What do you think of this? (off topic of 71-74 b-bodys)

RS23-71 · Post by **RS23-71** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 2:13 am

I know this might be old news but I have looked at all the old topics on this site and didn't see any mention of this. (thought it might be on other sites and should be off topic here but meh)

I know this doesn't have to do with with 71-74 b bodys but it easily could be. Since I can't handle moparts.com (moves to fast for me) and I'm sure it was discused there I would see if anyone bites here even though its old news except to me. There was this rust pile that sold for $40,600 that Maple Leaf Mopars made Mopar of the month July 2006 and this this Maple Leaf Mopar of the month Nov 2006.

How can these be Mopars? They stopped being mopars along time ago and became piles of rust.....I love old mopars as much as the next fanatic but a car is more then just its fender tag, vin tag and title. If this is all that makes a classic mopar whats the reason to preserve the original cars when you can just let them turn into a pile of rust as long as you have the fender tags, vin and titles just to rebody the things as many times as you wish?

Ah dont worry about saving the old car if it falls apart we can just make more from the fender tags, vin tags and titles...... we can make as many replacements as we need...

{edited} typo

CtownRunner · Post by **CtownRunner** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 5:53 am

It no longer is the original car in any way shape or form. I agree. It means nothing to me. Then again I don't have $40,000 to spend on a car. If I did I would insist on a much more original car.

That being said. I doubt my car has more the 75% original parts, probable less. My car is a FrankinCar. Parts from this and that which is all needed to replace rusted or broken parts over the past 36 yrs.
When is it a real RoadRunner original car or a rebody?
50% or more original parts?

Where do you draw the line? I don't even have a fender tag or build sheet for my car. Anyone what it? It could be the next 440+6 car if you have a dash vin for one laying around.

fourforty6pac · Post by **fourforty6pac** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 12:58 pm

I have restored cars for people that had close to nothing original left. I didnt complain because it sure is a money maker. Some people dont care what they spend to bring a classic back to life. If I had to pay for 1000 + hours of labor at a rate of $80 to $100 per hour to restore a car I think I would just sell it and let the next guy worry about paying someone like me to do the work.
Everybody is trying to cash in on the mopar phenom. I used to be a numbers matching guy back in the 90's back when the average guy could afford one. I sold a quite few b + e bodies because I thought the bottom was going to drop out. Well it didnt. I made some serious ching on those cars (but I still could kick myself in the ass). Well now my views have changed. I dont care that much about num. match anymore, I just like to drive a fast good looking car. The average joe does not know if your driving an original car or a clone anyway. If a clone is done right it can still be a great investment, Where do you draw the line when you restore a classic? I have restored quite a few cars in my days some of them were nothing but a heap of rusty crap that needed every body panel either replaced or repaired. To me its not the same car anymore after a certain point, but as long as you have all the tags, paperwork, the body numbers, a clear title along with the knowledge and talent to do the work you will end up with nothing more than a glorified clone. If I was not an honest man I would stick one of the ID tags I have collected on my clone project, get some fender tags made (if I dont already have them), restamp the drive train and body and then put it all back together with all he correct parts. Abra ca dabra you have a num. matching MOPAR. You cant tell me this has not been done and I know it is still being done more often then you think. I am working on repooping build sheets that look just like the originals If I decide to sell them I will have to have definate proof of what they will be used for. There are many people out there that will take advantage of any situation to make a quick buck and they sometimes are not that easy spot. In my opinion the best cars are unrestored. Lucky for me everyone wants their classics restored.
It would be a shame to let a classic muscle car be chopped to pieces but you have to draw the line somewhere. Some people have too much money for their own good. They can afford to have someone do what they want. After all thats the American way isnt it?

ROADRUNNER7169 · Post by **ROADRUNNER7169** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 1:40 pm

I feel the same way about #'s matching cars mine is a 71 sebring with all the roadrunner stuff on it from the prev. owner and they stuffed a 440/727 combo in it I personally think it would be just as fun as an old #'s matching car (its a shame I souldint evin say it without ducking from stray bullits,

but im thinking about putting a turbo slant six in it with a 4 speed for gas reasons)

fourforty6pac · Post by **fourforty6pac** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 2:23 pm

I have always wanted a bare bones satellite with a six and three on the tree. That would make a nice summer daily driver. Good to look at and easy on the gas.

rr6pak · Post by **rr6pak** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 2:53 pm

I've had my car for 22-23 years now(my Dad originally bought it to restore). I dont know body work. I figure though if I remove and dis-assemble everything, that should save some coin, just sending the body. I would love to learn to do body work on this car though(HELP?). My car has no cancer to speak of. How rare is that? The car was in storage, climate controlled, for 14 years til I brought it to my home.
For me, I want it repainted. The motor is not the original one. Therefore, I'm considering a 440 that was made the day before the car to put in it. My car might not be 100% but it will be damn close when I'm done.

I think the cars that RS23'71 showed are cars I, and many, would'nt bother with. Many people have tooo much money to play with though.

Post by **bruce** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 4:19 pm

Hey rr6pak, is there a community college local to you that offers a bodyshop class? I've taken it several times from local colleges and it was a GREAT way to learn the basics, and have the tools provided...

Learn the basics and you can save yourself some serious coin. Good bodywork is ALL about time--it takes time and patience to get it to come out well. That's why good bodymen are EXPENSIVE!

But if your car doesn't have serious rust issues and all you've got to do is sand it and prep it for paint, then it's not difficult, just TEDIOUS.

Post by **Eric** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 10:11 pm

fourforty6pac wrote: I am working on repooping build sheets that look just like the originals If I decide to sell them I will have to have definate proof of what they will be used for. There are many people out there that will take advantage of any situation to make a quick buck and they sometimes are not that easy spot.

Why would you even consider this??? Even if you know what cars they're used on, how does the next guy who buys one of these cars? If someone already has a broadcast sheet, why would then want to reproduce one? If they don't have one, there's no way they could possibly get everything right on a repro one....doesn't make sense to me.