Matching Numbers & Bondo...

[threewood]

Did you ask this gentleman whether he did all the work on his car or paid someone else to do it? Sounds like the guy was an ***. People like him criticize others to make themselves feel better about their own car.

I enjoy looking at the 100% restorations and there is absolutely a place for them in the hobby. But the fact remains that engines are destroyed, transmissions blown up and rot cut away so matching numbers are getting hard to find and expensive. I enjoy driving mine and wash it occassionally to get rid of the smashed bugs. If I had a car with a $15k paint job I would be afraid to take it out of the garage.

 

[super-bee_ski]

Well said olddgo67
Well said!

 

[super-bee_ski]

Olddog67 in my opinion, you have your priorities in the correct order. And I agree with what 71dodgechargerrt said, who cares what other people think. My parents taught me to always think on your own, and don't go along with the crowd. A couple years ago a friend told me while he was at a car show, a guy looking at his car said that it was a nice car, but it wasn't a factory color. His reply back was "I didn't build it for you"! Perfect!

Great point!
Many of todays collectors have their cars WAY OVER-RESTORED!

They were NEVER that good straight form the factor....

 

[khryslerkid]

but I know what kind of man I am.....

 

[66383]

Curious...why is everyone so hung up on matching numbers and scared to death of body filler?
I have a 67 Charger and sure it has some fill in the quarter panels, maybe more seam sealer than I would have used in some spots and its not a numbers matching car but it sure does make me smile when Im driving it! Shes a 10 outta 10 at speed or when Im at the gas station talking to the guy at the pump next to me about the car and a 8 outta 10 when parked.

There was a fellow Mopar man looking over my car in the shop and pointed out the fill, the paint ain't perfect either and the 4 speed was originally an automatic and asked me why I would want such a car, why would you buy a car with fill?...a non OE equipped not 100% perfect car as he put it. My answer...money, time, family, mortgage and other priorities dictate my life over my Charger.
I am only here for a short time and as far as I know this is my only go around this big world so I have no issue while jamming gears that my car should have a 727 and has fill in her. I would rather have 5 mopars that run and drive that aren't 100% over 1 that is museum quality any day.

But I am curious on your guys opinion. BTW the guy who was critiquing my car has some VERY pretty Mopars of his own.

AMEN BROTHER!

 

[Bladecutter]

Anyone that thinks a 40 year old car won't have compromises in body work is clueless! Unless it's all new sheet metal that is entirely metal finished(peck & file)after being welded into place(gonna be WAY 'spensive Loosey!!!)is nutz. Lead is a compromise as much as bondoe is.(not structural, checks over time, & weighs a helluva lot more than plastic)Epoxy resin with ground glass & cab-o-sil is a FAR better alternative to bondoe(polyester resin & talcum powder) & lead too.
Not a gd thing wrong with fill as long as it's used with discretion.
Most people making derogatory comments about fill don't know **** about actually doing bodywork.
Every spot weld is going to create distortion that finds its way to the least stressed areas of the sheet metal. Anybody that thinks one can just weld new panels into place, prime & sand a couple times, paint, is out of touch with reality.

 

[Darius]

I spent WAY more than I needed to or even should have when I did my GTX. I never once wavered from the ides that I was building it to drive. I drive it hard too. 13000 miles on it now after 3 full seasons. People are blown away when they find out I "drove" it all the way to Las Vegas or So Cal. I like LOOKING at these cars as much as the next guy but I don't have mine just to look at, I certainly do look at it but my favorite view is over the hood with hiway moving under me!!!

 

[kiwigtx]

I don't get it with the dickheads that advertise a car as matching numbers throughout, then proceed to rattle of a list of parts that were never factory items, starting with a stroker motor, and topped off with aftermarket headers and wheels. Matching numbers is out the window at that point.

 

[moose1]

Ever notice that the opinionated "experts" who feel free to find flaws in your car most likely don't even own one? But they read lots of magazines!

 

[PP1RT]

Do you own a car for someone elses pleasure or your own? Did you buy it to show off or for your own personal enjoyment? Why worry about what someone else thinks?

I couldn't give a **** what someone else thinks. I like em just as much shiny as rusty...

 

[idrivemopar]

Is there such a thing as a "Driver queen"!

LOL, most people that have seen my car would call it a trailer queen, but I drive her, not in wet weather, but I still drive and hot rod the crap out of the car, its fun, but I want it to look nice, and stay nice as long as possible. Its a numbers matching car, but its had some mods, and there is some bondo on her, but used very sparingly and I don't even know where it was used other than skim coat.

 

[moparlore]

I just got mine back on the road lately. I had a guy at a local drive in show make "comments" on the way I did the engine compartment wiring. After a few minutes, I asked to see pictures of his ride and his approach to the method. He then stated he didn't actually have a car at the show. Some people just like to criticize, don't worry about what everyone else thinks, as long as you like it.

 

[NJRR]

.... If I had a car with a $15k paint job I would be afraid to take it out of the garage.

Which is why I sold my restored 70 RR and bought the 70 Satty droptop!!

 

[bschomske]

Yea I'm selling my garage art to some else.Great car just hard to own.........

 

[mikedonz]

When my project is done I want it to look "numbers matching" from the outside, but I'll be very glad when they find a 528 Hemi under the hood rather than the original 318. Haha

 

[Budnicks]

I love day 2 cars, I love racecars 1st, I had quite a few purist cars too,
I like "tinkering way to much", to leave anything alone anymore...
I'm on my 110th car/racecar/muscle-car/truck etc.
"I couldn't care any less" what people think about how I choose to build a car...

Just because your car is built up, modified !!
That doesn't mean it doesn't have #'s matching components either,
engine block, trans case, rear axle &/or housing carrier, body, radiator support,
#'s all match what came off the assembly line, factory color code etc....
Those are the definition of #'s matching, what it came with from the factory...

Mine has all the above & it's modified & fun as hell too...

I love this a fellow member posted a while back

Build your car how you want it,
drive it like you stole it, enjoy it, that's what they were intended for
use what ever parts you deem necessary,
to hell with them types that don't like it,
they can build what they want, who cares what others think...

Nothing wrong with a trailer queen, if that's what you want !!
IMO there's nothing wrong with a Bondo buggy either,
well as long as it isn't falling off the car
I've owned both, it's enjoyable no matter which car it is...
IMO it really depends on your own personal tastes & criteria...
Do what makes you happy...

I love cars/trucks of all types...

Don't let the "sometimes" overly **** VIN & Fender-tag reader crowd
deter you from building what ever it is "you deem necessary"
Not all the OE crowd are that bad, many/most IMO are great people...
Some are overly critical on every aspect too...

don't be those guys

 

[Sonny Black]

something coming that will interest you guys...will share soon...

 

[Budnicks]

Sonny's car in a movie ?

 

[flypaper]

grow a pair and learn to ignore!
it will make life easier for ya...

 

[brad 66]

if i had that kind of money i would have a trailer queen but i would have a driver too .as for the guy with the big mouth that, didnt have a car there lol .my dad told me , sometimes you can think someone is an ahole but you dont have to tell him .same thing, if i think the guys car is a piece of **** i would never say that to anyone.