I can almost guarantee that a clean Barracuda with a New Hemi, Vintage Air, modern suspension and tires will bring more at auction than this car totally restored. Resto-mod cars are the hot sellers.
there isn't even any debate any longer over the value of a "perfect" factory restored original muscle car and the same car turned into a "resto-mod." the resto-mods are where the big money is going now. yes, there are a "few" original cars that are still worth a lot like: the Boss 429 Mustang, the rare Shelby Mustangs, a "real numbers matching Hemi" Cuda or Superbird/Daytona Charger, Road Runner, GTX or Superbee. the COPO/Yenko/ZL1 69 Camaros are still six figure cars and you would still probably have to shell out $100k plus for a "numbers matching" 455 Ram Air Stage IV GTO. but as to every other "muscle" car you always dreamed of owning - you can fulfil your dream now for between $25-40k dollars. think i'm kidding? i just watched the Mecum "Spring" auction from Phoenix AZ and a beautiful Plumb Crazy 1970 Challenger "convertible" with a Hemi and a 4 speed sold for $79,000. the car was a clone but 5 years ago you couldn't get close to buying that car for less than $110,000. think about that price - $79k. a "decent" donor car 70 Challenger will cost you $25k. a 70 426 costs around $25k. the rest of the drive train would be $5k. resto interior would cost at least $5k. the top would be at least $5k. and the final paint will come in at at least $15k. throw in a LOT of stuff i've left out for at least another $10k and your into this nice Challenger build for around $90,000. i have NO doubt that at $79,000, the consigner lost a ton of money on that Hemi Challenger. but at the same auction, a couple of resto-mod mid-60's Corvettes went for around $120k; various hot rods and hot rod old pickups went for near $100k. this new market of buyers want cars that "look" like old cars but have modern engines, drivetrains, brakes and creature comforts. i've actually considered building my 69 M-Code cuda as a "minor" resto-mod with 4 wheel disc brakes, a six-speed with hydraulic clutch, and maybe fuel injection on the 440. i would not change anything major on this car that couldn't be put back to stock, however, i'm thinking a more modern M-Code would probably be more valuable now than one more "factory stock" M car.
