newby needs help

[jp.partner]

Hi guys ,

Thanks for the great topics being discussed. I am in need of some serious help. I'm from South Africa and we aint got no muscle cars here.

I've been dreaming about owning a mopar since I can remember.

However , with the current exchange rate to the US Dollar its hugely expensive to buy a vehicle in dollars , not even to mention shipping costs and importing costs ( government )

So I'm looking for a project vehicle I can fix up over time like a 69 charger or 71 challenger.

I've looked on autotraderclassic, daves classics , carsonline etc etc etc for months but its either a heap of junk for like 10K or already restored at like 50K.

Any advice for the newby ?

Thanks in advance

 

[Propwash]

Maybe start with something a bit more affordable off the bat, like a dart, duster, late 60's A-Body, or 3rd gen charger ('71-74). Use it as a stepping stone to get that Charger/Challanger. '69 Chargers and '71 Challengers are pretty sought after cars, thus their premium price. Knowing folks or looking in the right places can find those cars a bit cheaper than what you're seeing, but again it's about who you know and being in the right place at the right time.

It's an expensive hobby even on this side of the pond. Here at "For B Bodies Only", is a good place to surf the "For Sale" ad's. Other sites like For A Bodies Only, For E Bodies only, Dodgecharger.com and moparts would also be good places to look.

Good luck

 

[HT413]

How about a wagon or 4 door? Save you a boat load of money while still giving you the experience of owning a classic.

 

[747mopar]

I know where you are coming from, I bought a couple Mopars that I never did anything with before I landed my Charger and it had allot of issues for me to even be able to afford it. I'm kinda torn on Props suggestion, on one hand yes you could start smaller but with it being so expensive and labor intensive I hate the idea of building something you don't really, really want. Over hear you can stumble across a few or get the word out, not sure what your options are?

 

[daytona kid]

My advice is- come to America. If there are no cars where you are, go to where they are. There are lots of good cars here and you'll see it yourself before you buy it. I got a 68 charger for $500. Granted, it needed a lot of work, but they are here.

 

[tallhair]

Maybe some of other overseas guys will pop in and offer some suggestions on how they did it .. good luck jb

 

[kiwigtx]

Perseverance is the key to finding what you want.

A mint car for a budget price doesn't just happen everyday. You have to keep at it with the searching, and remember if you like it, chances are there are 100 more people who like it also. The better the deal the faster you need to be to act on completion with the seller. I got lucky in that my GTX was already in New Zealand, and so was my 69 Charger for that matter.

But my '68 A100 truck was all the way over in Oklahoma. Fortunately I had an internet friend who was willing to travel and check it out for me, and put the cash in the seller's hand....but not everyone has the opportunity. To make that truck deal work, I had to be fast on the phone, and not be afraid to spend a few bucks on an International call - although for us in New Zealand its only about $4 for up to 2 hours. The advertisement had only been live for about 3 hours - so timing was the key, and spending late nights searching was how I found the advert in the first place.

This is a genuine photo of my buddy talking to me on the phone as he handed the cash over;

I probably spent a bit on phone calls, but the end result was worth the effort and expenditure.
The other thing to remember is to be realistic with expectations.....don't go chasing a HEMI 4-speed car right off the bat unless you have the resources and ability to see the car through. Otherwise all you'll have in the end is a pile of rare parts in a land far away from potential buyers to finish the project.

Hopefully I have helped, and not put a damper on the idea of buying something cool. I would also make friends (if not already) with a local car club, and find out how other guys have fared regarding importation...their experiences on a local level will be more valuable than anyone in Cyber-land can offer.

Good luck with your search

 

[747mopar]

Perseverance is the key to finding what you want.

A mint car for a budget price doesn't just happen everyday. You have to keep at it with the searching, and remember if you like it, chances are there are 100 more people who like it also. The better the deal the faster you need to be to act on completion with the seller. I got lucky in that my GTX was already in New Zealand, and so was my 69 Charger for that matter.

But my '68 A100 truck was all the way over in Oklahoma. Fortunately I had an internet friend who was willing to travel and check it out for me, and put the cash in the seller's hand....but not everyone has the opportunity. To make that truck deal work, I had to be fast on the phone, and not be afraid to spend a few bucks on an International call - although for us in New Zealand its only about $4 for up to 2 hours. The advertisement had only been live for about 3 hours - so timing was the key, and spending late nights searching was how I found the advert in the first place.

This is a genuine photo of my buddy talking to me on the phone as he handed the cash over;

I probably spent a bit on phone calls, but the end result was worth the effort and expenditure.
The other thing to remember is to be realistic with expectations.....don't go chasing a HEMI 4-speed car right off the bat unless you have the resources and ability to see the car through. Otherwise all you'll have in the end is a pile of rare parts in a land far away from potential buyers to finish the project.

Hopefully I have helped, and not put a damper on the idea of buying something cool. I would also make friends (if not already) with a local car club, and find out how other guys have fared regarding importation...their experiences on a local level will be more valuable than anyone in Cyber-land can offer.

Good luck with your search

That is super cool to have a bud over here to help out and that is my kind of collection "I want an A100 van BAD".

 

[kiwigtx]

That is super cool to have a bud over here to help out and that is my kind of collection "I want an A100 van BAD".

They are still around for a reasonable price if look long enough And yes, my buddy Chris was a real good guy for helping me out like that - travelled from south of Dallas to the border with his wife and daughter in tow :headbang:

 

[Montclaire]

I would go A-body. You should be able to find a decent duster or a swinger and the parts are a heck of a lot cheaper compared to the B's and E's. I would also try to find something that is good enough to drive, I can't imagine shipping will be cheap for you. Don't forget, the Chrysler corp sold cars all over the world. Maybe try a location with a better exchange rate. I know I saw a few A-bodies in middle east news coverage over the years. Mexico has some neat variants as well.