Original or restored what’s a better buy?

[jebroadrunner]

Buying a 1972 roadrunner. What’s worth more restored or original? It a 2 owner car in tawny gold with a tan/ gold interior. Original paint that still shines but not perfect, has a few dings and rust lf bottom lf fender and RR 1/4 rear and forward of wheel opening, can be patched properly.original numbers matching engine and trans , original 400 4 speed N96 car, currently has a date correct 440 6 pak in it but comes with original engine.hood and trunk stripes,am fm radio, power steering and brakes.interior nearly perfect and all original, unmolested car.

 

[440 4 speed]

I would keep it original and only drive it in the summer. Looks great.
I don’t know which would be worth more. The local car show viewers would talk the owner’s ear off when they saw a car like that.
What is the mileage?

 

[gkent]

You never recover what you have in a "properly done" restoration.

 

[desotoman]

Hey I have one of those cars but f7 in color,400 4 speed ,n96 car wish mine was in your condition.i would leave it alone looks great

 

[s/w theo]

I think originals are worth more personally. Like they say, it's only original once! I would leave it & drive it once in a while. Someone took very good care of that car from day 1.
It's not easy to find originals. 71-72 Road Runners/GTXs are my favorite years too. Super nice car!

 

[Wile E Coyote]

Original all.day.long! You can lean on it, put your car keys on the fender, sit something on the deck lid. You can enjoy it worry free! As already stated; 'only original once'. I have 6 figures in a restoration and won't drive it, needs to be 'roped off' (metaphorically), can't touch, worry all the time something will happen to it, etc. Thats a damn nice car. Buy, leave as-is and enjoy it! My Super Bee is 75,000 mile car, patina, few dents, nickel-size rust spot - and I enjoy it!

 

[426s martin]

Is that GY3?

 

[Wile E Coyote]

Is that GY3?

Yes, good 'ole Citron Yella! 383 slap-stick.

 

[Michael_]

An unrestored car in great condition is the most expensive and also best buy of them all.
Also I would be scared of buying a restored car because i don't know which and how many shortcuts they took. Can't look inside the engine, can't look behind the dash, can't know how long and good the repo parts hold up etc.

Hence i just bought an old 1990 zr-1 corvette with only 500 original miles on it.

 

[RR Fan Dan]

If I had to do it all over again, I would get unrestored and restore it myself. Restorations are done incorrectly and hide a lot of problems. Like lipstick on a pig. 72 is a good year to find parts too. Especially metal. If you don’t mind sharing what are they asking?

 

[426s martin]

I have its twin----was 340 in the day, but just ran my bb 6 pack on dyno today! pump gas summer project

 

[#41]

Preserve it as much as possible the way it is. A body shop can patch that lower rust and blend in some matching paint. It might not be perfect, but that's ok!

 

[493 Mike]

I have its twin----was 340 in the day, but just ran my bb 6 pack on dyno today! pump gas summer projectView attachment 1997216View attachment 1997217

That dyno chart looks strange to me?
Mike

 

[furious70]

The rust holes would be hard to live with for me. Rest of it is awesome as is

 

[Runcharger]

I prefer original paint cars all the way. However, I hate rust too and would have to repair those holes with metal. I'd document with photos before during and after and paint the minimum area possible.
Best Mopar package available in 72 IMO, 400, 4 speed, ag!

 

[YY1]

They are only original and unmolested once.

I vote for- do as little as possible and see if you can get into the survivor's tent.

 

[autoxcuda]

Always be careful with “survivors”. They’ve been making reproduction parts for 35+ years. A seat cover can seem to have age, but actually be 30 year old repro.

Have the paint thickness checked.

Nothing wrong with an unmolested and un-restored car.

 

[RJ Squirrel]

Nice car to drive as is! One option for that rust spot on the quarter, cut it out, patch it, and make a cover plate that looks like it is supposed to be there. I did that with a survivor 67 Polara, made rocker trim out of aluminum and polished it.

 

[YY1]

If'n it were me- I'd "simply" try to stop the rust in the quarter with a wire brush, rust converter, and clear coat.

...and then not worry about it other than to make sure it doesn't get any worse.