68 charger garage find. Canadian build?

[Swilling]

Hey Guys, name is Sam, I'm an Australian born and raised 34 year old, but been living in the US going in 10 years as my dad is American, back in 2007 I was living in Vancouver BC briefly for work related stuff. Id restored an old Trans Am that I drove to work, got compliments from a workmate who told me about this 68 charger he used to drive to high school. He said him and his dad pulled the motor and were going to restore it. But this was over a decade ago, and it's been in his mothers garage in Alberta ever since.

I moved back to california and every 6 months or so dropped him a line about buying the charger off him. I was always answered with no way in hell. But he had been following a retortstion I've been doing on another Pontiac and seemed to really respect my work. Jump to 2015 I get word that he's moving to another country and the charger has to go. So, sight unseen with no information other than a 68 charger sitting in his mums garage, I bought it. After money changed hands I thought I should at least ask what color it is. He said its gold.

So now I own this 68 apparently gold charger in condition uknown,That is untouched for 2 decades in a garage in the middle of Alberta Canada condition wise it's somewhere between perfect and pile of crap. I can't get much info on condition but I hear it's "straight" lol, I'm expecting lots of rust! I'm planning on going to retrieve it from his mothers house over Xmas.

I don't believe I'll have the option of getting the vin or any info or pictures till I get there, but my first question, there was a dodge plant in Ontario right? Did they build chargers there? I heard something like 100k 68s built, how many we're built in Canada? I'm curious if the car was a US car that was imported or locally built and bought, lots of questions with little to no info but I'm excited about this car and it's a very fun mystery that's only 2 months away from unfolding

Im looking forward to documenting the restoration and more importantly me seeing this mystery car for the first time, and I'd love to bring you guys along. Any info ahead of time would be great. Cheers
Sam.

 

[Chargerjase]

Well Sam, you have certainly peaked my interest. I hope it all works out for you. Can't wait to see pictures of this mystery car. Good lick.

 

[Hemi Rebel]

You could have at least gotten a title or something. Definitely the craziest deal ever. Dont leave us hanging, let us know what you find

 

[hunt2elk]

Welcome to the site and I hope the car is what you are anticipating. I will say you have bigger balls than me lol.

 

[Seventy]

Sounds like fun, lol.
I met a guy in Florida at a car show, his girl friend told him about a car in a garage in canada that belonged to her brother, he passed away young from a work related accident and the family got some money from the accident, so they wrapped the car in blankets and put it away for over 30 years.

So he is older as is she (I would guess they were in their 50's) and he asked her what kind of car it was and she told him it was a "caddy convertible and she remembers it was really fast when she was younger", her brother was an oil driller who traveled the US and Canada back then and made really good money for the times and his age, and that car was his pride and joy.
So he is thinking "big deal a 70's or late 60's caddy, who wants that thing.

FAST FORWARD a bit and they go to canada for a family members funeral, while he was there meeting the family he sees the car in the garage... WAY TOO SMALL TO BE A 70 CADDY.. Turned out it was a hemi cuda convertible with a/c, he ended up with the car and it didnt even need paint, therre ws no mice damage and the car started and drove, lol the only thing it needed was a carpet, the father put moth balls )I guess they are corrosive) inside on the carpet to keep out rodents (which is said worked) and they ate up the carpet...

I got to see the car, he invited me back to his condo where it sat in a 2 car garage, I of course asked if he wanted to sell it and at the time he said he was offered $750K by someone from the dallas cowboys...

Another similar story is more local to me, a gentleman that most north east mopar guys will know but I wont say his name, passed away recently, he owns some serious mopars, he has a hemi dart (hemi under glass) hes owned it for 40+ years, mint and perfect, a ne patriot offered him 800K but because the guy wouldnt pay cash he told him no. I was told the girlfriend now has control of all the cars, not sure whats happening with him, but I never nosed around, just out of respect, plus the only one I would really want is the dart, and I am not paying a million for it, lol... He used to have awesome parties and car shows, was a local business man, I am sure the local mass, nh, ct, ri guys know who I am talking about...

BUT anyway, it sounds like its going to be fun, gold cars were rare, maybe you will go there and find a well optioned hemi car, good luck...

 

[Jason69 RR]

Thats an exciting story! Looking forward to following this thread. Cheers!

 

[440+6]

Welcome from Michigan, sounds like a big gamble, I hope it pays off for you, keep us posted.

 

[eric383]

Sam, you have way more patience than I do. I couldn't wait till Christmas to see what it looked like. I can't wait for an update and good luck.

 

[Lynchroad 69.5]

I believe there were several Chrysler plants in Windsor Ontario in the 60s...truck production, engine production and assembly...not sure about production of 68 chargers. On another note, you have bought a car sight unseen, no title, no pictures, no idea of condition and no documentation...just this guys word. On top of that, you still have to get the thing from Canada into the states. This link should give you some idea of whats involved with that http://www.cbp.gov/trade/basic-import-export/importing-car I wish you luck and hope that you did not invest a lot of money. I will be interested to see how this turns out. good luck!

 

[roadrunnerron]

I think you will be pleased with the condition. They don't use salt in Alberta and it is a semi-desert climate. Good luck.

 

[MarPar]

subscribed!!

 

[Swilling]

Thanks Guys! i'm very much excited about it.

As for Patience, i really muist have some, as January this year, was when i was contacted out of nowhere from the Owner telling me he was moving to Japan and he wont be keeping it. I was planning on going to get it in June, but work commitments got in the way, and my next available time will be December, so that will make it a 12 month long mystery!

As for no title, yes a bit of a risk, but i do know him enough to not be too concerned about paying him before receiving any documentation.

He mentioned there were spare floor pans he bought for it some time ago that are with the car, and another engine on the floor of the garage. So i am still expecting rust. Its a very strange situation as i sit here, and wonder all day long about the car and its condition, and it may soud stupid, but i kinda enjoy the Mystery. The owner is now in Japan but correspondence is minimal, while he answers anytime i check in and tell him when i may be picking it up and such, theres not much more back and forth. He said he thought he had some old photos of it and as he gets unpacked in Japan he will send me some pictures of what he finds. But once again... i am enjoying the Mystery.

I consider myself relatively capable as far as car restoration, i am a die hard Pontiac guy, i build my own engines, transmissions, do my own metal work and fabrication (learning as i go). Just recently for the first time i built a set of headers from Scratch for my Current Lemans project.

I have yet to tackle a paint job but working towards it. So condition wise im less concerned because i'm confident i should be able to fix anything thats wrong with it.

As for the money, i paid $10,000 USD. This was how much he asked for it, and although i love to lowball, he was very reluctant to sell, and all the time of me half jokingly saying in Passing "When are you gonna sell me that Charger?" Maybe there was part of me that knew he never was going to let it go. But when he did, i made sure i Ponied right away.

Based off most 68 charger "projects" i see. That price if reflective of Market value, puts this car in a less than fair condition. But you guys will have a better idea off that, as my only knowledge comes from seeing what comes and goes in online sales and traders. I'm not expecting it to be some kind of lost Hemi car or any type of thing. To me, a 68 charger is cool enough on its own. If i could have one wish, it would be , for it not to be a vinyl top car. I LOVE vinyl top cars, nothing has more class in my opinion. But i really do hate fixing them lol

There is also another spare engine, in the garage that is included with the deal. No other info on it at all, so im going to read that as something along the lines of a shortblock in need of machine work and rebuild. (like i said, im not over expecting anything) He mentioned something about his dad wanting to rebuild the motor and it never got much further than that.

Like i said previously, it being at his mothers house, from what i understand its covered in some things and would be hard for her to access it. So, i wont be able to get a VIN or any info till i get there. He said there will be old Alberta registration in the Glove box,

Lynchroad 69.5 - thank you for the information, very helpful!

Interesting info about the Canadian plant also! Appreciate it.

roadrunnerron - that just made my day! Great to know about no salt out there!

Thanks for the Warm Weclome guys, and once again, im really excited about this, and just as excited to be able to share it with some like minded folks! Cheers, Sam.

 

[Budnicks]

Welcome to FBBO

& good luck with the sight unseen 68 Charger project...

I hope it's all you expect it to be...

 

[mr. b]

welcome to FBBO hope the charger works out for the best

 

[Xp29h]

Welcome! Good luck! (I mean that in a good way, not sarcastic) this could be really good! I'll be watching this one as well.

 

[mmissile]

I think you will be pleased with the condition. They don't use salt in Alberta and it is a semi-desert climate. Good luck.

Bingo. High desert/cool and arid. I hope it's as nice as I think it'll be.

 

[Swilling]

Thanks for the Encouragement guys, yeah, still not letting my hopes get too good before December. I'm preparing myself to do a LOT of sheet metal work. But we will see.

Thought i'd share this with you guys, i emailed the owner and asked him exactly when he got it he said ...

"I think it was 97. and I blew the original engine that year, so assembled a new 383, but ended up going to Vancouver, and it's been in the garage since."

So it really is on the cusp of nearly 20 years sitting. Pretty exciting, and thought id share with you guys as i find out more of this stuff. As i said, im not expecting much, and am just happy to have a 68 , anything more than a vin and a title is a pure bonus to me.

Cheers. Sam.

 

[Car Nut]

aboard!

 

[satman72]

If it's Canadian build there will be an R in the VIN. The 7th character.

 

[bkleenfltx]

well welcome and this may be a great find. I wish you well because a 68 is an awesome find.