Worth doing a resto?

[Rodzilla]

I have the opportunity to pick up a '68 Road Runner that someone has started to restore but gave up. The body is all intact and metal is straight and in a primer state. Some of the trim is there, but not in great shape, the interior is gone except for dash. He does have most of the panels for recovering. Motor and trans are gone but it is rolling, I'm assuming its the original 8 3/4" under the rear but not confirmed yet. I've only seen pics of body. I'm not a body/paint guy, so I'm happy its close to being paintable. I enjoy wrenching on projects but concerned that finding a numbers matching or date matched drivetrain might be difficult. Car came with the 330HP 383 (Commando?) and a 4 speed. According to the Fender tag its an air conditioned car.

The seller is asking $7000 for the car, I'm thinking I might get it for $5500 or $6000. Would it be worth it to restore. I'm guessing if done right this car could appraise out at $45000. But would also cost close to that to get it done properly. My biggest concern is that the VINs second digit is an H and not an M, even though the fender tag decodes as a Road Runner. Was there ever descrepencies between VINs and Fender Tags? Has someone swapped out the Fender Tag maybe?



Sorry for the long post and thanks for any input you experts might have! Below is what I decoded off the Fender Tag and VIN infor that the seller sent me.



FENDER TAG DECODED

CAR: Plymouth RoadRunner 2 Door Hardtop
ENGINE: 383cid 4-bbl HP V8
TRANSMISSION: 4-Speed Manual Floor Shift
TIRES: F70x14 Red Sidewall, Steel Belted
MODEL YEAR: 1968
BUILD DATE: May 27.
AXLE: 3.23 Rear Axle Ratio
INTERIOR: High Trim Grade, Vinyl Split Bench Seats. Black Interior.
PAINT: Monotone Bright Blue Metallic Paint.
OTHER: Black Upper Door Frame Color.

MOLDINGS:
25: Drip Rail Mouldings

ABC OPTIONS:
P6: Rear Seat Speaker
R1: AM Radio
T7: Tachometer

abc OPTIONS:
h7: Fender or Hood Mounted Turn Signal Indicators
u1: Sold Car When Built (Somebody Ordered It)
w6: Build to Spec's for Canada



VIN: RH23H8A307327

R: Belvedere / Satellite
H: Satellite (1968- 70) but should be M: Road Runner (1968-74) to match fender tag
23: 2 Door Coupe
H: 383 c.i.d./330hp or 335hp 4-bbl V8 (1968-69)
8: 1968
A: Lynch Road, Detroit, MI
307327: Sequential production number starting with 100001

 

[69hemibeep]

What you would have if restored is a nicely equipped Satellite or a Road runner clone, its a Satellite with that VIN #.

 

[Propwash]

$45,000 for a period correct drivetrain in a 68' 383 Roadrunner seems pretty steep.

Price of 5-6K seems fair providing it really is a real Roadrunner. Did you check the radiator core support for the VIN (or in 68'-SO#)? Partial number should match the fender tag. That number will also bee on the drivers side trunk rain gutter under the weather stripping.

I'd get that clarified before moving on anything, especially since the VIN is broadcasting a Satellite.

 

[PettyBlue72]

$45,000 for a period correct drivetrain in a 68' 383 Roadrunner seems pretty steep.

Price of 5-6K seems fair providing it really is a real Roadrunner. Did you check the radiator core support for the VIN (or in 68'-SO#)? Partial number should match the fender tag. That number will also bee on the drivers side trunk rain gutter under the weather stripping.

I'd get that clarified before moving on anything, especially since the VIN is broadcasting a Satellite.

Rodzilla stated that the seller wants $7,000 for the car as a rolling project w/o motor/trans. He stated that in his opinion the car could be worth up to $45,000 with a date code correct drivetrain. All of this, however, is a mute point since the car appears to be a satellite according to the VIN tag with a fender tag from a 68 roadrunner which makes it a clone and not worth near that much.

Rodzilla, check the title to see if it matchs the VIN or fender tag. If the title matches the fender tag and not the VIN, run away screaming as that car will most likely not be able to be titled.

Joe

 

[Rodzilla]

$45,000 for a period correct drivetrain in a 68' 383 Roadrunner seems pretty steep.

Price of 5-6K seems fair providing it really is a real Roadrunner. Did you check the radiator core support for the VIN (or in 68'-SO#)? Partial number should match the fender tag. That number will also bee on the drivers side trunk rain gutter under the weather stripping.

I'd get that clarified before moving on anything, especially since the VIN is broadcasting a Satellite.

Going to look at car in person this weekend, I will check those other locations for numbers. I'm hoping that the VIN is a little rusty or something and he has mistaken the M for an H. Resto wouldn't be worth it for a Satellite, I would have twice as much into it then what it would appraise at. If I was a bodyman/painter, might be a different story.

Thanks for the replys

 

[Propwash]

No Sweat..Hope it all pans out for you Rod.

 

[Rodzilla]

Well I did find out that the second letter is an M and not an H in the VIN, which was good news. Would love to have this car but I came across a better deal, for the same price I found a 340 4speed 71 Demon all numbers matching. Needs reassembly after it gets painted, which its ready for. So thanks for the replys guys, but it looks like I'll be hanging out in the forabodiesonly forums. Wish I could afford to build both :-(