I am getting closer to the end on a full " Frame off " restoration on my 72 Duster 340. Finishing up with the dash restoration and have the speedo assy. in hand. My question, Should I leave the original mileage numbers on the cluster or make it read 100 miles to start over? It now has 113,104 which is actual mileage. I do not want to cause anything that would detract from the authenticity or value of the car. Looking to get you guys thoughts on what might be the best to do. Thank, Tim
Odometer reading after restoration
- Thread starter Nuturner
- Start date
-
Was talking with a guy at a car show that was showing his frame off Camero he had restored and had zeroed out the odometer, talking like it was original miles.
I pressed him on it and he caved, he said: original miles after restoration.
I thought that was pretty tacky (and illegal to roll it back). The car actually had well over 100,000 miles on it as he later confirmed.
☆☆☆☆☆
I pressed him on it and he caved, he said: original miles after restoration.
I thought that was pretty tacky (and illegal to roll it back). The car actually had well over 100,000 miles on it as he later confirmed.
☆☆☆☆☆
mopowers
Well-Known Member
I'd leave it as is.
btw- how'd you take the car off the frame?
btw- how'd you take the car off the frame?
MopaR&D
Nerd Member
I'd leave it alone and just make a note somewhere of what the mileage was when you did the restoration. Then again I'm more in the modify-hot rod-restomod camp than the matching-numbers-authentic-restoration camp so maybe take my opinion with a grain of salt.
Figure of speech! Unless you consider taking it off of the K frame???!! How about a complete dis-assemble and a bare/empty uni body Better? Thanks.I'd leave it as is.
btw- how'd you take the car off the frame?
"Frame off" sounds so much like a Chevy guy.
But for the odometer, leave it be. Whether you've seen it done or not, (and I have too), I'm pretty certain it's illegal in all 50 states.
Copy that.
WymanV
..you said "member"...
Ditto!
I replaced the dash in mine with one from a '68 Barracuda, modified to '71 Duster standards. I had the speedometer reconditioned and odometer reset to the actual mileage on the car. The original cluster still reads 74,727 and knowing the history of the car it's not rolled over.
It would be called a rotisserie restoration. What ever miles is noted on the last state inspection or on the title at sale would be the legit miles. Lowering it would be a crime. But they do go back to zero after 100,000 on old Mopars. But then the numbers get crooked.
I usually do not touch the odometers unless the dash would be changed. An only then would I put the miles that is found on the original. Very large Fine if your caught on a newer car . Classics are usually buyer beware. This car will get the original miles like they all should.
To me ? I would be more proud of a now mint car that was ruff with High miles. Standing tall next to it, Shows the love you have for the work you put into it.
I usually do not touch the odometers unless the dash would be changed. An only then would I put the miles that is found on the original. Very large Fine if your caught on a newer car . Classics are usually buyer beware. This car will get the original miles like they all should.
To me ? I would be more proud of a now mint car that was ruff with High miles. Standing tall next to it, Shows the love you have for the work you put into it.
I couldn't have said it better.
tjpatte
Well-Known Member
I did not know this, thanks Steve!
Personally, I could care less how many miles are on the odometer of a 50 year old complete restoration. Wouldn't scare me a bit what the seller did to it.......However, if I was buying a survivor, that would be a different since a survivor is supposed to be "all original". In Ontario, they stop asking for the odometer reading at plate renewal time after, IIRC, 20 years.
Cuda Al
Well-Known Member
I stopped worrying about it after the car rolled over the first time, the second, new speedometer (left milage from that unit) rolled that one over, restored the car, rolled the odometer again...
Did I say I like to drive.
Alan
Did I say I like to drive.
Alan
convx4
Well-Known Member
When I fully restored my 70 dart swinger I restored a parts odometer back to zero. Kept the original with the original mileage showing. I also notarized a letter saying what the original millage was at the time of the full restoration of the car. This went in to the paper work file kept on the car. If I were to do it again I would keep the original miles on the odometer what ever the mileage is.
Back in the early 70s, my friends and I hung around a local used car lot. I remember hearing that a sure way to tell the mileage had been rolled back was the numbers wouldn't be lined up properly.
I have had several vehicles that would roll over 100,000 and show zero miles and my numbers were always still lined up.
I have had several vehicles that would roll over 100,000 and show zero miles and my numbers were always still lined up.
This is a personal decision. For me. I want to be honest, so I made a note of the original mileage before the resto and just let the speedo continue counting.
340sFastback
Well-Known Member
Maybe if you replace frame rails on a unibody car then you can say its a Frame Off? Otherwise frame hasn't been off the unibody right?
The numbers " not lining up" is a true mith IF you do it right. I have decided to keep it the way it is. 113K original miles.
Funny!, No really, truly humorous. I guess I SHOULD have said rotisserie restro. Thanks for the unneeded lesson in grammar.
If I DID decide to do it, ( I have since decided not to) Everything would have been documented on the original miles along with date stamped photos. Not trying to hide anything here.
I feel so lucky, was able to buy this 37,000 mile original '69 Satellite from the original owner's wife being her husband had passed 2 years prior.
First glance looking at it in the Car Coral at Mopars in the Park, said to myself > that looks like a Road Runner grille. Then upon further inspection i noticed how perfect it was.
Then on to the back of the car and the trim was perfect. When she pulled on the headlight switch to check the taillights and the lenses shown through like glass, that's when I bought the car.
Side Note: I added the 4 bbl and aluminum wheels.
Yes a true original, garage kept out of the sun and they were fussy about their stuff and it showed inside and out.
Pretty amazing to find an untoucher original.
Living the Dream...
☆☆☆☆☆
First glance looking at it in the Car Coral at Mopars in the Park, said to myself > that looks like a Road Runner grille. Then upon further inspection i noticed how perfect it was.
Then on to the back of the car and the trim was perfect. When she pulled on the headlight switch to check the taillights and the lenses shown through like glass, that's when I bought the car.
Side Note: I added the 4 bbl and aluminum wheels.
Yes a true original, garage kept out of the sun and they were fussy about their stuff and it showed inside and out.
Pretty amazing to find an untoucher original.
Living the Dream...
☆☆☆☆☆
On cars as old as these, these mileage shown has never been a concern to me. I'm mostly concered with rust and body damage.
I am just stating my opinion here but if a really nice 50+ year old car shows really low mileage that is said to be original, the car will show it. If it doesn't show it, then someone probably did a really nice restoration anyway.
I am just stating my opinion here but if a really nice 50+ year old car shows really low mileage that is said to be original, the car will show it. If it doesn't show it, then someone probably did a really nice restoration anyway.
VERY sweet ride, congrats!
As the owner of a very low original miles car, I take pride knowing I've been around the cars whole life and know the miles are correct. Just because someone can afford $60000-$80000 on a great restoration, does not give them the right to turn the speedometer to 0. IMHO
-
Similar threads
