Decision Time -- What should we do?

[rmiller]

Thanks guys for all the advice. I have pretty much decided to let my son make the decision and just go with what he wants. We need to repaint the car regardless. If he likes green, two tone green, or purple so be it. It's just always been hard for me to agree to color changes on cars and the unique two tone paint doesn't help. Notice I didn't say rare. LOL Like I said before, rarity only matters if it's something someone else wants.

We went to Carlisle for his 16th birthday this year and I don't remember seeing a 72 (or 71 for that matter) that was two tone so it would at least be different. But then I don't remember a lot about Carlisle because it was so blistering hot with no trees in sight! Lol

 

[CoronetRTguy]

Thanks guys for all the advice. I have pretty much decided to let my son make the decision and just go with what he wants. We need to repaint the car regardless. If he likes green, two tone green, or purple so be it. It's just always been hard for me to agree to color changes on cars and the unique two tone paint doesn't help. Notice I didn't say rare. LOL Like I said before, rarity only matters if it's something someone else wants.

We went to Carlisle for his 16th birthday this year and I don't remember seeing a 72 (or 71 for that matter) that was two tone so it would at least be different. But then I don't remember a lot about Carlisle because it was so blistering hot with no trees in sight! Lol

Yeah Carlisle is a funny place I went to the spring show one year thinking I would burn up and I forze to death and then the fall show thought it would be cold I burned up it was so warm lol.

You wont see one at a show like yours its that rare. The green of that GTX is the same color as yours and it looks good in the sun. Just have fun with the project and go to the paint shops and take the paint codes with you and look at the chips in the sun before you decided to or not to change the color.

What is the going price of the 400 motor thats ready to drop in?

In my neck of the woods finding Mopar motors is tough and most of the time over prices. I had a 400 in my car the guy charged me to take it out asked if he could keep the motor and do the work for free and I did that. I'm sure I could have gotten 3-400 for the motor not running. I paid 500 for a 440 out of a 74 Chrysler that ran the guy needed money and I was first on the sceen.

I would buy that 400 and at least give it a date coded motor and would be correct to the car and if you wanted more power get a stroker kit and have some fun.

Also someone said its just easy to change the paint its crazy how much doing a color change can cost its best to let the next guy do it and take the hit in re-sell. If not it will be like restoring the car all over again.

 

[Montclaire]

The second pic should be the color that the car is now. Take a fender and give it a good compound job and see if he likes it. The car in the pic is a 71 GTX.

 

[Bruzilla]

We went to Carlisle for his 16th birthday this year and I don't remember seeing a 72 (or 71 for that matter) that was two tone so it would at least be different.

You've experienced something else that's new to most new Mopar guys. Our cars are pretty much all rare, and you'll never see a lot of any particular type at any show, even a Mopar one. Most shows I take my car to, Mopars are outnumbered by just Mustangs and Camaros by about 10:1, and once you factor in Novas, Chevelles, T-Birds, and other cars, you realize while we're not alone out there, we are sure under represented.

They made around 7,000 Road Runners in 1972, and 68,651 Camaros, 25,181 Chevelles, and 125,093 Mustangs, and that's just one year's production, so odds are you aren't going to ever see many of our cars anywhere, which is a sad but good thing as most events you go to your car really stands out no matter how original it is.

 

[rmiller]

The second pic should be the color that the car is now. Take a fender and give it a good compound job and see if he likes it. The car in the pic is a 71 GTX.

I don't understand what you meant by second pic but we think the GTX is beautiful. If we can get that paint for the car I'm pretty sure that's what we will go with. Looks a lot different fresh as compared to our 40 year old version. Haven't decided on two tone or black vinyl top though.

 

[RustyRatRod]

I don't understand what you meant by second pic but we think the GTX is beautiful. If we can get that paint for the car I'm pretty sure that's what we will go with. Looks a lot different fresh as compared to our 40 year old version. Haven't decided on two tone or black vinyl top though.

He means the second picture that he posted.

 

[SofaKing]

"turn off Barrett/Jackson and do the car the way YOU and your son want ..good lord are we all going to be number matching nut and bolt correct garage trophy owners or the guys who take these car out kick them in the butt as they were made to be used ...I think these greedy auction houses have done more to hurt the hobby than preserve it as they claim.. especially price wise ..I have a 63 Polara thats my version of a Max Wedge..70 Dart with a 440 shoehorned into it and I'm working on a 65 Tempest that just about a 65 GTO ...(wow ..I feel better now)..good luck and build the car you want and enjoy your hours of labor with your son it doesn't get any better ..just my 2 cents ..ok maybe 5 cents"

1000% agree with this statement..Build it like you like it and rock that ****! lol

 

[pabster]

Welcome to FBBO, rmiller!

Just to throw it out there, you've stumbled into one of the most contentious subjects on this board. "Do I keep it original, or do it up the way I want it?" I myself go back and forth on this one all the time. In general, the argument that you should do whatever you want to your car is totally valid. But as people have mentioned, keeping it as original as possible does hold a fair amount of logic as well. Our cars are mostly pretty rare, so when you see one that looks like it did when it was sold, it's a pretty amazing sight. One of the problems with changing the car to what you think you want is that to do it right takes LOTS of money, which most people don't have or realize. So if you DO spend the thousands of dollars repainting it, it better be everything you want out of the change. I see Mopars on the street that have been modded, repainted, etc. and most of them look pretty bad- because people try to cut corners or save money and it always shows. In my county, I've counted about 5 3rd gen Chargers, and 4 of them have been messed with. Whenever I see one, I think "Damn, I wish that had been kept original", because 90% of the time original looks better to me. There are plenty of members of this board who have changed stuff on their cars, and the changes they made are great- so it can be done. But I encourage you to really figure out how much money you're willing to part with, and how much it would take to do what you want the right way. As you can see, you've come to the right place to get opinions on what your choices are and how much those choices will cost.

Long story short- when I started looking into repainting my Charger a different color (it's original J6 as you can see below), I realized that the amount of money and effort required would be way more than I was willing to part with. J6 is not my favorite color, but I've grown to like it more and more, especially with the help of people complimenting it on this site. And hey, wacky shades of green stand out in the sea of silver cars that all look the same these days.

Anyhoo, congrats on your '72. That front end is the most amazing design of any car ever made, IMHO. Hope you and your son enjoy the hell out of it. And X2 on Rallye wheels- I got mine from Wheel Vintiques and have been super happy with them, as well as the Cooper Cobras I roll on.

 

[butterscotch71]

Hello all. First time poster. My son and I just acquired our first Mopar, a 72 roadrunner. The car retains its original terribly faded two tone green paint which is not the prettiest combo I've ever seen, to say the least. We are now trying to decide what color/colors we want to go with for the repaint.

We are considering one of the two colors (GF3 or GF7) that it came with but also adding a vinyl top, hood stripes, and wing and front spoiler to go with it. I realize rarity means nothing if noone wants it but does anyone know how many two tone RR's were made in 72 (this is the first I've seen and the paint colors are opposite top to bottom from what the hamtramck registry ordering info page says. I assume the page is backward, not the car) ? Should I consider retaining the original paint scheme even though the original engine is long gone? I lean toward just creating what we want and not worrying about originality, but everything except the engine appears to be numbers matching.

Any input, opinions, or pics of green cars would be much appreciated. A google search doesn't turn up many in these shades. Thanks.

The colors on your car are correct per the fender tag. Both GF7 and GF3 were colors introduced for the 71 model year and carried over to 72. While they don't look all that good on the car now, those colors are both stunning in fresh paint (and both are metallic). It's only my opinion, but so many of these cars are repainted in different colors than they originally came that it's rare to see one surviving in this color. I personally get tired of seeing the same high impact colors on every car at a show, especially when most didn't come that way. If I was looking at buying two differnt cars in the same condition with the only difference being that one was not the original color, I'd buy the original color car every time. Again...that's just my opinion.

 

[CoronetRTguy]

Welcome to FBBO, rmiller!

Just to throw it out there, you've stumbled into one of the most contentious subjects on this board. "Do I keep it original, or do it up the way I want it?" I myself go back and forth on this one all the time. In general, the argument that you should do whatever you want to your car is totally valid. But as people have mentioned, keeping it as original as possible does hold a fair amount of logic as well. Our cars are mostly pretty rare, so when you see one that looks like it did when it was sold, it's a pretty amazing sight. One of the problems with changing the car to what you think you want is that to do it right takes LOTS of money, which most people don't have or realize. So if you DO spend the thousands of dollars repainting it, it better be everything you want out of the change. I see Mopars on the street that have been modded, repainted, etc. and most of them look pretty bad- because people try to cut corners or save money and it always shows. In my county, I've counted about 5 3rd gen Chargers, and 4 of them have been messed with. Whenever I see one, I think "Damn, I wish that had been kept original", because 90% of the time original looks better to me. There are plenty of members of this board who have changed stuff on their cars, and the changes they made are great- so it can be done. But I encourage you to really figure out how much money you're willing to part with, and how much it would take to do what you want the right way. As you can see, you've come to the right place to get opinions on what your choices are and how much those choices will cost.

Long story short- when I started looking into repainting my Charger a different color (it's original J6 as you can see below), I realized that the amount of money and effort required would be way more than I was willing to part with. J6 is not my favorite color, but I've grown to like it more and more, especially with the help of people complimenting it on this site. And hey, wacky shades of green stand out in the sea of silver cars that all look the same these days.

Anyhoo, congrats on your '72. That front end is the most amazing design of any car ever made, IMHO. Hope you and your son enjoy the hell out of it. And X2 on Rallye wheels- I got mine from Wheel Vintiques and have been super happy with them, as well as the Cooper Cobras I roll on.


View attachment 91986

Now that is a beautiful Charger! I like that color combo as well. The side SE window looks great in black vynal top. I also like that color green and have not seen that in person or at least that I can remember.

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The colors on your car are correct per the fender tag. Both GF7 and GF3 were colors introduced for the 71 model year and carried over to 72. While they don't look all that good on the car now, those colors are both stunning in fresh paint (and both are metallic). It's only my opinion, but so many of these cars are repainted in different colors than they originally came that it's rare to see one surviving in this color. I personally get tired of seeing the same high impact colors on every car at a show, especially when most didn't come that way. If I was looking at buying two differnt cars in the same condition with the only difference being that one was not the original color, I'd buy the original color car every time. Again...that's just my opinion.

I agree I used to go to shows all the time and was like WOW HIGH IMPACT COLOR CAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! To only get there and look at the tag and see it was originally another color and I just looked at it and said very cool I love Mopars but wonder what it looked like in its original color.

Like you said the two greens will off set each other and just stand out and will make it pop. You will get more WOWs at the car shows then if you show up with it in another color because if there is another 70-74 B body there it will most likely be a high impact color or even a red color car <----nothing wrong with that but after a while you see so many its nice to see an original color car.

The cost to do an over all paint job in a different color will be one to make you stop and think hard on changing unless you do a ground up job and are going that deep into the budget any ways.

Green has never been my favorite color but on a few cars I think it just off sets the lines and makes it stand out. I love the green Mustang used in the movie Bullet and it just looked tough (The 68 Charger was just badass! no nead in saying it but it was!) and the 70 Charger R/Ts I have seen in green have looked good to me and the lines just made it look different and stand out. The 71-72 B bodies I've seen look awesome just like that GTX it looks amazing in that color. Thats the same color as what you have on the Roadrunner but yours is just needing a re-paint to look that way.

You just have a cool optioned car that isnt seen and wont get lost in the sea of cars at any car show it goes to or even out on the road crusing around it will be a stand out with the original paint job.

 

[rmiller]

I too like the looks of the green Charger. I really like the vinyl top on the green. We have decided to paint the car one of the two original colors, most likely the lighter color. If we can make it look like the 71 GTX then that's what we will do but I'm not sure about the two tone yet. I would like it but my son is not "seeing it" with me yet. We may compromise and put on a black vinyl top instead.

Anyway, thanks to all for the input. Would love to see more GF3 or GF7 b-bodies if anyone has pictures.

 

[butterscotch71]

Gf3

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Gf7

 

[67Satty]

Welcome to the site! I hope to work on a cool father/son project like that when my oldest son gets old enough.

I used to hate green Mopars but I think that was from seeing them driving around back in the day with faded paint. But now, I think these greens look really good when the paint is fresh and shiny. But if you want to do a color change, I wouldn't stress over it, either way you and your kid are getting this old thing back on the road. Like someone else said, the color could always be changed back again.

 

[super-bee_ski]

1972 was the year the fewest Road Runners were made. I take it the interior is green? Kinda limits your choice of colors unless you change it. ......but I like green myself.

Yeah,
I'm with Rusty on this car.
Keep it the same color.
But yeah, it is NEAT.
Like Moparmarks says: It's rare, never seen one, etc.
"Let them have their "Reds" and "Blue" and "Black"
That color is NEAT!
Why? Because "one" does not see it anymore. They are ALL repainted and or gone.
"Just my 2 cents"

 

[CoronetRTguy]

Gf3

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Gf7

Is the top pic of the GF6?

Just looking at them one looks darker (Bottom pic) and the top looks leighter. If that is the case I can see putting those together and imagaining how the top would look on the car and it would look sweet!

But if you paint the car the original body color and put a black top on it, it would not be bad on the re-sale if you ever had to. I know everyone says make it your own and go for it but trust me we all have had projects and life comes in and we have to sell. A collector would want original and will pay top dollar for it being original and with a black vynal top on it wont hurt you as bad as having to do an all over paint job.

I would say an all over paint job could be over 10K depending on what color and how far you go with the color change. The green will light up in the sun and sparkle will look really good.

Would love more pics!

 

[rmiller]

Is the top pic of the GF6?

Just looking at them one looks darker (Bottom pic) and the top looks leighter. If that is the case I can see putting those together and imagaining how the top would look on the car and it would look sweet!

But if you paint the car the original body color and put a black top on it, it would not be bad on the re-sale if you ever had to. I know everyone says make it your own and go for it but trust me we all have had projects and life comes in and we have to sell. A collector would want original and will pay top dollar for it being original and with a black vynal top on it wont hurt you as bad as having to do an all over paint job.

I would say an all over paint job could be over 10K depending on what color and how far you go with the color change. The green will light up in the sun and sparkle will look really good.

Would love more pics!

I think the top picture is GF3 and the bottom pic is GF7. Both cars look really good to me but I have to admit I like the lighter color better when you add the black vinyl top. The contrast really makes it pop.

As for our car, it's GF7 on top and GF3 on bottom. We know now it matches the fender tag but it is exactly opposite of what the hamtramck website Satellite coding guide states it should be:

http://www.hamtramck-historical.com/images/dealerships/1972PlymouthOrderingInfo/1972_page_72.jpg

I figure the ordering info page must be wrong or somebody slipped one past them.

As for more pics, are you asking for more pics of our car (it's really not picture worthy right now)? Or just more green b-bodies in general? The more pictures I get of other green cars the better. The GF3 in Butterscotch71's post looks a lot different than the one in montclaire's post but it's my understanding (??) they are the same color. Lighting sure can change the look!

 

[butterscotch71]

Is the top pic of the GF6?

Just looking at them one looks darker (Bottom pic) and the top looks leighter. If that is the case I can see putting those together and imagaining how the top would look on the car and it would look sweet!

But if you paint the car the original body color and put a black top on it, it would not be bad on the re-sale if you ever had to. I know everyone says make it your own and go for it but trust me we all have had projects and life comes in and we have to sell. A collector would want original and will pay top dollar for it being original and with a black vynal top on it wont hurt you as bad as having to do an all over paint job.

I would say an all over paint job could be over 10K depending on what color and how far you go with the color change. The green will light up in the sun and sparkle will look really good.

Would love more pics!

Top is GF3 and bottom is GF7. They were separate posts but for some reason the site combined them.

I think the top picture is GF3 and the bottom pic is GF7. Both cars look really good to me but I have to admit I like the lighter color better when you add the black vinyl top. The contrast really makes it pop.

As for our car, it's GF7 on top and GF3 on bottom. We know now it matches the fender tag but it is exactly opposite of what the hamtramck website Satellite coding guide states it should be:

http://www.hamtramck-historical.com/images/dealerships/1972PlymouthOrderingInfo/1972_page_72.jpg

I figure the ordering info page must be wrong or somebody slipped one past them.

As for more pics, are you asking for more pics of our car (it's really not picture worthy right now)? Or just more green b-bodies in general? The more pictures I get of other green cars the better. The GF3 in Butterscotch71's post looks a lot different than the one in montclaire's post but it's my understanding (??) they are the same color. Lighting sure can change the look!

The colors listed in the ordering info are suggested/preferred, but you could order other combinations. I've seen several cars with paint/interior combinations not listed as standard. I believe both cars I posted are good examples of their respective colors.

 

[CoronetRTguy]

I think the top picture is GF3 and the bottom pic is GF7. Both cars look really good to me but I have to admit I like the lighter color better when you add the black vinyl top. The contrast really makes it pop.

As for our car, it's GF7 on top and GF3 on bottom. We know now it matches the fender tag but it is exactly opposite of what the hamtramck website Satellite coding guide states it should be:

http://www.hamtramck-historical.com/images/dealerships/1972PlymouthOrderingInfo/1972_page_72.jpg

I figure the ordering info page must be wrong or somebody slipped one past them.

As for more pics, are you asking for more pics of our car (it's really not picture worthy right now)? Or just more green b-bodies in general? The more pictures I get of other green cars the better. The GF3 in Butterscotch71's post looks a lot different than the one in montclaire's post but it's my understanding (??) they are the same color. Lighting sure can change the look!

Yeah would love to see more pics of your car and to say its not pic worth is wrong man it is pic worthy. We love project cars and love seeing how they started out when in project form and love to see when done. You have an awesome Roadrunner and I would love to own it or one like it.

If you think it is one that got past or done wrong at the factory in this color combo or ordered this way I think you should talk with Galen Govier you may have something that is (I know everyone says its your car and do as you want) very very rare and maybe a one of one.

I know there is no plans of selling it but plans change trust me on that. I never wanted to sell my 70 Coronet R/T one of one car but at the age of 29 I had a stroke and planes change. I also thought I would get it done after a while I knew it wouldnt happen so I sought out collectors to buy it.

I had guys from Cali, Texas, Canada and other places that I can't think of and I think a few outside of the country wanting the car. I sold it to a local guy about an hour from me who is going to restore it as factory condition and its one I will see again and will get a chance to ride in it.

If you do one change to it like adding the black vynal top not a big deal to change it out and not as high dollar to do either. The lighting sure days play on colors and in the sun that green will just pop!

 

[rmiller]

BS71, I will take your word on the ordering info explanation. U have a lot more history with this stuff than me. I was taking the word "must" literally and no doubt shouldn't have. Besides, dark green on bottom and light green on top would be even more strange I think.

CoronetRTGuy, I parked the car inside and starting tearing down the 440 yesterday. Sending it out for machine work tomorrow. Maybe this weekend I can get the car back outside and take some more pictures. Would like to run a buffer on it a little and see what it looks like. It only has original paint once.

Thanks to all for your help.

 

[CoronetRTguy]

BS71, I will take your word on the ordering info explanation. U have a lot more history with this stuff than me. I was taking the word "must" literally and no doubt shouldn't have. Besides, dark green on bottom and light green on top would be even more strange I think.

CoronetRTGuy, I parked the car inside and starting tearing down the 440 yesterday. Sending it out for machine work tomorrow. Maybe this weekend I can get the car back outside and take some more pictures. Would like to run a buffer on it a little and see what it looks like. It only has original paint once.

Thanks to all for your help.

Sounds good rmiller can't wait to see some more pics and if you get a chance and buff it post up those pics as well. We can see how the origiinal paint looks and would like to hear how you like the original colors.

The Superbee I saw was a 69 car it was FJ3 or FJ6 green with a tan painted top now back in the day sports cars would have gotten tan leather seats and things like this but a B body Mopar. I think they said it was a one of one car.

I also want to say it had green seats I think.....Or was it tan seats....Now I got to look for the magazine. If I'm not back in a week I'm drooling over all the Mopar magazines I have in the closset lol.

I can't wait to see more of the car and see what you both think of the color combo. Also can't wait to hear more on the plans for the motor. Did you also buy the 400 motor?