1970 Challenger R/T convertible questions

[29Tons]

I looked at a 1970 Challenger R/T convertible this weekend it was suppose to be restored but needed a lot. Just wondering what other thoughts would be. Like weather the car is worth it or not. Heres a list of what i found wrong. The paint in the engine compartment looked like it was never stripped and painted over nicks and chips and scratches. It also had sags in the paint. The radiator support looked the same and there where several areas of blistering rust that was painted over. The wiring harness on firewall was used dirty and unplugged at firewall. Antifreeze leaking and trans leaking. It had a 383 and 727 that where not original to the car but supposedly rebuild. vacuum advance not hooked up kick down not hooked up wrong carb. Wrong alternator. no regulator on firewall. It was suppose to be a factory A/C car but everything in engine bay was missing and the part that gose through firewall was hacksawed off. Steering box still greasy. no battery hold down. The underside of car was undercoated not painted. It had weld wheels and tires not the correct wheels and tires. I read that 70 R/T convertibles came standard with power top all that stuff was missing from dash to trunk. the only thing that was there was the wiring harness. There where emblems missing at various places. Rear windows did not work properly and needed attention. Exterior paint was about 8.5 out of 10. Paint on jams was a different shade of purple then outside of car. Body was pretty solid. rear floor pans and trunk pan where replaced. Some trim missing dented or damaged. The dash was the ralley dash but drive quality. Also some part of dash where missing like ash try and radio. door panels needed replaced. Rear seat needed to be recovered the well where the convertible top dropped into needed to be installed but he had it. The car had not been on the road since restoration so my thoughts are your probably going to find more issues. The radiator did not have a shroud and was aluminum not the original. The data tag and build sheet are missing. The title is in someone elses name from another state. There is probably some things i forgot. I guess what im asking is Do you think the car is worth 55000.

 

[DetMatt1]

Absolutely not!
How did it run and drive?
Impossible to put a value on it from a description but I’m thinking 20 to 30k overpriced.

 

[EV2RTSE]

Agree, too much money, doesn't sound like it's in driving or maybe even running condition. There were a couple of other R/T convertibles on facebook marketplace in my area recently that were priced in the 60s, same kind of thing non-#s cars but at least could just jump in and drive as-is.

 

[29Tons]

Agree, too much money, doesn't sound like it's in driving or even running condition. There were a couple of other R/T convertibles on facebook marketplace in my area recently that were priced in the 60s, same kind of thing non-#s cars but at least could just jump in and drive as-is.

The car has not been on the road since restoration. Im glad i looked at it. It looks good in pictures but when you see it in person i was shocked at the difference especially when the person said it was just restored. Another thing when he started the car it smoked pretty bad he opened 1 garage door and the smoke was still pretty bad then he opened the second garage door. I have other antique cars but no muscle cars all though i have been around them most of my life i dont know alot about challengers but always liked the look. Maybe something else will come up.

 

[Challenger RTA]

For what it is. There are parts on there that are worth something. But it is worth what they are asking if it was a truly restored 10. What one persons idea of restored is is not what an other ones is. Or even what restored is! Condition is is everything. Then originality. Personal prefinance is not always the same as someone else's. It can be a loss or a gain for both parties. It always gets me how the seller will say it's a 80K car when it's restored. They have no idea what it takes. It take a 75K to fix it correctly. Can you post a picture. or a link? The below, that's a flag to me. It just complicates things.

The title is in someone elses name from another state.

 

[29Tons]

For what it is. There are parts on there that are worth something. But it is worth what they are asking if it was a truly restored 10. What one persons idea of restored is is not what an other ones is. Or even what restored is! Condition is is everything. Then originality. Personal prefinance is not always the same as someone else's. It can be a loss or a gain for both parties. It always gets how the seller will say it's a 80K car when it's restored. They have no idea what it takes. It take a 75K to fix it correctly. Can you post a picture. or a link? The below, that's a flag to me. It just complicates things.

Its not on the internet anymore to my knowledge

 

[mrmopar340]

I would give that a hard pass. 5500 dollars maybe but no at that price.

 

[don selleck]

those are pretty rare cars around 900 total but without a fendertag, missing vert parts etc. and sounds like it needs a complete strip down. I sold a green roller for 52k a few years ago but had most of the parts, but no engine. Values are down on most cars about 20% from a few years ago. Probably worth 25k all day long. and agree 75k to restore it and a few thousand hours of your time.

 

[Challenger RTA]

but had most of the parts,

That is such an important part. You know what you have to fix find or make. Soooo much time is lost in the search unless it's part of the venture and price.

 

[70SunFun]

I looked at a 1970 Challenger R/T convertible this weekend it was suppose to be restored but needed a lot. Just wondering what other thoughts would be. Like weather the car is worth it or not. Heres a list of what i found wrong. The paint in the engine compartment looked like it was never stripped and painted over nicks and chips and scratches. It also had sags in the paint. The radiator support looked the same and there where several areas of blistering rust that was painted over. The wiring harness on firewall was used dirty and unplugged at firewall. Antifreeze leaking and trans leaking. It had a 383 and 727 that where not original to the car but supposedly rebuild. vacuum advance not hooked up kick down not hooked up wrong carb. Wrong alternator. no regulator on firewall. It was suppose to be a factory A/C car but everything in engine bay was missing and the part that gose through firewall was hacksawed off. Steering box still greasy. no battery hold down. The underside of car was undercoated not painted. It had weld wheels and tires not the correct wheels and tires. I read that 70 R/T convertibles came standard with power top all that stuff was missing from dash to trunk. the only thing that was there was the wiring harness. There where emblems missing at various places. Rear windows did not work properly and needed attention. Exterior paint was about 8.5 out of 10. Paint on jams was a different shade of purple then outside of car. Body was pretty solid. rear floor pans and trunk pan where replaced. Some trim missing dented or damaged. The dash was the ralley dash but drive quality. Also some part of dash where missing like ash try and radio. door panels needed replaced. Rear seat needed to be recovered the well where the convertible top dropped into needed to be installed but he had it. The car had not been on the road since restoration so my thoughts are your probably going to find more issues. The radiator did not have a shroud and was aluminum not the original. The data tag and build sheet are missing. The title is in someone elses name from another state. There is probably some things i forgot. I guess what im asking is Do you think the car is worth 55000.

Everyone here had excellent comments. I don't think it's worth $55,000 because it needs a lot of work/parts. In its current condition that you described I would put it at maybe $20k. The cost of restoring it to driver standards in the many hours of labor and the cost of the parts that the car might need could put you upside down on its value. The market is down right now and seems to have been for the past 1-1/2 years. Attached is a screenshot of a real 1970 Challenger R/T conv that just sold this past week on eBay for $51k. Running/driving car, new 383 and 727, shaker added, manual top (my R/T conv has a manual top also; power top option code is P37), appeared pretty nice from the pictures but no build sheet or fender tag. Turn the key and go, no lost time or extra cost in labor hours or parts needed. Good luck going forward on whatever you decide to do.

 

[Challenger RTA]

Here is a simple equation. Premium car command a premium price. Because premium parts + premium workmanship = Premium car = Premium price.