Thanks! This post made me literally bust out laughing. lol You wouldn't want the garfield air freshener? C'mon! lmao! Yeah, I would really like to do a clone! That would be seriously awesome and I really like the look of the RT hoods (I have one I could use) and the scoops, etc. It is a numbers matching car and is pretty untouched, so I fear that cloning it would maybe hurt its value some. But, it's a reversible procedure I suppose and YOLO so why not have what you want!
I think I will have a long time to make up my mind on that.
lol, OK so if your not going to sell it to me, here is what I would do.
Now sure the car is rare'ish, I have only seen 1 other 500 big block convertible {not sure if it had a/c but I would guess it would have}. But since there are 2 reasons to keep a car original, lts take a look at them.
First reason of course is preservation/sentiment, if the car was special to you, being your first ride in a convertible was in the twin to it or it belonged to you for a long time etc, then sure don't change it. If you are worried about the car staying original because they are almost extinct then no clone for you.
2- VALUE, most cars are worth more restored to original spec. ALTHOUGH this is a really thin line and getting thinner by the day.
For example- 1970 chevelle malibu, a restored bone stock low mile (say 50K documented 1 owner) malibu is worth about $15-20K, that same car with an SS grille and badging, bucket seats, console, some mags, etc will bring $30K+... AND THEY ARE A DIME A DOZEN, Ill be there are more chevelle SS's now then they made!!!!
OK, so now take your car specifically, if it were mine (and maybe you will change your mind and sell it to me, I have not given up hope, lol)...
I would restore it to this car almost exactly
https://www.mecum.com/lot-detail/SC0508-65952/0/1970-Dodge-Hemi-Coronet-R/-Convertible/
video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUEc21i-i7o
colors, engine, seats, (except I would do 4spd of course) that is my DREAM car, now since I dont have a million and a half to spend on a car and that one is not for sale, lol being the only one in the world I will someday build one...
A hemi crate engine, 18 spline 4 spd, dana 60, side scoops, some badges, ram charger, hood, plus of course all the normal stuff like seat covers, top, carpet, etc etc etc.
Now lets compare the cars values..
A- a stock resto- cost about $25K to complete, car will be worth about $55K done.
B- Hemi R/T clone- cost about $50K to complete, car will be worth about $150K, I had a conversation with a couple mopar guys about building a clone, the consensus was that done right that car would bring between $150-$250K...
So say you were doing this just as a resale venture. Invest the car + 25 to get 55 for a profit of $30K (minus the car cost) or invest the car plus 55 for a profit $100K (minus the cost of the car)...
I know a gentleman that paid over $110K for a hemi non convertible clone (car is really nice)...
So anyway, the days of original is worth the money are going away, I never thought I would see the day a 70 charger v code car restored to original nice and fresh would be worth half of what the same car with a new fuel injected crate engine, disc brakes, lowering kit, leather seats, built in gps navigation, and viper metal flake paint is worth...
I am doing my 70 super bee now, its a real v code car, concole, n96 package with a dana, all #'s matching but I am changing stuff so the car is mine, sure its staying a 440-6, 4spd, and I like ev2 so the same color, but I am going to put a beep beep horn (or maybe a pair of them), a custom steering wheel, 70' charger seats, aluminum radiator, flow master mufflers, and arm rests with no ash trays, will the car be worth more all original or how I am doing it??? I think it will bee' too close to call...
Anyway, good luck, like i said I am in the middle of mine right now, if you have any questions or some parts I may have let me know... Hey maybe we can work some sort of trade out, I have a nice 70 hardtop bee, V-code calling your name, lol...
PS Another good thing about not going original, is much less BS, back ground checks, colostomy, having to give Govier a hand job in the handi-capped stall of an Arby's ladies room to get him to say your car is "good". Screw that, when I sold my 32' vicky, the guy came with a 800 $100 bills in bank binders and I wrote him a bill of sale on notebook paper, gave him the instructions on the electronic door poppers, the warranty for the ram jet, and about 50 pictures of the car as it was being done...
I sold an original 70' aluminum big block chevy car that I personally restored, and new the second owner who was related to the original owner and the guy broght a lawyer with him, wanted to put the money in escrow until they verified the authenticity and blah blah blah...
ANYWAY, PM me for my contact info, if the car is ever for sale I would like a shot at it...
I have a nice 39' ford tudor hot rod, shaved handles, leather, a/c, yellow, all steel, needs about a week of work to be finished...
aboard!
