Build or buy a clone Hemi Dart

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gtokid1

gtokid1

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If you were in the market for a LO 23 car and no real build expertise which way would you go. You have a budget of let's say 50K.
Assuming both cars would be exact duplicates of one another.
Build one with a check book or pay for one with a check.
One built you have it now, to be assembled could be years.
Anyone care to comment, or have gone one way or the other.


Thanks
John
 
BrianT has that right.
Take a good look at that Ebay post.
Then contact ssandafx.com for the whole lowdown on what's involved.
There is no question that they are the premier builder of LO23 clones.
Real ones will cost more...
 
Yeah, not for $50K. If you're looking to get all the unique parts and pieces and are after the 'look' then you're in for way more than 50.

$50K could build a real nice street machine though.
 
Id buy one. Seems everyone loses money on restorations so get ahead in the game and buy someones loss. 50k for a 48 year old car? Yikes...
 
Let me tell you from my experience. If you buy a clone unless you are not fussy about the quality of the build you will end up tearing apart and redoing most of the car. And that is after paying a minimum of 60K if it has any quality at all. SS/AFX has had an auto car for sale for a long time for 75K more or less...nice car, quality build. There is another car from MN that the guy wants 87K for his clone again a great build. I am in the process of building a hemi dart clone, and plan on having 70-80K in the car when it is complete as you can figure 20K for the hemi much less the body work and rest of drive train. And you will NEVER get your money back from the build. So go into this with your eyes wide open. These cars are money pits with little upside except to enjoy the crap out of the build and pride of ownership after it is complete. If you can accept that I think your clone and mine will be a heck of a ride! There are other members of this forum that have WAY more knowledge about what a hemi dart clone build entails. Hopefully they will chime in and we will both learn more about these cars. Good luck with what ever you decide to do.
 
Would you go 4 gear or automatic?

:coffee2::coffee2::coffee2::coffee2:
 
4 speed or auto. Why not both? Put my Dart together with a 440 and a 4 speed. So an auto is no problem to install. And when I'am unsure which I want in goes the clutchflight.....
 
savoy said:
Let me tell you from my experience. If you buy a clone unless you are not fussy about the quality of the build you will end up tearing apart and redoing most of the car. And that is after paying a minimum of 60K if it has any quality at all. SS/AFX has had an auto car for sale for a long time for 75K more or less...nice car, quality build. There is another car from MN that the guy wants 87K for his clone again a great build. I am in the process of building a hemi dart clone, and plan on having 70-80K in the car when it is complete as you can figure 20K for the hemi much less the body work and rest of drive train. And you will NEVER get your money back from the build. So go into this with your eyes wide open. These cars are money pits with little upside except to enjoy the crap out of the build and pride of ownership after it is complete. If you can accept that I think your clone and mine will be a heck of a ride! There are other members of this forum that have WAY more knowledge about what a hemi dart clone build entails. Hopefully they will chime in and we will both learn more about these cars. Good luck with what ever you decide to do.
Click to expand...

You could say this about any clone or "restored" muscle car......
 
gtokid1 said:
If you were in the market for a LO 23 car and no real build expertise which way would you go. You have a budget of let's say 50K.
Assuming both cars would be exact duplicates of one another.
Build one with a check book or pay for one with a check.
One built you have it now, to be assembled could be years.
Anyone care to comment, or have gone one way or the other.


Thanks
John
Click to expand...

You will not be happy with the quality of the Hemi A body that you try to build for 50k.

You MAY be able to find one already built for 50k, but it will be somebody else's build and there will be a lot of things that you might want different or wonder how well they were done.

And for someone who does not have significant build experience, a Hemi A body build is definitely jumping into the deep end of the pool. Other than going for an OE Cert on a car, building a Hemi A body is one of the most difficult builds in the Mopar world.

The 2 cars that I will NEVER do again are 71 B bodies (due to a lack of good parts) or a Hemi A body (due to the many extreme difficulties).
 
So what are you after with this perticular car? Looks? The Hemi? Both? The sound?
 
This forum is so bad for me. I'm not even finished with my project yet and you guys got me thinking about a next project. What's better than a Hemi Dart or Cuda? My car should be almost as quick but, good grief, looking at the pics of the Hemis on the ssandafx web site's got me drooling. But I wouldn't dare build one. I would buy one from a reputable builder.
 
I look at this hemi dart thing like this: either you have the money to buy a done car or you have the $$ to write checks to have someone make ya one. OR..... is the case for probably majority of us, you build it IF you can afford the parts and if you have the ability, tools, place to work, and time and energy.!!!!!

I believe you said, you building in is not a consideration. can you find a clone to meet your standards/expectations? maybe, do doubt it will be be quick or easy. wealthy people own these clones, they cost them plenty, and they didn't get wealthy selling stuff at a lose!??? LOL

can you study all the various details that it took for mopar to comer up with these to begin with? yes... not so complicated when it is broke down into each separate change. are there people out there that can build/do this? affordable? yes. but they are not easy to find. just depends on how much money you have, if you need immediate gratification. if you like to just buy a done toy or do it the hard way!?????

seems to me if a guy can come up with a budget of $50000 for one, he can come up with more $$ to get this if he wants it!????? ssandafx ???????
 
agreed - a 426 Hemi will set you back what, the better part of 30-40k depending on what you get.. then you need a donor car - 5-15k depending on condition.. no wrenches turned yet and you are already into it 35-55k.. I suppose if you wanted to do a "rat" style Hemi Dart clone you might be able to get it done for closer to that 50k - but it'll still be hard to do..
BrianT said:
I don't think you could do either with that budget and come away with a nice car.

LO23 Hemi Dart
Click to expand...
 
In my opinion the only way you can recover some or all of your money when you build a car is to build a car that has an innate value to those who don't value a car for a car but rather as a status symbol or an "investment". Lets say you stick 85K in a hemi dart or cuda clone...or you stick that 85K in an A12 or real cuda. I can tell you for a fact which one you have a better a chance to get your money out of when you do sell. The way I look at it if someone builds or buys a clone anything it is with the informed knowledge that the car is purchased or built because you WANT it and can not afford the real deal....at $250K plus. The other issue that has to addressed is that if you have a high dollar, rare, matching number car you really cannot drive it as if you put a rod through the side of a matching block you are screwed when it comes to what the car is worth. So if you want a hemi dart clone build it the way YOU want it. It might end up as a dart with a hemi in it rather than a true clone but way more fun than a garage queen!...And pray tell what is so difficult in building a hemi dart clone as compared to restoring a real muscle car that has to have the correct bolt heads and undercarriage markings to reach its full potential? I have restored/built an A12 and a hemi savoy and will tell it you a true restoration is way more money and time intense than building a great street machine. Good luck with what ever you do.
 
SS/AFX will build you one to your specifications for upward of a $110K give or take...there is one that Mosher is advertising for sale, just the painted shell...don't think it includes the drive train.... and they are asking 55K for the unfinished project. Having fun is not cheap when it comes to these things....
 
I went with the 4-speed on my 68 Hemi build.(still not done)
I have rely'd heavily on research, used parts, patience and home fabrication as
it was the only option I had if I was going to own one. I bought my first part for the car
14 years ago.
By spreading the cost over time the writing of large checks normally associated with these cars I needed to avoid.
When I decided to start this build I believed it could be done but many were there to tell
me its a pipe dream. To be honest the dedication required probably crosses over the insanity
line just a bit.
I have been building easier to obtain mopar hot rods since the late 70s and wanted one of these cars since the day I first seen one in the middle 70s. This car is by far the most challenging I have taken on. It has also been the most rewarding when it comes to feeling
like you accomplished something special. Despite the fact the car is incomplete and I have never even driven it once it is by far my favorite Mopar I have ever owned.
I can now see the end of the tunnel and I feel like I have a Hemi car rather than just parts.
The car always makes me happy when I get a part for it or can find the time to turn a wrench
on it. Just seeing it sitting there knowing its mine and I built it makes me smile.
If you can write a check and find one that will satisfy you I say do it.
If you can't don't let that keep you from one. Build it yourself.
 
People are asking what they have in them....Which is too much....As far as the Hemi Clone goes.....You have to know from the start you are going to take a hit.....
 
I've seen a real nice 68 hemi fish clone go on EBAY for $50K. it was a 800WHP car that was beautiful. Be patient, keep your eyes open and you may find your deal.
 
If people can get over fact you don't need a Hemi to make the car faster than your shorts can make skid marks, they could save some money on the build.
 
If you're serious I got a HemiDart clone, running with a Ray Barton motor I'll let go for 50k. PM me for details.
 
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