How far gone is too far gone?

[Northern64]

Hi guys,

So I bought a 1970 dart as a donor car because it has a 4 speed and a 340 in it.
The car ends up being an H code car, but I haven’t had a chance to check the numbers.

The car is rusty as heck, every panel that I can see has big rusty holes, the fuel tank dropped out of it at some point and it’s running and driving off of an outboard tank strapped to the trunk floor. Of course the floor pans are rotted as well. The car absolutely rips by the way…..

I’m really questioning my decision to scrap this car and I’m wondering what would need to be wrong with this car for a guy to legitimately cut up this car without losing sleep! It’s pretty subjective but I thought I would pose the question.

 

[dartnabout]

Well it is just my opinion but.....they don't make them anymore and you can find patch panels for just about everything you may need. And I have even bought frame sections out of Arizona for a reasonable price. If you don't want to or don't feel you can do the work why not just sell it?

 

[YY1]

Quarter panels are or were available.

Fenders and doors are fairly cheap.

How's the uni-body structure and the cowl?

 

[royslead]

I think I would look at it from a financial point of view. What is it going to cost, to make it what you want vs what is it going to be worth? Is the car that valuable just because it is an "H" car? No one wants to cut up original muscle cars, but sometimes the value just isn't and won't ever be there.

 

[Dartswinger70]

What people do is swap vin plates and fender tags to good bodies but that is totally illegal and I wouldn't recommend it...

 

[HemiSSDart]

I commented on the Farcebook post you put up. I parted out over 300 Darts in the last 42 years and have come to regret a lot of that over the last 10 years or so since you can buy most sheet metal parts to fix them nowadays. Numbers matching true musclecars such as this are getting harder to find, and there are people who will get you the drivetrain you need for your 74 for the price of the leaving the 70 together. I know I would do just that if I didn't already have 13 project Darts laying around! Before you start to part it out, offer it up on here and Farcebook and ad that you would be interested in finding a good drivetrain to trade...That's my two cents...

 

[YY1]

To me the value is not so much in a matching numbers engine, but that it was born a 340 car and the VIN proves that.

Got any pics.

They would go a long way in helping to evaluate.

 

[YY1]

Transport from AK is gonna put the TCO WAY up for most of us.

 

[mbaird]

Considering you are in AK I would save it. How far do you have to travel just to look at another car ?

 

[318willrun]

I commented on the Farcebook post you put up. I parted out over 300 Darts in the last 42 years and have come to regret a lot of that over the last 10 years or so since you can buy most sheet metal parts to fix them nowadays. Numbers matching true musclecars such as this are getting harder to find, and there are people who will get you the drivetrain you need for your 74 for the price of the leaving the 70 together. I know I would do just that if I didn't already have 13 project Darts laying around! Before you start to part it out, offer it up on here and Farcebook and ad that you would be interested in finding a good drivetrain to trade...That's my two cents...

You have an awesome place that is so fun to look around and gawk !

 

[RedFish]

We cannot fight the cancer (rusting steel) and save them all. It's sort of like being a organ donor. You would be surprised what some Classic car insurance companies will pay for the smaller pieces that aftermarket does not have.
I had a 67 B'cuda vert project laying here for a lot of years. This was a originally a slant 6 build and I had spent a lot of coin on parts. Another owner needed very nice trim parts I had here to finish his car, whatever it was per the tag. It may have been Formula S. I don't know or care. I let him have it at a decent dollar figure so he could finish his car.
Spend a small fortune on sheet metal and bodywork to save another, or support the hobby.
We see so many classics at car shows, etc.., that realistically should have badges on them today that say Made In Mexico, Made In China, and Made Some Damn Where.
There are more than me who prefer OEM made in America parts. That is all my buyer got from me. Exactly what he was looking for.

 

[Dana67Dart]

One of the things to take into consideration is the "value" of our vehicals A,B,C,E body is subject to desire. In 20 years a lot of us will be gone, our kids dont want our old "junk", gasoline might not be available, so what was a $100,000 car in the 2000s might be a $1000 car in 2040.

Heck the eco warriers / progressives might not even let us drive them on the roads.


We have an upright piano from 1900, you can not give them away, maybe 20.00 scrap value in the cast iron harp.

At one time people would pay good money for them.

I do agree if you can do the work and plan on keeping it then it might make sence.

 

[missing linc]

Depends a lot on what your skills are and how much time and money you are willing to invest in it. I agree that there are only so many original muscle cars left, maybe you could find someone else who's willing to take it on as a project and free up your cash investment. Just my .02

 

[RedFish]

One of the things to take into consideration is the "value" of our vehicals A,B,C,E body is subject to desire. In 20 years a lot of us will be gone, our kids dont want our old "junk", gasoline might not be available, so what was a $100,000 car in the 2000s might be a $1000 car in 2040.
Heck the eco warriers / progressives might not even let us drive them on the roads.
We have an upright piano from 1900, you can not give them away, maybe 20.00 scrap value in the cast iron harp.
At one time people would pay good money for them.
I do agree if you can do the work and plan on keeping it then it might make sense.

Today we have to go to museums to see dinosaur skeletons. Those were living creatures from much longer ago. We might keep these old iron machines moving but... at some point we might pay a premium for legal right to move them, aftermarket skin and all. I have a 67 notch with dead battery that has been lawn décor since the pandemic began. I feel like such a fool for continuing to pay for tags and insurance on it. Maybe some museum wants to display its bones some day? LMAO

 

[ch1ll]

They made h code darts for 4 years. What does that tell you?

If you really want us to judge this car, post pictures.

 

[MoparMike1974]

The last H code demon I parted, I have regreted ever since. At the time few panels were available but now it certainly would have been restore worthy. 71 340 4 speed black on black.
If the frame rails are mostly solid I would say its restorable. Of course if its not numbers matching I wouldn't go throwing thousands of dollars in sheet metal at it. H codes are starting to bring really serious money. At the end of the day its up to you to either invest the money in it or part it out to suite your needs. If your goal is preservation you may consider finding someone who is willing to invest the money in it.
Think about the future too. 20 years ago I parted a bunch of cars that are more than fixable now. Back then there was no sheet metal available and little aftermarket parts compared to what is out there now.

 

[Northern64]

Ill get it in tonight and take some pictures, im really leaning towards parking it in the corner of my shop and sitting on it before i do something ill regret which means i will have to make room. Now.....what to do with that 78 lincoln.... ‍

 

[jonn6464]

If it is as far gone as your description points to, then remember one thing.

You'll spend $50,000 to restore a $35,000 car.

That's not an exaggeration either. Restoration costs are insane now. It doesn't even matter how much work you can do yourself. Well, it does a little bit I guess. But, still very expensive.

 

[Dartnut]

All 1970 to 1972 340 Swingers were made in Canada.
Only '71 and '72 ones were sold in Canada though.
That being said, it would have to be extremely rusty before it wasn't worth restoring, unless you are just looking at reselling it.

 

[sabre67]

would like to see the pics Thanks

 

[pishta]

whats a 340 going to go for in the near future when Gen 3 hemis are $500 now? Whats a 327 or a 350 worth now that LSx motors are in truck hulls at the boneyard? Goes for most of the hobby platforms....

 

[Northern64]

I had a chance to take a decent look at the car. I wasn’t able to get it up in the air but from what I can see it’s not as bad as I thought. It actually looks better in a lot of places than the 74 I have. I have no idea how to check if the engine is original.

 

[missing linc]

That sure doesn't look nearly as bad as I expected from your original post, sure it needs a fair amount of metal work, probably needs floors repaired as well, but I don't see any reason to cannibalize it.

 

[Northern64]

I was told the car was “ready to break in half” so I figured it must have been rough. I need to get it up in the air but at this point she’s going to have to be really really bad for me kill this car.

 

[AlaskaJeff]

Greetings from the mat-Su Valley. That car must have spent a good deal of it's live outside down there in Southeast. The sea side climate is not too forgiving on exposed sheet metal and steel. I thought we had it bad up here in the Valley!! IF you have the resources it sure looks like it's worth keeping together.