drives it constantly, everywhere, all the club functions. He bought it in the '70s and used it as his daily driver for years. He realizes it's worth lots of money. But in his view, he only paid next to nothing for it..so he doesn't feel like it's some jewel that can't be driven.
 
I agree with the keep it stock when the car is rare(stock cars with hemi's, low milage all orginal) Now to me i dont like the fact of people cutting up dashes, like cutting out the radio i believe this shouldnt be done but ex: its a drag car and what not. I love the slant six motor, just cause that is where i started with my dart and would still love to build that. now if you have a low milage /6 car and rip it up to stuff a bb in it i'm not to found of that but i have to grin cause that would haul. But like my cuda it was v8'ed, im going to had a 4 speed and the dash is already cut so i'll throw a cd player in it, now that is something i could do. along with add a bigger rearend. I guess its really what the car already has when you get it, if it is all orginal keep it stock, but most cars have been modded so why not go all out, not saying im going to cut my cuda (4 link, tub), but i myself am not a big fan of ripping a car up to make it a full drag car, but like i said there are exceptions, my car would be one.

hopefully i got my point across in some of that rambling

add: all this reminds me at a local car show i saw an all orginal 64 valiant witha slant six and being anyone else would have v8'ed it, it really put a smile on my face, but so did the 70 b5 blue 340 4 speed duster, which is pretty much my dream car :salute:
 
lenweiler, Alterktion is soon to be on its way, Bills wrapping it up. when that stuff comes in, ill post a pic. i want to clean up the undercarriage before i install it. other then that all the stuff i bought this year are 64 related, like rechromed bumpers, trim and stuff like that. after the alterktions payed up this time next year im going for wheels, tires and brakes. then after that its engine time. my neon will be payed off by then and my old car payment will be added to the Over Time money for the 64s build. things should move faster by then. i decided a 68-70 B-body washer fluid bottle would look better in the engine bay then the tall A body bottle. the car hemi (5.7 or 6.1) has a low profile and i thought the lower profile of the B-body washer bottle seems to complement the hemi. trying to deside what side to put it on.

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I don't care, Im NOT in it for the $$$$ if I was id have kept the 69RoadRunner,Charger 500, or 70 RoadRunner .....I just like old cars no matter what the make/model. hate restoring them love driving them! When I get one I have no problem changing it to be what I want!
 
to me it shows no imagination to keep them 100% original.. heck the factory built them knowing you were going to modify them... there are already too many 100% original types at shows now.... build the car the way you want it and screw anyone who doesn't like it is what i say....
 
Dodgenut64 said:
lenweiler, Alterktion is soon to be on its way, Bills wrapping it up. when that stuff comes in, ill post a pic. i want to clean up the undercarriage before i install it.
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your gonna love that alter-k.. wait till you see how easy it is to install... and how well it drives and handles..
 
That's the reason the (man)made /6's so us not so rich MOPAR nuts could get our hands on one to make our own.The rare one's should be left,well-RARE.If the owner of said vehicle is smart because thats where the money is at.No offense intended at all.
 
Sometimes, there just made to be cut up... LOL Don't anybody have a heart attack. The car was hit hard in the Left 1/4 and what's not there is being used in my new build. :axe:

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DSC00017.JPG
 
I think it should be a crime to destroy (Crash/ blow up) a old car in a freakin movie and/or TV show!!!!
 
robseg said:
I think it should be a crime to destroy (Crash/ blow up) a old car in a freakin movie and/or TV show!!!!
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100% agree it is a crime, its very sad to see a charger get all smashed up for one jump on the dukes, like the new one chargers are getting more rare and the prices are going up, how could they just go smash them up like that :( thats is a crime
 
Well I've made up my mind to go ahead and cut my car up. It's a 72 340 4 speed car. When I got it the original engine, trans, and interior were already gone. The car had been repainted several times and hit hard a few more. I have since moved the springs into the frame rails and mini tubbed it. Installed an 8 point bar and replaced 1/2 a quarter panel, the doors and fenders with used sheet metal, the hood and bumpers with fiberglass replacements as well as most all the suspension and braking components. As far as I'm concerned the car wasn't that nice to start with so modifying it the way I have hasn't hurt anything. In my book it wasn't that desirable of a car anyway.

But hey if you have a nice 72 or earlier rust free A body shell that you want to trade for I'm all ears.
 
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