This is my project, one 1970 R/T SE. I believe the original owner, a Vietnam Vet, has passed, but it was sold new in the Detroit suburb of Madison Heights from Hunter Dodge (now Oakland Dodge) on W 14 Mile Rd. Fast forward to 1993 and the car is picked up as an abandoned vehicle and later that year and put up for sale by way of Police auction. I've since found evidence of broken driver door glass and combined with a missing ignition it doesn't paint a pretty picture.
I purchased it in January 1994 through an ad in Mopar Collectors Guide from the guy who won it at the Police auction. The original black and white cloth and vinyl seats had been replaced at some point with the same items in plain black vinyl and all the SE headliner pieces were missing in action as well; door panels and dash minus radio were present. A big block trans from a 69 Chrysler attached to a 440 from a 71 Chrysler along with a 741 chunk were in place and I found out years later that the original housing showed signs of rear gear failure, so it's been replaced. The original fender tag, radiator, and steering pump oil cooler were thankfully present. It was a mash up but had exactly what I was looking for: pb, ps, auto, non-ac, and Plum Crazy. I was happy when I bought it and even though I've owned other Mopars - even a shot at a factory white with black interior 70 V-code Challenger R/T with auto and a 3.54 Dana (still kicking myself over not jumping all over that one :bricks:) - I've grown to like this car even more than when I first laid eyes on it.
*edit* The photos are part of a group sent to me back in late 1993. The Michigan Department of State form is from a copied batch of papers I received after contacting the proper State Department for any documents pertaining to the Challenger.
We need to get this car restored so you can enjoy it :console:
Can you post a picture of the fender tag? I wish my FC7 RT/SE had the black and white cloth seats. Your car needs to be back on the road! :toast:
Never really been a purple color fan, but you know this one with white interior may have some impact on taking a second look. :yes:
:wowzers: This is going to be a fantastic Challenger when it's done!!!! You have a really cool car man. :yes: You know I love FC7!!!!!!
Good story on the car and it will look awesome when done. Here's a pic of my former FC7 RT/SE.
Tom
That is some great documentation, I don't think I've seen that before. :rubeyes:
Quote from: fc7cuda on January 17, 2017, 01:25:06 AM
Good story on the car and it will look awesome when done. Here's a pic of my former FC7 RT/SE.
Tom
My FC7 RT/SE came with white longitudinal stripes, black top, and black interior. I really like the white top.
That is a cool car. Love the old pictures of it. Can't wait to see future work
Quote from: headejm on January 17, 2017, 11:56:57 AM
My FC7 RT/SE came with white longitudinal stripes, black top, and black interior. I really like the white top.
That's how this one was coded, although not an SE...it does have a large hole in the roof :smile:
I wouldn't recommend driving that car in the rain! :rofl:
Quote from: headejm on January 16, 2017, 09:13:19 PM
Can you post a picture of the fender tag? I wish my FC7 RT/SE had the black and white cloth seats. Your car needs to be back on the road! :toast:
It's a little crusty but fully readable from the back :twothumbsup:
Resuming the story of my R/T SE, here are the rest of the pictures from the batch mailed to me back in 1993 along with the ad from Mopar Collectors Guide which first caught my eye. I talked Roger down to $3500 (yeah, right), and we shook hands over the phone :takemymoney:
Shortly after, I arranged for a buddy to drive up to Michigan to bring it back in his 3/4 ton van pulling a open flatbed trailer for $500. This was about the same time an extreme winter storm slowly crossed the area so it wasn't until March 1994 that it finally arrived. A few friends were with me as we all looked it over. They were not exactly blown away but I was ecstatic :slapme5:
The dash, door sticker, fender tag, along with the body vin numbers all matched. The original correct radiator and steering pump cooler were also present. And most of the SE trim - all things considered, it was as complete as I had hoped for.
:takepicture: :inlove: :lookatthat:
Was the chain a security thing?
Probably, but the latch would click shut with little effort. Really adjusted the way I preferred - just lower the hood, and click, it was latched. All this time later and I am still on the fence over adding hood pins :thinking:
I like hood pins. Did you see that guy that was racing is Challenger at one of the shows and his hood came flying up. :'( Didn't have hood pins.
I saw that pic of the Challenger with the bent up power bulge hood. Wasn't it an EV2 car, can't remember the year, but I remember commenting on the photo. I believe I mentioned something about the reason for the crumple zone on the hood. Yea! No hood pins. Thanks, Al
Exactly. Back when I was driving my first Challenger, a 1973 Rallye, I always noticed that once passed a certain speed, the very front of the hood would always lift but the latch system never failed.
It's why I have always considered the Plymouth e-body front end the better design of the two, with the header panel ahead of the hood. I wish Mopar had twist off hood pins like Ford - without lanyards for a cleaner look :alan2cents:
Good story, one day I will have to come visit and see your car, I am just up the road from you.
Russ,
I did the hood pin thing just to look cool. :D
There are areas under the hood molded for hood pin drilling. You'll notice that once you get into it. I had trouble with the lanyards scuffing the paint on my hood. Even though they are plastic coated, I had problems. I learned to route the lanyards in the gap between the hood and fender and never had a problem after that.
I not only added the hood pins, but the whole darned power bulge hood. Being a base model '70 Challenger w/ a 6 cyl. bought the hood for $50. Needing no body work. But needing DODGE for the front, I found for $5.00, hood pins and bezels which I found for $1.00, as for the engine call outs. Used to say 383 Magnum, now says "225 MAGNUM". So it's a 6 whether the hood is up or the hood is down. Hey! Why not. I like the hood. Thanks, Al
Quote from: 70/6chall on August 10, 2017, 02:43:19 PM
I not only added the hood pins, but the whole darned power bulge hood. Being a base model '70 Challenger w/ a 6 cyl. bought the hood for $50. Needing no body work. But needing DODGE for the front, I found for $5.00, hood pins and bezels which I found for $1.00, as for the engine call outs. Used to say 383 Magnum, now says "225 MAGNUM". So it's a 6 whether the hood is up or the hood is down. Hey! Why not. I like the hood. Thanks, Al
Man, the "225 Magnum " call outs are awesome. :banana: :rebelflag"
Man, the "225 Magnum " call outs are awesome. :iagree: I love it!!! :twothumbsup:
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I had mailed a deposit to hold the car just before an epic winter storm hit January 1994. When I (finally) received the car sometime around Spring 1994 these items of factory literature were in the glove box along with a few items relating to the car's past Auto Insurance.
Here is the Chrysler Corporation literature along with a page from the batch I received from the Michigan Department of State showing when and for how much the car sold at Police auction March of 1993. Note the incorrect spelling of Challenger :rolleyes:
The video is from a local Detroit station - maybe from January 19, 1994?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXP6Oa4qMjI
A bit more about the Cold Outbreak of January 1994 in this link from MSU
http://geo.msu.edu/extra/geogmich/sig_weath_events.html
I am still a ways from starting up on the car so in the meantime I will try to catch things up to the present.
It's been an unusual time to say the least since Carlisle 2018 what with Life's ups and downs but bear with me and grab some popcorn as I attempt to pull the story together :pixiepop: :pixiepop:
:cheers:
Insurance paperwork shows a couple of variations on the correct VIN. Pre-printed in 1980 as JH29V0B230751, by 1983 the handwritten VIN had changed to JH29U0B230751.
The correct VIN shows on the Police auction paperwork, and most importantly on State of Michigan title.
From notes I have of conversations with the seller and his co-workers, I was told that Roger Zorn "...was a 'Nam Vet who had been evicted. Once when I was driving it and stopped at a store a woman came up and said that was her brother's old car." This makes sense to me; after a quick google search I came up with a short Obituary for not only Roger Zorn in 2009, but his sister Jacqueline Bonk as well in 2016.
In 1994 I sent a letter to the address on the 1980 Insurance Card 'cause you never know - but it was returned marked undeliverable. I had even obtained a set of 1994-1995 Detroit phone books from a co-worker of mine at the time who was visiting Detroit. I made a few phone calls but nothing panned out, although I did make contact with the Radiator Repair shop which had it's tag still affixed to the 956 radiator. The lady I spoke with explained that they had suffered a fire several years before and all their old records had been destroyed.
So it seems that just after his 21st birthday Roger takes possession of a Purple 440 R/T SE. By the time he is 45, the car is picked up as abandoned with him as the original and only owner to that point. By 2009, no funeral service planned and his remains donated. :(
Semper Fi, Sir :unitedstates:
ROGER ZORN
Obituary
May 22, 1949—August 20, 2009. Husband of Sana. Father of Bridgett, Lindsey and Alex. Brother of Jacqueline Bonk. Also survived by nine grandchildren. Roger is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corp, Vietnam era. No Service planned. Roger donated his remains to University of Michigan/Gift of Life.
Published in The Detroit News on Aug. 26, 2009
:pixiepop: Hey Russ :wave: Good to hear your gettin back on track.
In the past hour it occurred to me it's time to get back after mine :wrenching:
Jan 9 was 50 years for the SPD, but 26 years ago Jan 10 the Bill of Sale was signed just before the Storm of the Century hit up Michigan way. Pretty basic document but I had my FC7 R/T SE.
Condition was not a priority for me so long as it had a Fender Tag and/or a Build Sheet. It checked off the boxes of what I was looking for. Plum Crazy, black vinyl top, black and white hounds tooth cloth and vinyl seats, 440-4, auto with the A36 axle package, PB, PS, and non AC.
Coincidentally, a photo of a 70 Challenger R/T SE was posted to the Dodge R/T SE fb page and I asked for permission to save it. Closest I've found so far of how mine will appear when driving again. :inlove:
Nothing is actually happening to mine, just picking up the story :pixiepop:
Awesome car!
Cool car. I have a70 rtse project too. Lets swap notes lol. I just got my Headliner because its hard to get and he only makes them once in a while. Top banana white and black interior ac disc brakes. Im just starting on it.
Ed, your R/T SE definitely has some cool options.
C15 translates as the Deluxe Seat Belt option, here is a thread from 2017 with some more specific information:
https://forum.e-bodies.org/interior/6/1970-challenger-c15-option-code/773/
I'm always learning something new about the SE model and how it morphs when R/T comes into the picture during 1970 model year. Add in date ranges of option availability and things can get confusing - or clear - depending on how you look at it.
For the 1971 model year, SE was dropped as a model line and became (sans Special Edition door panel inserts, SE roof emblems, and of course the tail panel trim)
for the most part option code A78.
( Have I got a handle on it Dan? :) )
Into 2006 little had changed. I took these pics of her in the back yard during that period showing how she looked the entire time.
But things were about to change :lurking:
Front end shot, engine compartment, trunk, interior.
Interior
Interior, quarter windows.
By 2002 I'd joined c-c.com and begun to learn about what I really had. But in 2003 I made the first of so many bad decisions when I came across and purchased a 1973 Challenger Rallye (JS23H3B458194) in the same combo as my own first Challenger - except it was a true 340 car. I was ecstatic but in over my head and the 73 had sold with accumulated parts for $5800 by 2005.
http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=13318.msg135292#msg135292
With a lump of cash but still not focused on the R/T SE I was coming home from work one day and just happened to turn my head towards Forest Hills Auto Repair literally just several blocks from the house and spotted the 67 Coronet R/T parked out front :wowzers: :stop: :banana:
Too late :stop: :wowzers: :idea: :banana:
I'd known the shop - and seen the the same car on and off - for decades without much thought but this time I decided to stop and ask. It belonged to a retired Doctor Pugh and he had trusted it's servicing to the shop since new. I asked if it might be for sale and was given Dr. Pugh's phone number. I called him that afternoon and after introducing myself and why I was calling, he responded that yes he is willing to sell for $6000 firm. I agreed which was actually a good decision on my part and April 2006 I became the second owner :perfect10:
First pic is of the 73 Challenger Rallye, second is the 67 Coronet R/T. Yes I was happily out of my mind :stop: :stop: :wowzers: :handshake: :takemymoney: :banana:
The Coronet was stored behind the shop for many years pretty much out of view and had 92k original miles on it all verified by the original owner; the shop had rebuilt the original motor in 1992 adding a Holley 4bbl, LD4B intake, Direct Connection cam, wrapped headers and a shift kit in the transmission - mileage on the car at the time was 90k - the rear still housed the stock 3.23 posi unit. For whatever reason the car only traveled a couple of thousand miles between 1992 and 2006
A buddy of mine rebuilt the Holley and I had a couple of replacement mufflers put on and we proceeded to 'test' it one Sunday. It pulled very strong. Several weeks later I had the occasion to punch it from a (30mph) rolling start. I dropped the column shifter from D to 1 and floored it to 45 or so before shifting to 2nd. Loud chirp and the car literally threw itself forward. I had never experienced anything like it!
I enjoyed the Coronet immensely, telling my friends about how lucky I was to find such an example. Long story short, one of those friends, Joe, worked at a small body shop owned by Gerry who is particularly fond of 66-67 B bodies. Joe planted the seed of my selling the Coronet to Jerry and using that money to finally begin work on my R/T SE. Joe also planted the seed with Jerry, who it turned out had known about the car for a very long time as well. Joe saw himself as just helping two Mopar buddies and had the best of intentions since ha managed the body shop and could properly oversee my Challenger finally getting done and on the road while Jerry added another 67 B body to his stable.
So just over 6 months after I bought the Coronet R/T, I made the deal with Gerry. One October Saturday that same year I sold him the Coronet R/T for $7500 and the next day he picked up my Challenger R/T SE and trailered it over to the body shop when these pictures were taken; the vinyl top was removed that same day and everybody was happy with the overall condition of the roof underneath.
Roof and trunk
Upper a-pillar
Thanks for the pictures , have you actually started to fix the body now ?
No not yet. Lots of pictures to come though. . .
January 2007
The teardown begins. A fair amount of sheet metal from Sherman had been ordered to replace the larger rusted areas.
Behind dash, grille.
Steering column. The General Lee in the background was owned by John Schneider at the time, auctioned off several years ago.
Wekk you can start rebuiding & detailing all of the components piece by piece while the body is being worked on .
February 2007
February 2007
February 2007
February 2007
February 2007
February 2007
Finally Progress !!
Quote from: Chryco Psycho on July 16, 2020, 04:58:26 PM
Finally Progress !!
True enough - although this was happening back in 2007 :takemymoney: :stop:
March 2007 - June 2007
Around this time a (73 318 3 speed Rallye) Challenger which had been totaled as a result of a garage fire had been obtained for some patch metal (!?)
March 2007 - June 2007
June 2007
By this time lots of primer was beginning to appear but still a ways to go.
June 2007
I guess I am missing something , I thought from our conversations that the body was still a basket case & you were talking about sending it out to AMD to be rebuilt soon .
Did you look at buying the other U Code SE body as a cheaper option moving forward ??
You're right, I believe it was 2017 or 2018 that I did make the road trip up to AMD Installation in Cleveland, Georgia where I was able to spend a couple of hours acclimating myself to the facility and what they do, courtesy of Bill Crabtree.
My own lazy money habits had very have nearly screwed me big time, but I'll explain how that relates as this thread continues. I did have a detailed thread going on c-c.com but sadly, due to the situation over there I decided to start a more fully explained thread here; my own cautionary tale as an example to others.
Neil, I didn't mean to mislead anyone, especially you, with what's happening or what stage my R/T SE is at - nothing since September 2010. I just get easily carried away when talking about our cars--
Russell
I hadn't been following this before, but this is a very interesting thread. :popcorn:
I always enjoy the threads on 20+ year projects, similar to my own.
I was originally thinking that $3,500 seemed like a lot of money for a car in that condition in 1994, but my memory of what the E-body market was like back then is pretty poor. I guess things must have been climbing pretty well at that time.
I began this thread in January 2017 to explain the ups and downs of my car between circa January 2007 when the resto began until September 2010, when it was unceremoniously removed from the shop and placed in a 10x20 storage unit as a rolling shell with the suspension and drivetrain bolted in place and FC7 purple trimmed out.
But now it's January 2024, and nothing has happened to the R/T SE since 2010 when it was placed there.
I, however, have learned a few lessons. I failed to have a thorough plan, and I didn't sweat the details or the what-ifs.
When work began, a very good friend was the manager with experienced paint and body staff to help. By the second half of 2007 and into 2008 things went from steady progress to mission creep. My friend lost his father - they were very close - which resulted in a series of anxiety attacks that forced him to leave his position at the shop. The owner also began to fast track several of his cars including the 1967 Coronet R/T I had traded to him to start the work on my Challenger and installed his partner and mechanic as the new manager; that 1967 Coronet R/T sits about 85% finished in his garage at this time. The staff didn't care for the new manager and soon left as well. Their replacements were neither experienced, nor familiar with a 1970 Challenger.
So it was decided to have some assemblies and individual items sent off to be restored...
January 2008
Door hinges and wiper motor restored by Jules D'addio.
Brake booster by Booster Dewey.
You must have had them done awhile ago, Jules has been gone now for over ten years :andyangel:
Quote from: RusTy/SE on January 02, 2024, 10:44:19 AMBut now it's January 2023,
I think this is a typo and supposed read "2024". :waving:
Tough break with that shop too.
Quote from: Jay Bee on January 02, 2024, 03:16:38 PMQuote from: RusTy/SE on January 02, 2024, 10:44:19 AMBut now it's January 2023,
I think this is a typo and supposed read "2024". :waving:
Tough break with that shop too.
Oops, yes and fixed. :looney:
Quote from: anlauto on January 02, 2024, 02:22:15 PMYou must have had them done awhile ago, Jules has been gone now for over ten years :andyangel:
Yep, that's why I bold dated the post January 2008 :yes:
February - March 2008
The shop doing the work on my car was in a state of flux at this time and I was getting knee-deep in several situations beyond my control. In hindsight, I can easily see that I essentially slept-walked my way through the process - it was friends, what could possibly go wrong? (::) - but when you're in the middle of things without a firm plan to stick to, it's often difficult to see the forest for the trees so to speak. So I slogged on with other aspects of my R/T SE's return from the dead.
The motor that was in this car when I purchased it is not original to the car, with a cast date of May 1971 and corresponding 346 heads. It cleaned up well and was rebuilt with a thirty-thousandths overbore. With the Eastwood Cast Grey exhaust manifold coating and Orange Engine Paint, she really looked nice.
Summer 2008
A trip to the Mopar Nationals afforded me a chance to deliver in person my tail and reverse light bezels to Special Ts for restoring and reapply of the chrome and (SEM) black. I received the pieces back several months later and they came out beyond my hopes. :twothumbsup:
November 2008 - August 2009
Joining a Group Special from Instrument Specialties on the c-c.com forum site took care of rebuilding and restoring the gauges and dash pieces.
November 2009
Just before being trimmed out - and yeah, I almost lost my mind seeing fresh FC7 Plum Crazy on this car - a mishap occurred at the foot of the dutchman panel by the trunk lip. It was repaired but never explained just what had happened. :verymad:
September 2010
Through the first half of 2010 staff conditions at the shop had deteriorated to the point where I paid a final amount of $$ to bring my car to a roller state and I would secure a 10x20 storage unit near my house where it could be placed out of the weather.
One beautiful day in September that year, she saw the light of day for a couple of hours for removal and was placed there until I have my own garage.
And one very comprehensive, sweat-the-details plan. :lurking:
Which brings us to today. :Thud:
I've lost not one bit of enthusiasm for my ride and fully understand what it will take to see me driving in it. :banana:
In this case my horror story has cost me the better part of $35k (1/2007-9/2010), not counting $72 monthly for the storage unit (9/2010 going forward as the calendar pages fly off). So far as I am concerned, I owe huge apologies to so many who have both encouraged me and joined in my eternal optimism as the process dragged on over too many years. Too many friends and family members who I've promised rides to, are, in too many instances, no longer around for me to make that happen. :(
But life happens. I've got my health, retired, married to my partner - the woman of my dreams - and once the process of my (ongoing) move to her place is complete and my house sells, I can once again look to a certain purple Dodge as she has more than once encouraged me to complete this project after a garage is built on our property. :inlove:
Until then, I'll be more than happy to explain what I did right (very little), what I did wrong (hoo boy!) and what I've learned to this point - at least in my case.
Continuing to live vicariously through everyone else on the best Mopar forum out there,
RusTy/SE