71 Challenger

[DWoody]

Took a couple of photos of a Challenger that just got painted. What questions need to be answered if I was looking in to buying it?

 

[Cuda Hunter]

First I would ask for the fender tag readout.
Then ask for a build sheet.
Then title.
Next would be for pictures of the car before the paint. and preferably before the bondo. Definitely would want to see pics of the bondo step also.
next would be to run a magnet around the typical rusted out areas.
Then what parts are included with the car.
Is the engine bay and underneath painted the same color as the car.
Is there a grill? Interior? exterior trim? Did the body company leave the holes in place for all the pieces of trim?
Sweet looking paint. Would like to know more about the over all condition of the car before the paint was installed.

 

[rklein71]

If you are building the car your way, the build sheet and fender tag are basically worthless...titles can be a bear to get issued. I agree 100 percent you need to see what is under that shiny paint. The car could the prettiest pig you ever saw if it has underlying rust or mounds and mounds of body filler in it. All the parts to get it together can cost you a small fortune. In the good ole days, you would buy a parts car, those are getting very rare. Tread carefully...

 

[budascuda]

hey DWoody, Cuda Hunter gave you the lowdown,
and thats that!
I would like to say one thing tho, my experience is that when I go to buy something like a car....., i know that I could get lied to.
"MOST" sellers don't usually lie about things that could be readily checked, but
"Some" sellers actively lie about and omit the types of information that can NOT be easily checked without damaging something in order to verify their claims.(as in the quality of the supplies like the paint/fillers/sealers....)
The information regarding things of that nature could be open to massaging.
So.... I would first find out if the person is HONEST, and then go from there.
For instance, I would firstly want to hear the explanation as to why the painter (or somebody) spilt solvent on the $1000 dash pad. If it was out of carelesness, well, was that the only thing he/she was careless about?
I would ask that, the seller's reaction will speak volumes. Now that's me, I am a bit forward but that has worked for me! Lol. you can use finesse.....

Good luck, and yes it is a nice paint job!

 

[DWoody]

First I would ask for the fender tag readout.
Then ask for a build sheet.
Then title.
Next would be for pictures of the car before the paint. and preferably before the bondo. Definitely would want to see pics of the bondo step also.
next would be to run a magnet around the typical rusted out areas.
Then what parts are included with the car.
Is the engine bay and underneath painted the same color as the car.
Is there a grill? Interior? exterior trim? Did the body company leave the holes in place for all the pieces of trim?
Sweet looking paint. Would like to know more about the over all condition of the car before the paint was installed.

I never saw the car up close when it was just primer. Looks like they replaced the trunk panel and then threw some paint on it. Bottom of the car looked unfinished, I'll get a closer look and more info tomorrow.

 

[Drivun]

Looks like the paint is some sort of candy flake so I’m guessing your headed in a resto mod direction. So the build sheet and fender tag Are nice to have relative to getting the background on the car.
If it’s a Georgia car your likely looking at a bill of sale, but a title would lot of people are hung up on them despite many states being unwilling to title old cars.

I approach these deals with a positive face to the seller in hopes they’ll convey the truth, thinking I don’t care or don’t understand. But I also quietly do serious detective work letting the car do the talking.

Agree with all earlier comments on seeing pre paint pics and using a magnet for bondo. Sight the body lines for straightness. Check floors, trunk, wheel wells, Underdash/ cowl for rust or quality of repair.
Rust repair/ body work is expensive and harder to do for hobbiests.

 

[Drivun]

And you definitely should get an inventory and sight what parts come with the car. Fewer cars made mean fewer resto parts sold which means more expensive and harder to get.