I thought my Harleys were bad..

[WCC]

If only Mopars were as cheap as Harleys.

I'm from Cape Town, South Africa and parts are expensive to import from the US. We have a lot of Mopars down here but mostly Valiant barracuda and chargers - only a handful of E or B body cars, which were imports from the US. Right now I know of only two convertible cudas but have heard that somebody have one that needs restoration (currently in pieces I believe). We have a restriction on importing LHD cars (being a RHD country) so between that and the duties the US cars are very pricey over here - typically when you could still import them up to a few years ago whatever the $ price was in the US you could multiply it by 1.7 to 2 to get an idea of the cost landed here to where you drive it away. I had to pay up for my 71 convertible but I just love driving her which is what it is about. It's almost impossible to get a value on an E body over here because there are so few of them and nobody really knows what it sold for; that is if you're lucky enough to know of one that's for sale.
Be it as it may, it is an enjoyment thing - like a friend over here always says, I can always make more money but am very unlikely to buy and drive an E body over here, so you just pay up whenever one happens to come along.

I always wanted a 70/71 cuda but never had the oppertunity to buy one here. It just happened by chance that I got to buy one of the two convertibles we know about. I'm glad I did and being an investment was the last thing on my mind or reason I've bought it.

They're such great rides and the thrill of enjoyment soon outweighs the cost.

[Timbbuc2]

I could only imagine what it'd cost without reproduction parts I remember when the Cuda was parked many years ago it had wiring issues, so I took a look at the wiring and could see that some voodoo witch doctor had been casting spells to make things work... I am spoiled, used to reliable vehicles and I don't want to get stuck someplace in the Cuda because of a wiring gremlin. I figure if I am going to do this, I am going to do it right and NOW is the time when the car is completely apart. It just keeps adding up.. Now I am looking at Vintage Air, a new dash, etc. etc... There goes another $2500

Just needed to vent someplace.. Can't vent to the wife... I know I am not alone here, my Mopar brethren all know the pain too well.

I bought the vintage air set up and last week I ordered my vinyl top. And on and on LOL

[gzig5]

Mopars are bad compared Ford/Chevy but they are a lot cheaper to make go fast than a BMW M car.  Cheap headers for an E39 M5 are $2500 and good ones $5000.  Then you need a $1000 ECU tune to optimize them.  All for ~40 hp.  It's the other M-tax.  At least I don't need a computer to work on my Cuda.

[Chryco Psycho]

Stay Safe @WCC  I hear a lot of stories right now about how dangerous South Africa is even for families that have been there for 400 years or more
Great looking car though !!

[WCC]

Stay Safe @WCC  I hear a lot of stories right now about how dangerous South Africa is even for families that have been there for 400 years or more
Great looking car though !!

Thanks and yes, things in SA is a bit worrying right now, but like with a lot of countries there are spots you may want to avoid. Right now the western cape area and Cape Town is quite safe, especially the tourist sights and city centre. To be honest I felt less safe in London with all the stabbings and youth violence than I do in Cape Town.
The farms are a different story and the land grab thing is causing a shitstorm - farmers have it tough right now.
Really appreciate you guys thinking of us over here.

We have a lot of Mopar and classic car lovers out here. I just came from a classic car show in a little town called Knysna and it was a ball. Some lovely cars.

[RzeroB]

Could you  imagine what the cost would be if there was no reproduction parts. Yes they are costly but with out them you would be at mercy of someone on fleabay.

Without reproduction parts I don't think there would be much of a hobby as most of these cars would have been too far gone and "returned to the earth" without them. Some of the cars they resurrect today astound me and certainly would have had a one-way ticket straight to the "crusher" 30 years ago. Thank goodness for repro parts ... even if they are a bit pricey. 

[ledphoot]

fuel injection. 

You're just getting around to fuel injection???

I am the king of mission creep. This car is basically being rebuilt from scratch.. Every time I look at it I think of something else to replace. In most respects it will be a new car when it hits the street.

It truly is a sickness...

[ToxicWolf]

fuel injection. 

You're just getting around to fuel injection???

I am the king of mission creep. This car is basically being rebuilt from scratch.. Every time I look at it I think of something else to replace. In most respects it will be a new car when it hits the street.

It truly is a sickness...

I'm with you.  I'm deep into the "just one more thing and I'll be finished" illness. 

[Brads70]

fuel injection. 

You're just getting around to fuel injection???

It truly is a sickness...

I've been collecting parts for a FI conversion for years but I've been contemplating buying another car instead of spending the money on the Challenger.
Yep it's a sickness.... 

[LinceCuda]

My girlfriend and I drove my 72 Ralley Challenger to our graduation in 1978 she's now my wife. When I got the Cuda to restore I told her it was her car, spending money is now not a problem and she will ask are you working on the Cuda today? Life is good 

[ledphoot]

My girlfriend and I drove my 72 Ralley Challenger to our graduation in 1978 she's now my wife. When I got the Cuda to restore I told her it was her car, spending money is now not a problem and she will ask are you working on the Cuda today? Life is good 

Smart man..

[RUNCHARGER]

You know what they say: The reason Mopars and divorces are expensive is because they are both worth it.
I work in the parts biz now and I see guys wasting money on their Camaros every day. Mopars can be build fairly cheaply if you are smart about it. I see guys buying 12 bolt rearends and muncie 4 speeds and paying what we pay for A833's and 8 3/4's. The Mopar pieces are a lot tougher than the GM components so I see the Mopar stuff as much better value in that case for instance.

[nsmall]

This thread turned out great.  I love others sharing their money and mopar issues/addiction as we all seem to share that bond.
  LinceCuda, already tried that regarding my second dream car...70 roadrunner and my wife saw straight through me.

[LinceCuda]

This thread turned out great.  I love others sharing their money and mopar issues/addiction as we all seem to share that bond.
  LinceCuda, already tried that regarding my second dream car...70 roadrunner and my wife saw straight through me.

My girlfriend and I drove my 72 Ralley Challenger to our graduation in 1978 she's now my wife. When I got the Cuda to restore I told her it was her car, spending money is now not a problem and she will ask are you working on the Cuda today? Life is good 

Smart man..

The complete deal went like this I traded the Cuda to her for her 69 Vette. The reason I did that is if I need more funds to finish the Cuda I can sell the Vette and she can't say sheet lol. Ya gotta work it

[ledphoot]

he ledphoot, you got pics of your cuda in a thread somewhere?

My wife is just glad I'm spending money on things in the garage instead of money spent off my property.  Anything away from home seems to get me into trouble.You can tell your wife you could be out spending money at the bar.

I will be pulling the Cuda out of the shop and cleaning it up a little so I don't add any more scratches to it by rubbing the dust in to the paint

When I get her all rinsed off I will take a few pics, then I start assembling the new K-Member / front suspension... I hope to have that all done on Saturday. I was going to do a bit more but just realized my Quicktime Bellhousing is the WRONG ONE.. Online retailers can be so dumb.. I need a 6071, not a 6064 damn it. Hopefully I can get that sorted out quick so I can start getting the engine / trans in to the car.