Originality-does it matter?

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do what you like when you are young and the cars were young, chop it up, weld it up big motor, paint it pink, thrash it like you stole it..... repeat... loose interest, leave it to rot.
disappear and get a job, get married, have kids, make some cash
come back with a fat wallet (kids moved out or you retire) and rose tinted shades, pay over the odds cos you can.... for the car...... cos you just gotta have it.
Restore it to OEM spec. drive up the prices by making it better than everyone else reliving their youth with their own "my first car re invented".
spare parts and reproduction resto parts availability increases dramatically but none of it is cheap. Resulting in a 2 pronged attack that freezes the young of today out of the market.
Thus making sure that the hobby dies with this generation.
suddenly the bottom falls out of the market those AMD panels you were depending on for your latests project are no longer in production

the museum pieces might be worth something as a curiosity for future generations

the end is nigh......mark my words :)

Dave
 
I agree my son is 31 and likes my Swinger but he doesn't want it he would rather have a newer Challenger etc. I'm not saying this is every kid but its most of em...
 
I have never had a rare Mopar, all of mine came from the daily driver category. One a \6, one was a 273 - 2 barrel, one a 318 - 2 barrel. I could never afford to buy an AAR Cuda, or the 69 340 Dart, or the big block Cuda - so I made them from the less desirable models. Some might put them in the clone category because I like more of the stock look than a fancy high $ pro-mod look, but they are what I like and they are mine to do as I please.
One car that I have was a 74 318-904 Challenger, not a bad car but it was only a couple steps away from being a parts car - a complete parts car, but it was never going to be worth "restoring to original".
Anyway, I liked the look of the Challenger Rallye, so I am making one... it now has a 360 - 727, with the dual scoop hood, painted side mirrors, rally fender "vents", dual exhaust (with rear cutouts) but retains the correct Yellow paint, white interior, and new A/C system - mainly because they were what my wife wanted and I liked the look.
The point is I will make what I want and make the car mine, rather than what someone else tells me is correct.
I am taking the same approach with "my" 67 273 -2 barrel Dart GT. It's now sporting a 340 - 727, 8 3/4, disc brakes, dual bulge hood and dual exhaust. I would say I am making it mine, but my daughter claimed it years ago, so the direction has changed slightly, we are making it hers - I really like that!!!
 
Well they made 31000 of my car, Valiant charger, 1500 were RTs 5 of which had aircon
they only made 90,000 australian valiants in total between 1962 and 1982


mine is 1 of those 5
i guess in US mopar production terms its kinda rare....

its missing its air con i have the orginal motor. it has a silly hi CR one fitted with carbs and headers I have fitted a 4 speed and have no intention of finding and fitting a standard close ratio 3 speed
its got moser axles tru track and late model front disks
lakewood slapper bars.. superstock and repro a body springs do not fit

all make it better/easier to drive

what i can't do is tub it and chop it about, and fit a cage... really...i can't.... It is one out of 5
i also can't sell it becasue there are none to buy to replace it should i feel the urge id have to prise one out of the hands of an Australian who would not want to let another one go to the UK....

i have to apply common sense to what was $12K car when purchased peaked at $120K and is now probably back to $40-60K by the time i'm retired it will be back to $12K or even less

its my car and i can do what i like but i have to apply some sense... :)
 
I think there are no rules now especially cause like said market is slowing who is going to buy it after you invest in making it original ?
 
It's really a personal preference I would imagine. I've had my hot rods, V8 Vega, Gremlin X with a 360, Hot rod 1970 Duster, hot rod 56 Chevy none of which would ever need to made original. Then there was a 69 Mach 1 390. That I did try to make somewhat original because the 50 series tires made it feel like I was driving Fred Flintstone's car every time I hit a bump. Now my 71 Duster 340 I bought in 1993 was pretty much all stock, match #s, original carb, intake, exhaust manifolds etc. It's a car that I think deserves to be original and it's my forever car and that's how I want it. I am not opposed to adding some slot mags that can always be removed but it's restored stock and I love how it looks as is. Is it worth more stock yes, but frankly I bought it for 3K and restored it when Dusters weren't worth 12K done. I did it because it's what I envisioned and value never entered into it. I knew It was the same cost to restore the Duster as it would be to restore a Cuda but it was worth it to me and still is. I wouldn't trade it for any E body or B body which would be worth more.
 
So... I work at a car museum. I totally understand the preservation side of things. And that creeps into my own garage. My '95 Triumph Thunderbird is completely stock and original except for the coils (the originals always die from age) and consumables like tires and brakes. My Yamaha TW200 and FZ6 are both modded for comfort though.

When I raced in the 80s-00s, I built 2 Porsche 944s for SCCA/PCA club racing. I look at what nice ones go for now and chuckle.

When I was in the Corvair scene in the 80s and 90s, nobody was saving the run-of-the-mill cars. Four-doors and plain janes were parted out to keep the convertibles on the road, for example. I had two Corsa coupes, two '69 Monza coupes, a Rampside, three vans, and a '63 Monza convertible among the couple dozen Corvairs that passed through my garage. My last one was a '63 700 sedan, a plain jane four-door, 84hp/PG. That was a great driving car. I'd show up at a Corvair meet towards the end of my time in the hobby and have the only one. Most of the cars that are left now were the rare ones when new: Spyders, Corsas, Yenkos, Rampsides.

My '74 Swinger is a "numbers matching" 318/AC/disc brake car. I'm only the third owner. When I bought it, I was looking for something that would be fun to cruise and run down our local drag strip. Once I started working on it I decided it was too nice, straight, and original for that, so I just painted it. But I just wasn't enjoying it, so it was for sale recently.

It's now in a storage unit closer to home than before so I've decided to keep it and fix it up more. And yes, start making it faster and more fun to drive. If I'm gonna have it, I should enjoy it, yeah?

That was a long way to say I see both sides of the issue, eh?
 
Chris Nicholson said:
So... I work at a car museum. I totally understand the preservation side of things. And that creeps into my own garage. My '95 Triumph Thunderbird is completely stock and original except for the coils (the originals always die from age) and consumables like tires and brakes. My Yamaha TW200 and FZ6 are both modded for comfort though.

When I raced in the 80s-00s, I built 2 Porsche 944s for SCCA/PCA club racing. I look at what nice ones go for now and chuckle.

When I was in the Corvair scene in the 80s and 90s, nobody was saving the run-of-the-mill cars. Four-doors and plain janes were parted out to keep the convertibles on the road, for example. I had two Corsa coupes, two '69 Monza coupes, a Rampside, three vans, and a '63 Monza convertible among the couple dozen Corvairs that passed through my garage. My last one was a '63 700 sedan, a plain jane four-door, 84hp/PG. That was a great driving car. I'd show up at a Corvair meet towards the end of my time in the hobby and have the only one. Most of the cars that are left now were the rare ones when new: Spyders, Corsas, Yenkos, Rampsides.

My '74 Swinger is a "numbers matching" 318/AC/disc brake car. I'm only the third owner. When I bought it, I was looking for something that would be fun to cruise and run down our local drag strip. Once I started working on it I decided it was too nice, straight, and original for that, so I just painted it. But I just wasn't enjoying it, so it was for sale recently.

It's now in a storage unit closer to home than before so I've decided to keep it and fix it up more. And yes, start making it faster and more fun to drive. If I'm gonna have it, I should enjoy it, yeah?

That was a long way to say I see both sides of the issue, eh?
Click to expand...
I see no issues with wanting more motor in the 74 maybe a shift kit etc or worked trans...maybe lighten it up a bit if racing etc. tasteful mods etc.
 
Dave999 said:
do what you like when you are young and the cars were young, chop it up, weld it up big motor, paint it pink, thrash it like you stole it..... repeat... loose interest, leave it to rot.
disappear and get a job, get married, have kids, make some cash
come back with a fat wallet (kids moved out or you retire) and rose tinted shades, pay over the odds cos you can.... for the car...... cos you just gotta have it.
Restore it to OEM spec. drive up the prices by making it better than everyone else reliving their youth with their own "my first car re invented".
spare parts and reproduction resto parts availability increases dramatically but none of it is cheap. Resulting in a 2 pronged attack that freezes the young of today out of the market.
Thus making sure that the hobby dies with this generation.
suddenly the bottom falls out of the market those AMD panels you were depending on for your latests project are no longer in production

the museum pieces might be worth something as a curiosity for future generations

the end is nigh......mark my words :)

Dave
Click to expand...
You might think the repro companies could see this coming too, and lower their prices to guarantee their longevity in the business; instead of just pricing themselves right out of business... It sounds like a poor business model to me.
 

Chris Nicholson said:
So... I work at a car museum. I totally understand the preservation side of things. And that creeps into my own garage. My '95 Triumph Thunderbird is completely stock and original except for the coils (the originals always die from age) and consumables like tires and brakes. My Yamaha TW200 and FZ6 are both modded for comfort though.

When I raced in the 80s-00s, I built 2 Porsche 944s for SCCA/PCA club racing. I look at what nice ones go for now and chuckle.

When I was in the Corvair scene in the 80s and 90s, nobody was saving the run-of-the-mill cars. Four-doors and plain janes were parted out to keep the convertibles on the road, for example. I had two Corsa coupes, two '69 Monza coupes, a Rampside, three vans, and a '63 Monza convertible among the couple dozen Corvairs that passed through my garage. My last one was a '63 700 sedan, a plain jane four-door, 84hp/PG. That was a great driving car. I'd show up at a Corvair meet towards the end of my time in the hobby and have the only one. Most of the cars that are left now were the rare ones when new: Spyders, Corsas, Yenkos, Rampsides.

My '74 Swinger is a "numbers matching" 318/AC/disc brake car. I'm only the third owner. When I bought it, I was looking for something that would be fun to cruise and run down our local drag strip. Once I started working on it I decided it was too nice, straight, and original for that, so I just painted it. But I just wasn't enjoying it, so it was for sale recently.

It's now in a storage unit closer to home than before so I've decided to keep it and fix it up more. And yes, start making it faster and more fun to drive. If I'm gonna have it, I should enjoy it, yeah?

That was a long way to say I see both sides of the issue, eh?
Click to expand...
My reply got hidden or deleted and I don't know how to find it
OOPS
 
Dartswinger70 said:
I see no issues with wanting more motor in the 74 maybe a shift kit etc or worked trans...maybe lighten it up a bit if racing etc. tasteful mods etc.
Click to expand...
This is my first Mopar, so I need to research how much motor before it'll need a stronger transmission, differential, etc.
 
Woody500 said:
Too many cars are sitting around, outside, rotting, their owners going to get to it someday. That causes members on here, that have spent years accumulating parts to take loads to the scrapyard, just when these parts are getting more rare & harder to find.
Not all parts need to be or should be reproductions .
Most people don't restore old parts anymore, and they're missing out as it's very satisfying to do.
Click to expand...

I have a thread here showing an alternative to letting them sit outside and rot. I think people can " preserve " them without sticking a bunch of money in them and also with a lot less time involved. They sit around rotting probably because a lot of people think the alternative is sticking over 30k into them.
 
For those stating they were all modded early in life, you would be wrong. Some were modded, while others were not. My wife's GTS (we're third owners) was a bit rough when we got it, but never modified. A buddy of mine bought a '69 B5 Swinger 340 in 1981 (AC, vinyl top) and was never modified when he got it or when he had it except for wheels. The thing about both of these cars is that the previous owners were not car guys, just happened to have 340 cars. Generally speaking, most of my car buddies back in the early 1980s were interested in unmodified cars and keeping them that way. The thing is that both this side of the hobby and the modified crowd always coexisted pretty well. We'd go to the Car Craft Street Machine Nationals and love all of them. Throughout this thread are people who always do their best to try to convince others that the hobby is dying, original cars are boring, and have no place in the hobby (especially A-bodies). As for the young crowd, we have a "kid" in our club (mid 20s) who has several different Mopars, including some "less desirables", but they're all cool in their own way. We keep the hobby alive by taking an interest in these "kids". My younger son (39) still has his high school car ('67 Dart GT convertible modified) and one of his long-time friends (they met in Kindergarten) has the 1970 T-bird that his grandmother bought brand new (still sports the factory gator grain vinyl top) and he has no plans to modify.

DW020148.JPG


DW020157.JPG
 
I knew a guy who had a Levis Gremlin in the 90s he put a roof rack on it and made a work truck out of it.. hauled a 20 ft ladder around on it...:) for those that dont know the Levis gremlin had a blue jean style interior :)
 
Dartswinger70 said:
I knew a guy who had a Levis Gremlin in the 90s he put a roof rack on it and made a work truck out of it.. hauled a 20 ft ladder around on it...:) for those that dont know the Levis gremlin had a blue jean style interior :)
Click to expand...
My sister had one think it was a 72 or73
 
Her 258 will bark the tires into 2nd. No weight, back there.
 
Last edited:
Friend of mine has a 66 Belvedere (not Satellite) 426 Hemi 4-speed he bought new. Twenty years ago, he still had the original spark plug wires on it because he wanted to keep it original. But sometime in the 80s, he had it repainted. By Maaco. I told him he would have been better off keeping the original paint and replacing the plug wires. He did replace the plug wires not long after that. Still has the Maaco paint job.
 

'66 Hemi Satelite survivor

April 18, 2025 - 68111 original miles

August 16, 2025 - 69327 miles

4 months driven 1,216 miles !!!

4 month milage comparison.JPG


Copy of IMG_1959.jpeg
 
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