Ok I have a '71 Challenger in my garage, no engine, no back seat, front seats are shot, dash is split and dented, body is relativly ok w/ some rust on the rockers and a few dings and dents here and there. No tires, no right side window. Here's my question...
Should I try to get as many origional parts as possible and restore this car, or.....
Should I go a la Chip Foose style and go "modern retro" new brakes, electronics SRT8 crate, etc...
what do y'all think? And no, you cant buy it from me, so dont ask
I vote for the Chip Foose route the modern resto retro look, Muscle Cars on the Speed network is building one also like the Foose challenger. Believe me if I was 10 years younger I build one, if I could find one that is , .....Ahaaaa
no matter what you decide it will cost you a bundle. You have a clean canvas on which to create something that is fun for you. I'd go the more modern route, make it a sharp, clean, reliable driver with a 5.7L and manual over drive from Keisler. Don't go bonkers on compression ratios,cams or big rear ends. Keep it so you can run it on 87 pump and set it up to handle. Put in new a/c from Classic auto air.
I'd take a hard look at what XV motorsports offers if you can afford it. Take a look at the Blue E body in the last issue of Mopar Muscle to get an idea of what you can do.
After market parts for E bodies are abundant so you shouldn't have any problems finding what you need but plan carefully because you absolutley don't want to have o go back and do stuff over. Be patient.
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72 Charger Rallye 440/4spd
B5 Blue
Is it a rare car? what engine original came in it?
I do not know what was in it, The lil 'ol lady we got it from said she thinks she remembers her late husband saying a 343 which to me says 340, but I don't think so... it's an RS not the T/A. I LOVE the 340 personally, but I do think I am more apt to go with the modern engine and components. The SRT8 will kill me monitarily speaking, but a 440 Crate sounds more like a way to go. Its got the RS hood, but I would love to find a T/A hood as I love that look. Year One has one on their website, so that is an option.
I prolly wont have it on the road for years, I have had it for a year... my uncle got it for me last xmas, for $500 no less. Eat your heart out boys. It is just a shell tho, and I guess you can say its a blank canvas. I look forward to working on it no matter what and I will keep y'all informed. I am hoping to get a lot of insiration from this forum, that's why I am here.
There was no RS Challenger (there was an SE, however). If it had a 340 4 barrel, it was an R/T. The 340 six-pack was only available in the limited production 1970 Challenger T/A.
I'm in the same boat as you are with restoring my '69 impala sport coupe. It's a rare body style with factory bucket seats & console but that's it for options, the only others are power steering and a trunk light?!
The floors & rear quarters are shot but otherwise the car is straight and all there. My plan is big but streetable big block 572 with a 4 speed automatic, 4 wheel disc brakes and vintage A/C. Everything else is going to remain or be restored to stock so it will definitely be resto-mod style - best of both worlds.
I would do it this way, there is a crap load of ways you could make your Challenger nice - retro looking wheels & rubber in modern sizes, 340 engine w/modern fuel injection, digital guages, it's endless.
There was no RS Challenger (there was an SE, however). If it had a 340 4 barrel, it was an R/T. The 340 six-pack was only available in the limited production 1970 Challenger T/A.
My bad, I knew that, I seem to have been typing out of my a$$ Sorry.
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