Demon experts, need opinion on fender tag question & WIW?

[4mulas]

hi there I'm looking at a 71 demon 340 4/spd car and am wondering how uncommon it was for a 340 car to not have performance hood treatment or scoops and to have a body side Mouldings instead of a stripe? The color of the car for the body and roof is GF7 and the codes for the Mouldings and stripe across the back is V5F and V8W.

If I buy and paint this 30,000 original mile rust free car should I restore it with the Mouldings and the rear stripe or just do what I want? In terms or retaining maximum value.

Also what is a numbers matching rust free demon with 30,000 original miles worth. Only needs paints and some minor detailing.

 

[skep419]

I would say it doesn't need paint. (survivor cars are even more rare) Its worth between 12-25,000 depending on who wants it.

just my opinion

 

[Demonracer]

Decode the fender tag & see if there is a build sheet for the car, that will tell you the true story of it.

 

[72bluNblu]

@Alaskan_TA would be the guy to ask.

Hood scoops were still an extra option on the '71 340 Demons, so it wouldn't be unusual for one not to have the J54 hood treatment. Not sure about the mouldings, I know that some were not available on the 340 Demon's but I don't know if the V5 was one of them. Do you have a picture of the fender tag, or the car with the side mouldings?

 

[4mulas]

@Alaskan_TA would be the guy to ask.

Hood scoops were still an extra option on the '71 340 Demons, so it wouldn't be unusual for one not to have the J54 hood treatment. Not sure about the mouldings, I know that some were not available on the 340 Demon's but I don't know if the V5 was one of them. Do you have a picture of the fender tag, or the car with the side mouldings?

I do have a picture of the fender tag and it is a numbers car. The guy I would be buying it from knew the original owner who passed some time ago. The car sat for a long time and he bought it off the widow. The car has no J54 performance hood treatment and no scoops and the fender tag agrees with that. Yes it is a V5F code followed by V8W code, then the EN1 code on the next line up, this is why I thought it was odd for it to have the white decal across the back (V8W) but no stripe down the side, just the Mouldings. The paint is not original, as it was done once in the late seventies/early 80's just as a means to 'freshen' the car. Wish they hadn't as it's super crazed and hazy now (probably something to do with non compatible materials being used over the OEM paint materials)and which is why I said it needs paint now. Or I could just drive it the way it is as it tells a story and is kinda cool in its own right. Anyway, because of the re-paint there is currently no Mouldings on the car now so. Can't tell you if it had them when delivered new or not or if the V5F code was a mistake on the tag. It probably had them is my guess. Dark green Mouldings in a dark green car...

Any more opinions as to value before I pull the trigger?

 

[justcuz]

you might find some of your answers here

The 1970 Hamtramck Registry - 1971 Dodge Dealership Data Book - Dart & Demon

 

[4mulas]

you might find some of your answers here

The 1970 Hamtramck Registry - 1971 Dodge Dealership Data Book - Dart & Demon

Thank you. Had a look but it didn't tell me too much...

Again, just seems odd to have the back v8w stripe and nothing on the side other than a Moulding.?

 

[crackedback]

You could get moulding or a stripe, not both. You could also opt for neither, IIRC.

 

[Vs29H1B]

You could get moulding or a stripe, not both. You could also opt for neither, IIRC.

This is the correct answer. In 1970 I factory ordered a brand new 1970 Plymouth Duster 340, with the vinyl body side moldings ( I lived in an area where people regularly dinged your new car by slamming their own car doors into your car).
The vinyl body side moldings worked well and they did replace the factory longitudinal side stripes. I prefer a car without stripes because no stripes add to the "sleeper" look of the car. Remember, stripes don't make the car faster or perform better. Same with the performance hood with scoops --- it's all for show.

Also, I ordered the stripe delete option --- my car came with the factory transverse tail panel stripe.

My older brother at that time, was a salesman at one of the largest Chrysler-Plymouth-Dodge dealers, and I ordered the car through him. Before I ordered the car, I had access to all the dealership factory order fact books --- the stripe delete and the vinyl body side moldings were well described and actual photos of a car equipped with those options were in fact displayed in the factory order fact books.

I wish I still had that 1970 Duster 340! But I'd take the Demon you describe - all day long!

 

[4mulas]

This is the correct answer. In 1970 I factory ordered a brand new 1970 Plymouth Duster 340, with the vinyl body side moldings ( I lived in an area where people regularly dinged your new car by slamming their own car doors into your car).
The vinyl body side moldings worked well and they did replace the factory longitudinal side stripes. I prefer a car without stripes because no stripes add to the "sleeper" look of the car. Remember, stripes don't make the car faster or perform better. Same with the performance hood with scoops --- it's all for show.

Also, I ordered the stripe delete option --- my car came with the factory transverse tail panel stripe.

My older brother at that time, was a salesman at one of the largest Chrysler-Plymouth-Dodge dealers, and I ordered the car through him. Before I ordered the car, I had access to all the dealership factory order fact books --- the stripe delete and the vinyl body side moldings were well described and actual photos of a car equipped with those options were in fact displayed in the factory order fact books.

I wish I still had that 1970 Duster 340! But I'd take the Demon you describe - all day long!

Thanks very much for this, and to cracked back too! That is exactly how this car was optioned out. Vynil body side Moulding and the white transverse tail panel stripe. I did know that if a car had vynil side Moulding you couldn't get the side stripes, I'm pretty sure swinger 340's were like this too. Maybe this was more common than I thought seeing as your car came that way and was ordered that way by you! Cool.

I am excited about this car with only 33,500 original miles on it but am having to pay up for it, he wants $15,750. Does have new fuel tank and lines, brakes, carb rebuilt, new TTI exhaust with the correct tips. All sorts of things done that a car that has sat along time needs.

It will need a few (4-5) small repairs to the all original sheet metal, about the size of a silver dollar do to moisture being trapped between the cheap-o repaint in the early 80's which has caused small bubbles. I expect to see some small traces of rust underneath when dug into.

It also will come with new seat covers front and rear and a new carpet. The original owner did the old vynil diamond pattern interior treatment to the front and rear seats, door panels, and back sail panel back when everyone thought their car was only worth five bucks so it didn't matter and when that was the trend. I'm considering leaving it for a while just to pay tribute to its history and as a throwback in time. Not the biggest fan of the color, is dark green,, f7, but it's growing on me...

 

[71DodgeDemon340]

If its a numbers matching 340 4 speed car fully restored id say its worth around 50k. not very many demons produced as it is and a original 340 4 speed with original engine trans and rear is getting pretty damn hard to find.

If its as clean as you say it is, and has matching engine trans and rear id say easily 10-13k

If i were to buy it, and if it was all numbers matching id put it back to factory, at the most id put some radials on it, you could always have 2 sets of wheels for it, one set with radials to drive it and one set with the old biased tires to show or even to sell it

 

[4mulas]

If its a numbers matching 340 4 speed car fully restored id say its worth around 50k. not very many demons produced as it is and a original 340 4 speed with original engine trans and rear is getting pretty damn hard to find.

If its as clean as you say it is, and has matching engine trans and rear id say easily 10-13k

If i were to buy it, and if it was all numbers matching id put it back to factory, at the most id put some radials on it, you could always have 2 sets of wheels for it, one set with radials to drive it and one set with the old biased tires to show or even to sell it

Yep it's all matching and complete. I think I'll buck up and get it then even though it's close to $16k. It actually comes with 5 original polyglas gt tires too. 4 raised whites and one black wall on the spare

 

[71DodgeDemon340]

Does he have the build sheet? Thats a bonus.

 

[4mulas]

Does he have the build sheet? Thats a bonus.

He's only looked in couple spots. But not as of yet. There may still be one in it.

 

[1968FormulaS340]

The low mileage doesn't mean jack squat if the condition of the car doesn't match it. Reading all he information you have provided, the condition doesn't match the mileage.

I don't believe the 30k miles and I think the seller is fishing for a sucker.

 

[4mulas]

The low mileage doesn't mean jack squat if the condition of the car doesn't match it. Reading all he information you have provided, the condition doesn't match the mileage.

I don't believe the 30k miles and I think the seller is fishing for a sucker.

The seller is a known honest person in the local mopar circle and he knew The original owner who passed many years ago. The mileage is legit at 33,500. The car has only ever been registered to the original owner, and hasn't been registered for many years now. It hasn't been in use.

 

[1968FormulaS340]

Just saying. Sounds more like 130,000 miles to me, given the condition and modifications.

 

[4mulas]

Just saying. Sounds more like 130,000 miles to me, given the condition and modifications.

Ok.

Bad paint isn't a modification, and that stupid vynil diamond seat pattern crap was in just about every muscle car in the late 70's early 80's. That or velour so I don't really know about what modifications you are talking about? Just saying. 5 original polyglas tires wouldn't be around on a 130,000 mile car either.

 

[1968FormulaS340]

5 polyglass tires wouldn't have been around on a car that was being driven in the 80s, so they are irrelevant to me. Most cars I have seen with that mileage, including my 62,000 Formula S, have decent original interior, although environmental damage can happen regardless of mileage.

I'm still not buying it, but if you want to pay a premium for a claimed mileage, go for it.

 

[4mulas]

Ok.

Bad paint isn't a modification, and that stupid vynil diamond seat pattern crap was in just about every muscle car in the late 70's early 80's. That or velour so I don't really know about what modifications you are talking about? Just saying. 5 original polyglas tires wouldn't be around on a 130,000 mile car either.

 

[4mulas]

5 polyglass tires wouldn't have been around on a car that was being driven in the 80s, so they are irrelevant to me. Most cars I have seen with that mileage, including my 62,000 Formula S, have decent original interior, although environmental damage can happen regardless of mileage.

I'm still not buying it, but if you want to pay a premium for a claimed mileage, go for it.

I guess theres always a negative nellie in the crowd.

People back in the hotrod days changed interiors because it was cool and they could and as means of personalizing their cars, not because it was worn out. The dude also drag raced it every weekend at the local raceway and it seldom saw use during the week.

Perhaps you havent embraced the true nature of your car and you dont get it. ?

 

[gdrill]

That looks clean. Look at the brake and gas pedals. Low mileage "usually" equals very little wear. The brake will likely have a small amount of wear at the bottom right close to the gas pedal on a car with that mileage on it. Just one of the signs I use to determine odometer readings.

I own a set of buckets from a low mileage Duster with diamond tuck on the backs. It really sucks because the diamonds are actually drilled through the backs!

 

[4mulas]

Look at the brake and gas pedals. Low mileage "usually" equals very little wear. The brake will likely have a small amount of wear at the bottom right close to the gas pedal on a car with that mileage on it. Just one of the signs I use to determine odometer readings.

I own a set of buckets from a low mileage Duster with diamond tuck on the backs. It really sucks because the diamonds are actually drilled through the backs!

Good point. Thanks, I'll do a double take on that!

 

[4mulas]

That looks clean. Look at the brake and gas pedals. Low mileage "usually" equals very little wear. The brake will likely have a small amount of wear at the bottom right close to the gas pedal on a car with that mileage on it. Just one of the signs I use to determine odometer readings.

I own a set of buckets from a low mileage Duster with diamond tuck on the backs. It really sucks because the diamonds are actually drilled through the backs!

So I went to my phone where I have several pictures of the car and sure enough there was one that showed the pedals quite well. I enlarged it and all three have essentially no wear. Thanks for,the tip!

Thankfully Included in the sale are new covers and a carpet.