Total Rookie - 70 Dodge Charger 500

[bkuhn]

Morning! Thanks for letting me join in!

I have a 1970 Dodge Charger 500. 383 Magnum. All original car for the most part. My Dad bought this car brand new from the dealer and was the only owner. I am the youngest kid in the family and by the time I came along in 1981, the car didn't really fit the family needs and sort of just go pushed aside. I don't recall ever riding in it or hearing it run after 1986(ish). I inherited the car when my Dad passed away and just recently was able to get it back from the "shop" that was "restoring" it after 3.5 years of trying. Most of you can probably already guess what kind of shop it was. Long story short, it was supposed to be a full disassembly restoration, using as many original parts/pieces as possible and discussions on what was not salvageable.

The "shop" had the car for 7.5 years total and at the end of it all, basically, nothing was really done besides some new floors and some exterior metal work. The guy is slippery at best, so I am finding it hard to take his word for much, but from what he is saying and I can tell myself: he replaced the rear quarters, fixed a dent in the LF fender, did some trunk work, replaced the floors, repainted the car back to factory color and installed a new vinyl top. Still needs interior fenders/wheel well work on all 4 corners IMO. Interior got new carpet and the seats redone (although 1 already has a hole in it). Other than that, and a few brackets/bolts here and there, nothing appears to have been touched.

So, here we are. I had a different local shop come take a look at what I have. Very vague on so much, I don't know where I stand really.

Here is what I am trying to figure out right now:
What is the car worth as it sits?
How much would it cost in time and money to make it a nice, reliable, safe driving car to enjoy?
What would it be worth if I did that? (as in, would I have to spend $20k and only gain $10k in value)
How much would it cost in time and money to make it a showroom style rebuild?
What would it be worth if I did that?

Specs from my research:
1970 Dodge Charger 500
E63 - engine 383 4bbl (Magnum)
A01 - Charger Light Pkg (55% built)
A04 - Charger Radio Group (29% built)
D32 - A727 Transmission
FF4 - Paint Color (11% built)
C6XW - White Vinyl/Leather Interior
C55 - Bucket Seats
D53 - 3.23 Ratio Sure Grip 8.75 Axle (assuming this based on codes I found for 383 4bbl)
D91 - Sure Grip Diff (assuming this based on codes and options I found for 383 4bbl)
H51 - A/C with Front Heater and 50 AMP Alternator (62% built)
J25 - 3 speed windshield wipers (33% built)
L31 - Hood mounted turn signals
M21 - Drip rail moldings
M31 - Body belt moldings
V1W - White Vinyl roof (26% built)
26 - 26" Radiator


C16 - Woodgrain Center Console
V1W - White Vinyl Top
C15 - Seat Belt Deluxe (2% built)

 

[440 PHIXX]

Beautiful! Welcome aboard! Looking forward to see how you build it.

Btw… I don’t think you will lose money spent on a 2nd gen Charger.

 

[mopar4don]

Nice looking project!
Your Dad bought this brand new! DO NOT SELL IT, EVER!!!!

 

[6PKRTSE]

Cool story. My condolences to the loss of your Father. Looks like the hard parts is done, even if some of the wotk may be shady. Yes, it looks like it needs some more work. Just take your time and keep fixing things as you go. Just keep in mind that it is in memory of your Father.

 

[WileE]

Welcome ! That's a great, beautiful car you got there ! Your questions really can't be answered by a post and some pics. But, more importantly, what is the car worth to you... and I don't mean money value. The time and effort you spend in the car may be more valuable than the money you pay to someone else or what the car is worth. That's something only you can decide.

 

[chargervert]

My parents bought this triple green 70 Charger R/T SE brand new. I wish I had the car. As Don said keep that car in your family. The paint and top look great. It does look like he did some of the work in reverse order which will make it harder to do those repairs on an already painted car. Welcome to the site.

 

[bkuhn]

Nice looking project!
Your Dad bought this brand new! DO NOT SELL IT, EVER!!!!

No plan to outright sell it, ever. However, I do have a sibling that doesn't want to participate in the restoration and money outlay and I need to come up with a fair figure for a "buyout." Local shop told me the car is worth $10k as it sits, but I am seeing cars without fenders selling for $10k. So, I want to be fair with a "buyout."

 

[chargervert]

Take the before pictures of the cars condition when you started having work done to it,and compare them to other Chargers in the same condition. If you started the restoration 8 or so years ago,the cars were worth less when you started the project than they are now. My personal guess would be that at that time the cars was worth about 15 grand,and $7500.00 should be fair for his half. You can adjust these figures to something that you are both comfortable with

 

[Dave6T4]

Welcome to FBBO from Ontario. Nice Charger. Thanks for your pictures.

 

[440 PHIXX]

No plan to outright sell it, ever. However, I do have a sibling that doesn't want to participate in the restoration and money outlay and I need to come up with a fair figure for a "buyout." Local shop told me the car is worth $10k as it sits, but I am seeing cars without fenders selling for $10k. So, I want to be fair with a "buyout."

From what I’ve seen in 2nd gen Chargers… $10G might buy you a title. And some rusty parts you have to get rid of.

 

[70 sublime]

Nice car
Around my part of the world that car would be worth $20k easy the way it sits

Who paid for the work that has already been done on it ?
Looks like the worst part of it has been done
Would not be too hard to finish it off your self even if you needed a couple patches welded in around the inner fenders

 

[chargervert]

The OP stated that his sibling had no interest in getting involved in the restoration of the car, so I am under the impression that he has paid for all the work done to the car to date. The shop owner probably wants to steal the car, hoping that he would lose interest in the project if he dragged the restoration out over a period of years, that's why he gave him the 10k low ball offer.

 

[RR Fan Dan]

 

[Budnicks]

Morning! Thanks for letting me join in!

I have a 1970 Dodge Charger 500. 383 Magnum. All original car for the most part. My Dad bought this car brand new from the dealer and was the only owner. I am the youngest kid in the family and by the time I came along in 1981, the car didn't really fit the family needs and sort of just go pushed aside. I don't recall ever riding in it or hearing it run after 1986(ish). I inherited the car when my Dad passed away and just recently was able to get it back from the "shop" that was "restoring" it after 3.5 years of trying. Most of you can probably already guess what kind of shop it was. Long story short, it was supposed to be a full disassembly restoration, using as many original parts/pieces as possible and discussions on what was not salvageable.

The "shop" had the car for 7.5 years total and at the end of it all, basically, nothing was really done besides some new floors and some exterior metal work. The guy is slippery at best, so I am finding it hard to take his word for much, but from what he is saying and I can tell myself: he replaced the rear quarters, fixed a dent in the LF fender, did some trunk work, replaced the floors, repainted the car back to factory color and installed a new vinyl top. Still needs interior fenders/wheel well work on all 4 corners IMO. Interior got new carpet and the seats redone (although 1 already has a hole in it). Other than that, and a few brackets/bolts here and there, nothing appears to have been touched.

So, here we are. I had a different local shop come take a look at what I have. Very vague on so much, I don't know where I stand really.

Here is what I am trying to figure out right now:
What is the car worth as it sits?
How much would it cost in time and money to make it a nice, reliable, safe driving car to enjoy?
What would it be worth if I did that? (as in, would I have to spend $20k and only gain $10k in value)
How much would it cost in time and money to make it a showroom style rebuild?
What would it be worth if I did that?

Specs from my research:
1970 Dodge Charger 500
E63 - engine 383 4bbl (Magnum)
A01 - Charger Light Pkg (55% built)
A04 - Charger Radio Group (29% built)
D32 - A727 Transmission
FF4 - Paint Color (11% built)
C6XW - White Vinyl/Leather Interior
C55 - Bucket Seats
D53 - 3.23 Ratio Sure Grip 8.75 Axle (assuming this based on codes I found for 383 4bbl)
D91 - Sure Grip Diff (assuming this based on codes and options I found for 383 4bbl)
H51 - A/C with Front Heater and 50 AMP Alternator (62% built)
J25 - 3 speed windshield wipers (33% built)
L31 - Hood mounted turn signals
M21 - Drip rail moldings
M31 - Body belt moldings
V1W - White Vinyl roof (26% built)
26 - 26" Radiator


C16 - Woodgrain Center Console
V1W - White Vinyl Top
C15 - Seat Belt Deluxe (2% built)

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Nice 70 383 Charger 500

69 Charger 500 is one of my bucket list cars,
440 (or 426 Hemi if I'm dreaming) 4 speed Dana 60,
green with black interior pref.

 

[davek]

I have a 70 to, its a keeper you will get your money back out of it. Dont give up or sell it.

 

[68sprtsat383]

Welcome

 

[oldkimmer]

Welcome to FBBO. U have a sweet ride. Kim

 

[Runcharger]

Nice car and I bet your Dad would really be proud you're keeping it rather than cashing out like most do. I can't help with value but that should go back to what it was worth when your Dad passed IMO.

 

[1967coronet]

Glad you got your dad's Charger.
Also glad you got it out of the shop.
As far as pre paint value and agreeing with your brother that's for you guys to hash out.
As you know you still have some work ahead.
Completely nuts that they didn't do the tubs before the qt. panels went on.
The plus side is it looks like a pretty solid car.
Damn were to start.... the undercoat needs cleaned out of the tubs/ wheel house, it will be better to do that while they are kinda in one piece.
Then you can see what you have.
Buy a set of replacment tubs to make your patch panels from. The inside of outer lip of the qt will have to be panel bonded to the tub lip since it's new paint.
After the work moves in you can spot weld. Seam seal the patches and then redo the under coat.
Yeh, it's a hack job but at this point you do not have a lot of choices.
Nice car, I wish you the best of luck.

 

[chargervert]

It looks like the guy who did the work,painted the car without attaching the bottom of the rear quarter to the rocker pinchweld! That and the inner wheelhouse work might be a problem to fix on an already painted car! I'm thinking maybe using panel bond to fix the wheel housings,and carefully welding the quarters to the pinchweld,and black out the areas after.