Decision Time - Need some input.

[crahill39]

Now that hunting season is all but over I can transition over to working my car. I picked up fairly rough 71 all numbers matching GTX many months ago and just started working on it. It needs new A-Pillars, Roof Skin, Patching on some of the roof bracing, floors, trunk, lots of other rust patching. I bought a 71 Road Runner shell the other day as a possible donor car, but after getting the car home, it fairly solid with very little rust to deal with. However, the road runner has no fender tag or BS, but I can't bring myself to hack it up. So I am wondering if the time and effort of getting the GTX ready would be better spent on the Road Runner. Thoughts?

GTX Pics:



RoadRunner



Craig

 

[69chargerboy]

Well I would have to ask you what is the overall goal and budget of the restoration of either cars? For yourself or to sell to make money? Even though the GTX will be more work, I would pick that to restore for myself. Im a bit partial to GTXs' anyway. Thats my 2 cents...

 

[2012ChargerBlacktop]

In my opinion, using an undocumentable Road Runner to bring back a verifiable, numbers matching GTX is a no-brainer. Is it a shame to dismember a clean car? Yes, but logically, financially it is the right thing to do. At least you will get some return on your hard work somewhere down the line!

 

[Coronet 14]

You could put one together and drive it. Then restore the other one

 

[Northern Runner]

I say keep the Roadrunner AND the GTX. No sense in hacking the Roadrunner up just because it doesn't have a fender tag or a build sheet. That only matters to purists and sticker counters!! Remember it's still a Roadrunner!!! It's still worth saving and not hacking up just due to they only made around 21,000 of the 71' and 72's! Remember, they don't make them anymore!!

Now what can you do? Here are some plans of action.
1. Sell Roadrunner and buy a clean Satellite donor for the GTX.
2. Restore GTX slowly and make RR a cool driver for the time being.
3. Restore RR and GTX.
4. Restore RR and sell GTX to another man going through a mid-life crisis. :eusa_naughty: (Boooo)
5. Hack RR and use it to restore the GTX. :angryfire: (Boooo)

Now this is all dependent on your budget and future plans for the cars. If you're on a budget option #1 would be great but #2 would also be viable. If you have a little more cash lying around #2 and #3 would be great. IMO stay away from options 4 and 5 at all costs!
Now to answer your question. Spend some time on the Roadrunner first to have a fun running driving car while you put the big bucks into the GTX a little later.But on the flipside I see in your avatar what looks like an early RR/Satellite that looks like a cool driver. If you still have it, spend your time on the GTX as it is a very deserving car for a restoration!! Best of luck to you and congrats on picking up those cars! :hello2:

 

[crahill39]

I am really leaning on keeping both, and slowly working on the GTX as others have stated. I have a line on a complete roof, and another donor shell if needed, but that will take a big chunk out of this years operating funds. I am not a car flipper, just a wannabee car restorer who loves B Body mopars and have no plans to selling either one if they get finished. I will probably always be on a budget, but at 43, I am in my forever home now with a great big ole shop out in the country with no plans on moving ever again (knock on wood).

 

[mopar 3 B]

Keep both and do not worry about not having a BS or fender tag for the RR if you have a good title for it put it together the way you would have bought it new and enjoy. Their are to dam many purest in this hobby.

 

[Meangene83]

Two is better than one!

 

[idrivemopar]

My 73 Roadrunner does not have a BS or fender tag, and I sunk a lot into her, but I have also had the car for over 30 years, so there is that connection and why I restored her to her former glory!!!!!


She went from this....




To this....


And this....


to this.....


So there is hope at the end of the tunnel no matter what you decide to do.

 

[djais1801]

how about this ?

http://goldcountry.craigslist.org/cto/4823243732.html

 

[Bruzilla]

I honestly don't think the GTX is worth saving with that much rust damage. Maybe ten years ago yes, but today... no. If you are not a professional restorer I would bet money that project would wear you down and break you long before you got it on the road. I would suggest keeping the Roadrunner and getting it back on the road and sell the GTX and apply those funds to the Roadrunner project.

 

[44070dart]

man thats a lot of rust ..I would do the RR and really think about what to do with the GTX after I'm driving the RR .. me thinks you will sell it to the next guy to put together ..especially if resale not the important issue

 

[Propwash]

I'd keep both as well.

The bird looks to be in better shape. I sure in the heck wouldn't part it out. I guess if resale is a worry, just build your roadrunner in a resto-mod, pro-touring or custom type fashion, and done right you could break even or even make a buck depending on the route you go (being you'll be doing the work). The market is a lot more hot right now for those cars vs. someone trying to go original, but missing documentation/tags. Resto-mod/Pro-touring/Custom jobs, Broadcast sheet & fender tag doesn't really make a pinch of difference anymore anyways.

If I was in your shoe's with two cars like that (wish I was), I'd build the roadrunner first, then wait to stumble on a cheap satellite to snatch the roof/pillars from for the GTX. When going to swap the roofs out, I would find a car that I could cut at the bottom of the A-Pillar's and lower C-pillar's and graft on to the GTX. Trying to disassemble the roof skin, roof framing, pillar's and drip rail laces on both would take hundreds of hours to do, and believe me, it isn't fun.

Good luck!

 

[crahill39]

I think I am going to finish stripping down the GTX and get blasted/primered, then start on the RR. The GTX is a basket case right now, but I think it is worth saving even if it means fixing a few things at a time. A lot of good points were made on both sides of the issue and I appreciate the input. I have a line on a complete roof from Moparmark, it's just a matter of working out the logistics to get it shipped.

 

[Magnes]

I like that GTX. I saw it on ebay a couple weeks ago. Triple black and 2 tags. It's definitely worth saving but man o man, that's a big project. Not for the faint of heart or skill.

My advice as far as the GTX: Don't buy the panels you need individually. Buy a whole parts car. A super SOLID parts car. If you try building that thing by buying each panel individually, you are going to spend a FORTUNE. Figuring shipping and the high cost of, even, used panels not to mention new.... Don't get in a hurry to find the right parts car either. It might take a while. In the meantime, you can disassemble that thing and have it soda blasted, then epoxy prime it so it doesn't continue to rust.

The Road Runner: Build it if you want. Build it how you want. Sell it if you want, but don't expect to get much for it. In the end, I doubt it will be worth much more than a clone. And like clones, value is based on the quality of work done and the coolness factor of the build itself.

You're in a tough spot really. To be honest, I don't know if either one is a wise investment. And if you don't really care about the investment, selling them both and buying something else may be a better option to get you in the driver's seat in much less time.