70 Barracuda 383 4 speed

[70chall440]

Definitely true if you are paying someone to build it for you.

[Fastmark]

I agree 100%, Alan. It's crazy what everything cost, not just car restoration. I do restoration repair for mopars and it's getting to be more than part time. The cost of parts and labor is stunning. Right now I'm repairing a 68 Charger RT that was finished in 2001. I did the disassembly back then and some mechanical work. It was finished off at at a street rod type shop afterwards because I just did not have the time. In 2001, that shop charged $45 per hr. They made many mistakes. They are still in business today and charge $155! I'm fixing their  mistakes and the fact that those mistakes caused the owner to let the car set in storage for all these years and deteriorate. He is quite the procrastinator! Lol. Still, it is what it is. You can't build that car for the asking price but I don't think he will get that price. I think everyone out there buying a car wants the other guy to loose money on the resto, not them. I'm trying to find a car for the same guy that has the project AAR I mentioned. It is green, auto, with no fender tag. He only has a 73 340 block, TA heads, intake, carbs, cut up air cleaner( it is fixable) and it's an old orange paint job. He has a few extra parts I want, but it's a $20k car as it sits. It's a low end car for someone.

[ragtopdodge]

The problem with resto-mods is that they're modified often so much only to the tastes of the builder/owner.

That's why stock builds are better "investments" if you plan on selling.

Resto mods only work IMHO, if:

1) keep interior stock or very stock looking.  This car passes.
2) keep paint somewhat period and tone down stripes/spoilers unless are done to stock and for that year.  This car passes this too.
3) engine compartment must be CLEAN from clutter!  No MSD boxes/ECU boxes showing, excessive gaudy chrome, and wires everywhere.  FAIL!
4) OD trans, disk brakes all around, and mile suspension mods or mods that do not ruin the ride.  PASS (although Unisteer?  Uggh).
5) wheels can be anything, but nothing bigger than 19s and no chrome unless they're just the lips.  PASS
6) trunk clean and stock looking or very very tidy custom.  No big speaker boxes/amps/fuel cell/etc.  PASS

This car overall isn't bad (I like how he kept the "Barracuda" emblems), but the engine compartment is a mess.  And...nothing special as far as engine.  Air cleaner/valve covers/firewall...UGH!  Can't easily fix those holes in the firewall if one would cleanup that junk on there.

[303 Mopar]

The problem with resto-mods is that they're modified often so much only to the tastes of the builder/owner.

That's why stock builds are better "investments" if you plan on selling.

Resto mods only work IMHO, if:

1) keep interior stock or very stock looking
2) keep paint somewhat period and tone down stripes/spoilers unless are done to stock and for that year
3) engine compartment must be CLEAN from clutter!  No MSD boxes/ECU boxes showing, excessive gaudy chrome, and wires everywhere.
4) OD trans, disk brakes all around, and mile suspension mods or mods that do not ruin the ride
5) wheels can be anything, but nothing bigger than 19s and no chrome unless they're just the lips.
6) trunk clean and stock looking or very very tidy custom.  No big speaker boxes/amps/fuel cell/etc.

5 out of 6?

[Racer57]

What % consignment do places like Gateway typically charge ? If you took their fee off, would the price be more legit ?

[anlauto]

Definitely true if you are paying someone to build it for you.

People put this out there all the time.....but one of the largest costs in a Mopar restoration is the parts....

If you can do all the rust repair, all the body work and paint work yourself...There is certainly a lot of money to be saved, and if you have the talent to do all that work to a high quality yourself...then you should open up your own restoration shop

[chaosrob]

I purchased this car and realize that some will snicker or rail me about it.  Some mods I didn't like, some I did.  The main reason I was drawn to it and finalized the purchase was the body and quality of that part of the build.  I am not a body guy and have zero interest in sending a project out for years and hope that they did it right.

My first mod to it was a/c and the entire purpose of the car is a nice dailyish driver, not collector or for resale.  I did not pay 70k for it and honestly for what the final price was not many new cars that would interest me are in that range certainly not with the character of a Barracuda.

I love that it is still shown, labelled and presents as a Barracuda.  We will see how I feel about it in a year lol

[cuda hunter]

Congrats!   Glad the car found it's rightful owner. 
Looks like you will definitely enjoy it.  Nice ride!

[Cuda Cody]

Welcome to the forum @chaosrob     Congratulations on the new purchase!    

[RUNCHARGER]

Welcome to the forum from B.C. Canada. I agree that good body and paint have huge value these days. Up here I figure $15k gets you a good paint job with decent prep and things go up after that, $15k buys you most of the metal, so paying for a good body and paint to start with is worthwhile.

[chaosrob]

Thank you

.Congrats!   Glad the car found it's rightful owner. 
Looks like you will definitely enjoy it.  Nice ride!

Thank you very much

.Welcome to the forum @chaosrob     Congratulations on the new purchase!   

It just wasn't that but I seen all the pictures of this car from tear down to reconstruction,  The fitment of th panels was superior to everything else that I looked at and it had a lot f the modifications I would make personally (except for that stupid R&P which I will have to deal with in the future).  I certainly agree that it won't be everyones cup of tea and it was originally overpriced but I believe I did alright out the door and it will save me a lot of down time if not dollars

.Welcome to the forum from B.C. Canada. I agree that good body and paint have huge value these days. Up here I figure $15k gets you a good paint job with decent prep and things go up after that, $15k buys you most of the metal, so paying for a good body and paint to start with is worthwhile.