Resto choice dilemma

spoolinhard · Apr 2, 2020

This is posted on the ebody site as well.

I have a dilemma on my hands. I do autobody/metal/mechanical work. I have been working on projects that wouldn't be my first choice to work on for a very long time. Ive about got my plate clean from obligations and I badly want a classic to drive and enjoy. I have newer vehicles that I can enjoy at the moment, but my classics are garage/yard ornaments. I own the following vehicles. They are all cool cars, but they each present their issues. I don't necessarily know that I will restore them all, but right now it is wonderful having options and they don't eat or cost anything to keep. Also, choices 1 and 3 will be FULLY restored. If I do anything with options 2 and 4, it will be partial resto to driving. Im pretty sure I know where I need to go with this, but thought it would be fun to get input.

Vehicles:

1.1968 Charger R/T. I recently bought this car. It is in California. Its fairly solid. The previous owner has been ordered to shelter in place. The car needs to be dug out and I have no idea when I am going to see it. This is my first choice. I am a charger guy. On top of not knowing when I will see it, it needs a title. Therefore I would have to apply for a bonded title. That takes time. My first choice is not a logical one. (Disclaimer I have contacted local law enforcement and had the VIN run before purchase; it checks out).

2. 1970 Charger. Originally 383-4 auto. I have owned this car for about a year. I have a ton of parts for this car. The car needs a ton of work. The title that I got with it was an old title that was dealer reassigned and the people I got the car from title jumped. The DMV confiscated the title when I tried to put it in my name. (The VIN is clean, but the physical title was a mess that apparently couldn't be rectified). I am currently going through the process of getting a bonded title. I don't think I will have a title by the time I am free to work on a project car, which is soon.

3.1970 Challenger T/A. Ive owned this car for a long time. I have never had a title. I started working on this car when I was younger and then stopped quite some time ago. Most of the metal work is done. It is the candidate that would take the least time. I am not putting another ounce of sweat or dollar into this car until I get a title. I am about to start the bonded process with this car to be done with it. Same problem as above charger.

4. 1970 Challenger R/T. This is a cool car with cool options. It is no 2nd gen charger and it is no Challenger T/A. It is rough but very restorable. This car would be my last choice. But here is the kicker..... It has a clear title in my name, making it the only viable option if I wanted to start tomorrow. I accidentally put this one down as a charger RT in the poll. It's not a charger, my bad!!!

Richard Cranium · Apr 2, 2020

Personally, I have found that E bodies are nice to look at, but they suck to drive any distance.

I'd say that you should pick the one you like the best & sell the other three to finance that single project. Of course you've got t get the title issues straightened out first.

Jerry Hall · Apr 2, 2020

The Charger would be my first choice also. I don't know how long it takes to get bonded titles with clean VIN's, but it seems that the Charger is going to be the last one your able to have clear ownership of. Also you mentioned that you wanted one to drive and enjoy. If I were doing this, I would just go ahead with the 70 R/T as it looks to be the easiest to finish and enjoy. I would do this while getting the paperwork in order on the others. Once the paperwork is in order I would do the 68 Charger and probably unload the other 2 for the funds to do the Charger.

snakeoil24 · Apr 2, 2020

The 1970 Charger RT is a beautiful car done right. The old challengers are lighter and tinny compared to charger

spoolinhard · Apr 2, 2020

Richard Cranium said:
Personally, I have found that E bodies are nice to look at, but they suck to drive any distance.

I'd say that you should pick the one you like the best & sell the other three to finance that single project. Of course you've got t get the title issues straightened out first.

I have a good job; I also have a few other cars that I plan on selling so that I do not have to dip into my savings. I will probably not restore all these cars. After I get one done, I will re evaluate what I am keeping and what I am not. Im guessing that after I go through the trouble of one resto, my opinion on what I need to do with the others will be a lot easier to act on.

spoolinhard · Apr 2, 2020

Jerry Hall said:
The Charger would be my first choice also. I don't know how long it takes to get bonded titles with clean VIN's, but it seems that the Charger is going to be the last one your able to have clear ownership of. Also you mentioned that you wanted one to drive and enjoy. If I were doing this, I would just go ahead with the 70 R/T as it looks to be the easiest to finish and enjoy. I would do this while getting the paperwork in order on the others. Once the paperwork is in order I would do the 68 Charger and probably unload the other 2 for the funds to do the Charger.

I agree. Im leaning towards working on the 70 R/T to get it towards a driver. I may stop working on it when my number 1 or 2 choice is good to go. But yes, I have sold a few other cars with sorted titles. I cant really sell anything else until I have titles sorted out as well.

66ChargerHI-PO · Apr 2, 2020

I would say the Challenger R/T, as a friend of mine has one. Also because they bring some good money,especially if a 6pack if you ever decided to sell it when completed.

Slap Stick · Apr 2, 2020

In terms of rarity the T/A is probably the rarest of the bunch but everyone wants the big inch engines.
If you were to start work now the one with the clear title is the obvious choice.

WileERobby · Apr 2, 2020

I picked #2, only because no one else did.

69 GTX · Apr 3, 2020

1, 3, 2, 4. That would be my order.

myk r sanchez · Apr 3, 2020

How do people have projects that sit around for years; that would give me anxiety and make me nuts. I say either finish what you already have or sell it/them and move on to something that you will actually finish in time to enjoy before the corona virus kills us all.

I see no point in having barns or storage units full of cars that don't run. I have a friend like that: he has a '63 Continental convertible and a '57 Crown Victoria in various states of disrepair that have sat in his garage for at least the 25 years I've known him.

As for buying cars without titles, I dont get that. Either a car is good to go or it isn't; I dont have the patience to deal with a car that's in DMV/government bureaucracy hell. Goos luck with whatever you decide, but sounds like you're a Charger man...

spoolinhard · Apr 3, 2020

myk r sanchez said:
How do people have projects that sit around for years; that would give me anxiety and make me nuts. I say either finish what you already have or sell it/them and move on to something that you will actually finish in time to enjoy before the corona virus kills us all.

I see no point in having barns or storage units full of cars that don't run. I have a friend like that: he has a '63 Continental convertible and a '57 Crown Victoria in various states of disrepair that have sat in his garage for at least the 25 years I've known him.

As for buying cars without titles, I dont get that. Either a car is good to go or it isn't; I dont have the patience to deal with a car that's in DMV/government bureaucracy hell. Goos luck with whatever you decide, but sounds like you're a Charger man...

Patience being the key word; apparently it's not for everybody. I don't feel the need to contact a shrink over project anxiety, think I'm good there too.

68Moparmaniac · Apr 3, 2020

You really don't want that 68 Charger RT and I'm willing to help out so just pack it up and I'll come get it out of your life for free..win win
dilemma solved :thumbsup:

hunt2elk · Apr 3, 2020

I would get clear titles in my name for all of them and then get going on the 68 Charger.

Jerry Hall · Apr 3, 2020

hunt2elk said:
I would get clear titles in my name for all of them and then get going on the 68 Charger.

I don't need a title here. A clean VIN# and a Bill of Sale on anything older than 1975. If I sell something I give a Bill of Sale, a registration, and a copy of Alabama title law. Anyone in any state can get title from that.

70chall440 · Apr 3, 2020

Well I don't have any Chargers but I do have 2 E bodies, 1 B body and 1 A body. You need to do the car that speaks to you the loudest, meaning the car that you really want/are interested in especially if this is going to be something you intend to drive often.

E bodies are no worse to drive over distance than a B body depending on how the suspension is set up. There was a time when I drove a Challenger everyday for probably 5 or 6 years.

As to having a lot of project cars, well each to his own. I just finished my Cuda and moved onto my 70 RR but still have a 68 Cuda waiting its turn. If I had more space (and money) I'd have more cars most likely.

hunt2elk · Apr 3, 2020

Jerry Hall said:
I don't need a title here. A clean VIN# and a Bill of Sale on anything older than 1975. If I sell something I give a Bill of Sale, a registration, and a copy of Alabama title law. Anyone in any state can get title from that.

You are lucky. It is much more difficult to get a clear title in your name in WI if there has been several previous owners who haven't registered the car in their name. They call it title jumping here and lose out on the State sales tax on every transaction the car doesn't get registered. I have never had it happen but supposedly there are some decent fines associated with it.

threewood · Apr 3, 2020

Fine choices!!
My 1st pick would be the 68 Charger.

2nd pick is a tie between the Challenger T/A and the Challenger R/T. With the RT I would be very tempted to build a Kowalski clone. They look great in white.

spoolinhard · Apr 3, 2020

threewood said:
Fine choices!!
My 1st pick would be the 68 Charger.

2nd pick is a tie between the Challenger T/A and the Challenger R/T. With the RT I would be very tempted to build a Kowalski clone. They look great in white.

Car is B5, probably my favorite color, right behind plum crazy

Hey-O · Apr 4, 2020

Slap Stick said:
In terms of rarity the T/A is probably the rarest of the bunch but everyone wants the big inch engines.
If you were to start work now the one with the clear title is the obvious choice.

I would do the T/A, once you get the title squared away. They're rare.

Resto choice dilemma

Which one should I pick?

1968 charger R/T

1970 charger

1970 Challenger T/A

1970 Charger R/T

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