71 Charger 500 Questions about Restoration might have to sell

[Rich]

My wife bought me this 71 Charger 500 after my lasy deployment. I thought i could restore it myself ive gotton in over my head go figure. What does the average restore cost if I was to take it somewhere Im about to go to the big Sand box again and im afraid if I cant anyone to do it at a reasonable price im going to have to sell it, which if you can tell I dont want to. But its coming down to that fast. The car is as I said a 71 Charger 500 with 61k Orginal Miles on the 383 it had the orginal 2BBL on it which i replaced wit a 4BBL everything is orginal minus the driver door, and Drivers side Front Fender. I have the build sheet and the fender tag. The only other thing is missing is the orginal counsel. I have repalced the front end and put disc brakes in the frontand have taken the vinel of and primed that area plus a dozen or so other things i have already replaced. Now i Have some of the some of the car in pieces. If someone could give me some sound advice or know someone who does decent restores that would work with while im Deployed again. I would really apprciate it.





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[69 Runner]

What a "restoration" costs depends on exactly what you want done. Some people think any paint job and "Al's Trim Shop" interior is a restoration. Others only think a "restoration" means it is exactly like it left the factory in every detail. Bottom line is you can figure a shop will charge you (probably) $65/hr and maybe more. I don't charge that much, but I'm a one man show, try to only do one at a time, and I'm not fast. (usually)

Hope that helps you out some.

 

[Rich]

Thanks for that answer...Yeah hoping to find someone to restore it over the next 12-15 months dont have to be quick but I have a feeling its going to more then i can afford since i dropped so much right away , because my pride was so big lol. thanks again

 

[Donny]

Hey Rich. Yeah, I know the feeling, I've been to the sand box twice already in the Army, Desert Storm, and OIF 2. I'm retired now, thank god! Good questions, they are honest. As 69 Runner said, it all depends on what you want done, and what needs to be done. I'm of the school that you need to get your car Media Blasted before you go any direction, this way you know what you have to work with. It's like being in MOPP 4 for hours, in the desert, take it off, and you don't change your BDUs. Your car is like that, rust and crud hides everywhere.

Billing by the hour will add up very fast, very very very fast. You can look at like 2 grand a week for several months, not including parts.

You could do things in sequence, like I've done on my cars for years. Or, you could find a shop that will stick to a fixed price restoration (there are not many out there), I know of just one, which I do all his Media Blasting for their clients; www.paintshop101.com I don't work for them, but, their work is very good, and very reasonable, and they are good honest people here in San Antonio.

Hope this helps, good luck! You could get the car here, leave it for a year, and when you come back you'll have a sweet ride built the way you want, and likely I'd be the guy Media Blasting it (if it needs it...most of these cars do) www.drblast.com

Again, good luck! Keep us posted on what you do.

 

[Rich]

Thanks Donny
Just e-mailed them...waiting for a responce .yeah this is my 5th trip to the Sandbox.....So wish me luck with finding someone to help or you will be seeing it in the classifieds lol

 

[Donny]

Sounds like you need to rig up a TDY trip to Ft. Sam Houston before you go, tow the car down to Steve and Paintshop101 here in town, and keep updated on the progress over in the sandbox! Which sandbox? The flat one, or the mountainous one? At any rate, stay safe bro over there! Put that Per Diem/HAZPAY to good use on making your car the way you want it! If you do the car here, and I get it to Media Blast, you can count on me taking tons of pictures before, during and after and emailing them to you if you would like!

 

[alleyoopmgv]

Well depending on what shape the car is in, my prices start at $4500 to $20,000.

If your looking at a nice "driver" you could probably be able to get it done for under $15,000.



I did the 65 Coronet wagon for a guy, for about $14,000. New drivers floor pan, trunk pan, and rear quarter patches.

I did the Charger for a guy for about $8500 very clean car, no rust.

I did the Dart for a buddy of mine for about $ 6500.00 very little rust and replaced one quarter, not because of rust, just really bad body work. The center of the hood is dull because I painted it flat black.


It just depends on what your after, and what shape the car is in.

 

[Rich]

Donney Thanks,

I did contact them via e-mail but unfortunalty they are definialty out of my budget lol. Expecially with having to trailer the car 15 hours. I will have to admit that they do very very nice work. Im hoping to find someone just a little closer to me and my budget. I did post the car on craigslist but am still hoping to find someone to help out instead. Again thanks for you help, if I had the money the car would be on its way there lol

 

[Donny]

I can imagine it's a lot of cash, what was the ballpark estimate he gave you?

 

[268RTs4ME]

Give Rick Norden a call, he lives over in farmington, Mo, not to farm from you, he restores nothing but mopars. 573 366 6087 Larry from Piedmont.