68 Charger to be saved from rust and a tree

[Root2812]

Hello,

First post on this forum... I have lurked for a wile and this seems like a good board so I joined.

On Wednesday I purchased a 68 charger with the numbers matching everything and a clean title. I bought it from a 71 year old woman who used it as her daily driver in the early 80's. She said that she parked it running in 1984 and that's where it sat. In July a storm came and a tree fell on it and smashed the roof. She decided it was time to sell the car. I picked it up for what I felt was a really good deal ($6750). I have seen these cars go for much higher so I felt it was a win no matter what. I got the car home and found a few surprises. The interior looks pretty good, dash is near mint but the carpet got soaked in the storm after the tree broke the window so it was kinda gross. The head liner was also ruined. the car looks really solid at first glance but the rust in underneath. As you can see in the pictures, the rear is squatting which is because the springs are going up in the trunk. The floor is pretty bad and the rear frame rails are rotten from just behind the wheels to the rear. I think that rust is common right?

The car is a base model and has a really nice patina other than the tree damage. Its a 318 auto car with the bucket seats, column shift, and jumper seat. Blue car with blue interior.

I spent all my cash on the car so fixing it will wait a bit but I can still gather info for the time being. Please let me know what you think of my car and please share advice for me to learn from. I want to pull the soaked carpet and get the trunk open soon so hopefully I can get some more pics of the rust.

Thanks
Greg

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Sorry, I got a few duplicate pictures... Chock that up to a learning curve.

 

[Car Nut]

aboard!

Nice buy!

Every piece of metal and glass is being reproduced, so your roof and anything else available. I would rip out the carpeting right away.

Post a picture of your fender tag.

 

[eric383]

Sweet 68 project. Good luck.

 

[Habib]

That Rear floors/frame are really bad but she can be saved, Welcome.

 

[Brandy]

good buy! No shortage of parts for it either. Good luck with it and keep us all posted on your progress.

 

[flypaper]

Nice money pit
Have fun with it. .

 

[Root2812]

Nice money pit
Have fun with it. .

Money pit.... Thats reassuring.... I've actually been contemplating selling it on. As much as I want a charger the frame rails scare me.

These cars don't come up for sale around here very often unless they are either shells, completely gone, or crazy expensive. I had to jump on a complete numbers matching car. You never see a complete car under $10k. I know I won't lose money if I sell it but I also know I won't have another... The rust does scare me though...

I'll post up the fender tag tomorrow. It's a bare car so the tag doesn't show much. If there was an option I don't think this car has it.

 

[Root2812]

 

[Coronet 14]

You maybe able to do alot of the work yourself. A little at a time. Strip the car down and bag and mark all parts you take off even broken ones. Then you will know what new parts go where. Take lots of pictures and notes. Moparmarks may have good used frame rails and other stuff you may need. Make it how you want. Use good quality parts whether used or new.

 

[pistol_grip_polara]

That's my ultimate dream car.. Always had a soft spot for a '68 charger....

 

[Homstead]

Sweet looking car! Everything can be fixed it just takes time and patience. You can do it,, we`ll cheer you on and offer moral support!

 

[GetX'd]

That's going to be quite a project, but as noted above can be saved. A lot will depend on how much of the work you can do yourself. Restorations aren't cheap. Figure out a budget of what you can afford vs. estimates on what things will cost. That should help you with the - should I or shouldn't I - question.

Good luck and welcome to FBBO.

 

[Root2812]

Well here is an update. I decided I wanted less of a project. I sold the charger and made a few bucks, only a few. If you count my time then I broke even.

I am already doing a frame off build of a 1950 Chevy truck so I didn't want another big build and that's what this was. Instead i recently purchased a 1974 roadrunner. It's all original except a radio someone added and the paint color. It's a factory sunroof car, which sounds rare, and it's got the 360 high output motor. Best part is that it's rust free. It's a southwestern can and has very few dents and no rust. That's surprising since its all original panels. I will open a thread up in the appropriate section of the forum once the shipper delivers the car.

oh and this one runs and drives!

Even though my 68 is gone I do appreciate the wisdom shared by you guys and I hope you'll share more for me and my 74.

 

[flypaper]

good luck with your newer money pit
that charger was a expensive fix
if you couldn't do all the work yourself it was best to move on.
i wouldn't want to be the one cutting the checks to fix it...