Will different color combo de-value my '72 Demon 340?

[moparodbuster]

It's a factory tor-red w/white stripes, sizler/dual-snorkel, go-wing, exh. tips auto on the column with white interior.
It's dechromed now, no interior, eng, or tranny...just waiting to be de-glassed so I can tow it to the media blaster, but after that I gotta get it striaght to a paint/body place b4 surface rust sets in. BUT WHAT COLOR?
I know being a '72, column shift auto and unmatching 340 drivetrain, its value is a lot less so I wondering if I just do it up 'my way' ('tor-red W/BLACK STRIPES, '71 ORANGE BUCKETS, ORANGE DOOR PANELS, ETC, DUAL MAT-BLACK PAINTED SPORT-MIRRORS) Oh, and did I mention the dli 'X'-CASTING SOLID 450+ BHP DYNO'D '71 340 transfering power through the Pro-Trans rev. patern manual feeding the 8 3/4 rr. end w/4.30's?
Apart from the drivetrain, I want the car to 'look' like the classic factory musclecar it is... eh, maybe w/some wilder factory color changes?
I JUST DONT KNOW IF CHANGING THE COLOR COMBO IS THE BEST THING TO DO TO THIS KEWL PIECE OF HISTORY. I respect the f*uck out of factory configs, but being that this baby is no concourse '71 conv. 4-speed hemi cuda.... does anyone think it'll really impact its value???
Help me out here guys!

 

[mrspeeddemon]

If your not building the car to sell to collectors, then I'd say do it however you want to! Obviously you're not to crazy about having all NOS-number stamped junk by your drivetrain(sound awesome by the way :thumbup: ) Thats the way I do things- yeah I still like to look some what factory but if its your car who cares if the paint isn't "right"!

 

[340mopar]

If you don't plan on selling it, it doesn't matter what it's worth, do your car up the way you want it.

 

[moparodbuster]

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?

 

[1968FormulaS340]

I have painted everyone of my cars the factory color, but that is just me. Your big money went with the original drive-train. Red and white is a hot combo, why would you want to change it. I have always went with the idea of 100% stock looking, with the hood closed. Thats why I run hub caps, AM radio, Inland shifter on my Formula S.

 

[340mopar]

It's called freedom of choice, which is more important than someone telling me how I should treat my car regardless of how rare it is. Who would have the finally say what should be left alone? the government? they couldn't make a solid common sense decision if they they tryed. If you don't have the choice on what you can do to your car, good or bad, to me it is worthless. I do though understand what you are saying. I did my share of messing up rare cars in the past, but then they were only 10 years old and no one thought they would ever be worth what they are today. It would be no different than modifying a 10 year old Viper or Hemi Magnum or Charger when they reach 10 years old, no one cares because they are plentiful. Something else to consider, these car collectors are every day making your car worth more so don't beat up on them to badly.
FYI, now I buy the plain jane cars and build them the way I want them that way I don't mess up the originals. My '65 Valiant is a 2dr sedan that I put a 340 in and drag race and I just aquired a '72 Duster /6 3 speed that will end up a 340 4 speed. But I did it because I decided to do the right thing not the government telling me I had to. Just like seat belts or helmets etc. before there were those laws I used those safety devises because it was common sense, now I wear them because the government says I can't make my own decision and they have to protect me from myself. I could go on forever so I will quit here with one finally saying and I know this is not what you want to hear, but they are only cars.

 

[7demon2]

moparodbuster i got to ask....what is wrong with the tor-red with white stripe combo? that is a striking combo that not too many cars came with. most cars that are painted tor-red had black stripes. the white would really stand out. if the interior is white then more reason to keep it that color combo. bottom line you can do what you want.....

 

['73red-duster]

My car was orig. Red. Originally had black int./black stripes. I'm changing the int.to white&adding white stripes. (That is color combo of my first car,72 duster). IMO,If you don't have everything,matching #'s,I don't see that it would further hurt the value to change colors,as long as you use an original mopar color. Besides,if you don't plan on selling it,the main value,is to you. I have had several vehicles over the years,including 2 corvettes. If a genie granted me a wish to have any car back,it would be that red '72 duster.

 

[dgc333]

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. ...............

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.

 

[gremlin]

Tor Red is a beautiful color. Not sure why you would change it. People pay big bucks for clones. I don't see a color change making much difference on a real 340 car. If you got a buyer they can always change it back seeing how it isn't the origional paint anyhow. 450+ BHP DYNO'D...be sure and tie the subframe. 4:30's are great as long as you don't get on the frwy much. I had a set in a 383 GTS Dart and loved them. Great for burnin a lot of rubber. 3k rpm at 50mph. 3:55's are better if you like cruising. I'd like to try out the new 3:73's I've seen advertised in the Mopar mags.

 

['73red-duster]

Check out this attach.,and tell me how it could get any better than this. I only hope mine looks this good when done. (Exception,white int.) :love4: I love my A-Bodies!! (I hope attachment works,not showing in pre-view.)