Road Runner Dilema

[99ss]

Ok... my car is sold on Friday if I take the offer. The question is whats a better car to aquire:

this car:
http://m1144.photobucket.com/albums/fourfortymag/?src=www

or this car
http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/cto/3293137797.html

The one closer to me will cost me about $500 to pick up and bring home.

3000 total leaves me with a little cash to put back into the car...

Not sure what it would cost to have the one in WI shipped but I'm guessing 1500 or so which then takes away my restoration money. I want a real bird and a 4 speed to boot !
The 71 has no trans but does have a 66' 383 with it. I was thinking I could add the 4 speed.

Which car appears to be more solid and less work/money to restore?
Which way would you go leaving the bias against 71 and up out

I'm liking the plum crazy purple 71 with spoilers and a 6 pack and a wicked paint job... but the 69.. is well a 69 Road Runner 383 as well...LOL

And the guy across the street has a 56 Belvedere 4 door 100% unmolested true survivor I could get for 6k ... 8 cylinder but no clue which one..hahahaha front door panels are a bit nackered up but the car is a rolling museum piece

 

[roadrunnerman]

That would have to be your decision to make. Make a list of both cars and write down what needs to be done, what you want to do to each one. Add the cost of the one close to you compared to the one in wi. Look deep inside yourself and see which relly appeals to you the most. None of us here can tell you which car is right for you or which one you should buy. We can only give opinions.

 

[99ss]

Well opinions is what I was looking for...LOL
This is tough to look at ...

Where this one is a lot nicer to the eye right now..hahaha
But the 71 has almost a complete interior and is mostly there where the 69 is probably better along in the sheet metal dept. God knows whats under that cracked paint on the 71.

 

[roadrunnerman]

I understand.I like both those runners but i'm kinda partial to the 69 since i have 2 of them but i wouldn't mind owning a 71. So have i helped you any. Probably not.

 

[Propwash]

Hmmmm. Tough one. Like Roger said, your decision to make. A list is a great idea. I guess if it helps you any i'll toss in my 2 cents.

The '69 seems to be more of an honest car being it was blasted then primed. I'd be a little bit interested whats under that '71's Starsky and Hutch paintjob. The '71 looks to be more complete, so I would be asking the '69 guy exactly what he has for parts. Even those these 40 some year old cars are not nearly as complex a loaded with parts as new cars, there is still a ton of parts..Even down to little clips and screws can turn into a headache tracking down. Parts wise, I think the '69 takes the cake as far as aftermarket, reproduction and OEM parts available. And up for debate to some, in the end the same amount of investment in each would put the '69 a bit higher in resale if it ever came to that point. I'd say the '71 has better handling/braking characteristics from the get go, but to give the '69 credit, nothing that couldn't be remedied. Both great years for the roadrunner with their trademark looks.

Good luck with your decision. 1 thing, do not rush into things...you'd be pretty surprised how often deals pop up if you're diligent in looking everyday. Talk with Matt and Jay, they seem to be Guru's in finding buried treasure. Heck jay finds them in my flippin back yard as I walk around clueless..lol As far as your PM, I have no issue taking a roadtrip south to check out that '69 for ya. Just not on Thursday...wife would be pulling a Louisville Slugger on me.

 

[73frostmistsatellite]

Obviously the 69 is there to see. It is stripped and showing all of its "hickies". Saying that it may take another parts car to find all of the missing parts. The 71 may have a few things hid but its all there.
I prefer the 71 but you got to pick the one you'll enjoy most. I stumbled upon and settled on a 71 Barracuda when I was looking for a 71-74 RR. I thought it would be the coolest but in the end it just sits painted but disassembled in my shop. I have had it for years, but I don't have the interest in it.

 

[Ron 73]

I have to agree with all with the decision, I would talk with the owner of the 69 and see what all comes with it, Its laid out and you would know exactly what you have and would need to have a great old bird. As said its your decision, which one trips your trigger more will help decide if the price of one finished is the one you want and more importantly, be happiest with. Good luck in your choice.

 

[99ss]

The stance looks mean
and so does the other


I think the 71 will cost less in the long run, I wish the 69 was closer. any idea on what it would cost to have shipped to me?

 

[wannadrag]

Give Matt a PM he has a guy that hauls on a open trailer thats reasonable.I had a guy from Ohio haul a rod for me last year WI to Virginia was $500.Your cheapest route would be on a open hauler.

 

[djais1801]

i was in the exact same predicament during my search. i looked thru NJ,NY,MD at a: 68 SS RR clone that was set up as a 500hp street beater (too much for what i was looking for), a 70 RR clone bad paint overpriced, and a 70 SS bad paint overpriced $14g's(actually found it on here from the previous owner that sold to this guy a few months earlier for $7g's.) Then i found my 71 on CL from NY State, bad marketing (dull pics). Drove up the next day w/ trailer and pocket full of $$$.
I think accessing body panels, you are better off with a 69. Good luck!

 

[99ss]

http://www.autobodyspecialt.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?search=action&searchstart=70&category=0009

The whole quarter panel would be nice instead of pieces of it



You know.... If ******** would give me his car this could be real easy...LOL

 

[RustyRatRod]

Get whichever one is more different from the car you have now. If you don't do that, you may as well keep the POS you have now.

 

[99ss]

POS?!!???...LOL... very good point though but my issue is its not a real RR.
I've listed the z28 for sale as well and if I can sell it too.. then I'll have more money to spend and might be able to buy something in better shape/more complete

 

[RustyRatRod]

I knew that'd grab you. lol You know I was messin with you.

POS?!!???...LOL... very good point though but my issue is its not a real RR.
I've listed the z28 for sale as well and if I can sell it too.. then I'll have more money to spend and might be able to buy something in better shape/more complete

 

[99ss]

Oh yaI knew...hahaha
but really its a good point about the body style...not to offend anyone but that squared off look is very popular plentiful. Now there is a reason for that... but there are a lot of them and you dont see many of the 71/72. I know the "muscle car era" ended in 70 but the 71/72 just look different and mean and nasty when hunkered down and fat tires and the spoilers. I like them but a 68/69 is iconic. Its a tough choice to be honest. I'm worried about what under the starsky and hutch..hahahahaha thank you for that prop... and its so true about the 69 being more honest. Either car is going to cost money and a whole lot of elbow grease to get to where I can be proud to show up at a car event and stand tall with the best of them. I need to know exactly what the fender tag is for the 69 and all it comes with. The 71 I might alter though for the 4 speed. How much does that hurt value? If I restore it to spec ( fender tag thread http://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparforum/showthread.php?42867-another-tag-to-decode-please) is it worth more than making it the way I want it?

 

[Budnicks]

68 & 69's are much easier to find parts for, than 71's... I've had mant RR's over the years, I'm on #13 now... I do like the way the 71's handle, but any car could be improved to handle, 1971 is still a desireable Muscle Car year to many Mopar people, resale with a perfect 69, is probably better than the perfect 71 thou... I like the 71 of those 2 you have listed, the 71 it's more complete, easier to restore when you have most all the parts & know where they go... Good luck with which ever you decide... I'm a big 1st year 1968 RR fan myself...

- - - Updated - - -

all the little parts the 69 is/could be missing, will cost allot more than you may think, some aren't being reproduced either...

 

[68sportsatelliteragtop]

If I was you and you are going to sell your Chevy, hold off and put some funds together and keep looking. For a few thousand more you would be looking at driver quality cars. If you have to have a real Road Runner, then you will pay more then a Satellite or Belvedere. For the same money, 7-8K, you could have a nice driver Sat./Belv maybe a RR clone. A RR is going to be a lot lesser package for the same money. It will be worth more when done, but if you are building it out of pocket, you could be a long time putting it together. Good luck with your search, but you can count on this, once you purchase your car, be it a driver or project, a "better deal" is going to show up! Do yourself a favor after you buy whatever you are going to get and stop looking in the classifieds.....

 

[RustyRatRod]

I know the "muscle car era" ended in 70 but the 71/72........

I wholeheartedly DISagree there. The 440 was still available in the RR and Charger until 74. Plus, some pretty cool *** stripe and interior packages. Yeah, I know stripes a muscle car doesn't make, BUT, Mopar was still doing things no other car maker was right up until 74. Big blocks, four speeds, they still had the real muscle look IMO, even though they lacked the power of previous years, they were still big blocks. They still had torque. I'm a big fan of the later cars just for that reason.

 

[arsinist01]

Ask yourself if you want a driver or if you are comfortable working on a car for a while before you can drive it?

The 71 looks like it could very well be driveable now. The 69 obviously isn't. I sold a 72 cuda I had because I had it for 5 years and it still wasn't to the point where I could drive it. Bought a 74 satellite and I can drive that one every day now. But sometimes I still miss the cuda lol.

 

[kdtjb]

I like tem both, but I would get the 69, Because a person can't have too many 69 Roadrunners. lol