Are you a purist?

Purist? No. That said, my next project will be a build sheet restoration.

Regarding my past cars. I usually don't do anything that can't be undone. I usually prefer stock appearance with a lot of performance built in.

Back in the day I built a Hemi dart from a 71 swinger. It appeared Nearly stock bit you could see the fender well headers and the 8 qt oil pan. It was also mini tubbed, and the rear wheel width was pretty noticeable, even though I installed the stock 71 wheel covers into the old center lines. And yes. The frame and chassis was heavily gusseted.
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The Hem, the 833, and the Dana 60 (narrowed) all came from my flipped 68 Roadrunner. Flip it when I blew a right front tire on highway 9 (1&9 to the locals) in Newark, NJ back in 1971.

The Swinger, itself, was very unassuming. It was gold with a black vinyl roof, and beige vinyl bench interior.

When I sold the car the buyer wanted the slant, the 904, the 7-1/4" rear. I don't know what happened to the car after that.