Real E body prices?

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Pascamp

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I think it's time I start looking for my holy grail car, a 70 aar Cuda. I've wanted this car my whole life, but want a clone so I can modify it and actually drive it. I do lurk over at the ebody site, but I really don't like the vibe over there. I've never seen a car with such whacked out values. I honestly can't even figure a ballpark.

I think a decent clone is in the $40-50 range. Does this sound about right?

Now this seems to be a tougher one for me to figure out. Another option is to buy a really clean uncloned car and do it myself. What does a clean, plain old 70 barracuda cost? I've seen prices all over the place. From $15-45k. Can a really clean 70 barracuda really be had for $20kish? A lot of the cars I see on line seem really shady, and a lot of guys are asking $30-40k for a 74 with ghetto paint, ugly wheels, air shocks, chrome chain steering wheel, and a chrome foot gas pedal.
 
I have a 73 Cuda. 95 % complete.
06 charger drivetrain 5.7 hem less the 6k on it. . Alterkation front.
Customized body. 20 k if you are interested.
 
Its been a few years so prices have likely changed but I sold my 1970 Plymouth Barracuda with no motor for 16 or 18k (I can't remember it was 5 years ago). It was a bare shell stripped down and media blasted. All new sheetmetal installed. No primer. It was originally a 318 Auto console car with leather seats. I had a 4 speed hump, pedals, and A833 that needed to be rebuilt. Other then that it was pretty much complete minus no motor and no grill. Also no rims or tires. Basically everything needed to be redone or replaced still before reassembling the car. So figure that car would have needed 10k for a nice paint job and finishing body work, 5k for the interior including a new dash, seats redone, and door panels etc, however much for a motor plus accessories and parts to rebuild the trans and rear end. By the time it would have been done it probably would have easily cost another 20-25k to finish. So while you may find a 70 Cuda for 20k I wouldn't expect it to be very nice.

My dad is currently finishing up his 1970 Cuda AAR (non numbers matching but date coded engine) and he's got about 60k in the restoration so far.
 
I have a 73 Cuda. 95 % complete.
06 charger drivetrain 5.7 hem less the 6k on it. . Alterkation front.
Customized body. 20 k if you are interested.
Right now I'm in the research phase. I haven't seriously considered this until recently. I may consider other years if the cost to convert to a 70 makes sense.
 

They are out there, I have a couple of them.

I have this junker on my trailer right now, its rotted in places I have never seen mopars rot.
But a complete car.

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I gave up on ever having a Cuda or challenger. The prices are just crazy stupid.

I just can’t see paying 15k- 20k for a complete basket case that going to take years to restore and more money than I’ll ever have to finish it.
 
If you have the fabrication skills, I think you should maybe consider cloning one. Plus with value of an original one I wouldn't drive it. I know it's your dream. Just curious have you ever driven one. I've lost count over the years how many I've had. They sure don't drive anywhere as well as an A-body or B-body. Just my .02 But, you have to chase dreams sometimes.
 
A bodies are truly more nimble and better handling, E and B are big boats.
And I have alot of each over the years.
In fact right now I have one A, and three E.
 
If you have the fabrication skills, I think you should maybe consider cloning one. Plus with value of an original one I wouldn't drive it. I know it's your dream. Just curious have you ever driven one. I've lost count over the years how many I've had. They sure don't drive anywhere as well as an A-body or B-body. Just my .02 But, you have to chase dreams sometimes.
As far as cloning one goes, I don't know what fab skills would be required. It's basically a hood, stripes, and fog lights. I certainly would never put a six pack on anything on purpose. They look great, but the headaches and cost aren't worth it to me.

I have had the displeasure of driving one ebody, a 440 6pack Challenger. It was definitely in the top 5 worst cars I've driven. Overweight, unbalanced, brakes, suspension, and steering were awful, and truthfully it wasn't very quick. I did love every second behind the wheel though.
 
I gave up on ever having a Cuda or challenger. The prices are just crazy stupid.

I just can’t see paying 15k- 20k for a complete basket case that going to take years to restore and more money than I’ll ever have to finish it.
I have a feeling this is where my research will lead me. Everything I see for a decent price seems too good to be true, a scam, or otherwise shady.
 
I have a feeling this is where my research will lead me. Everything I see for a decent price seems too good to be true, a scam, or otherwise shady.
Not the one OMR offered. He is a straight up guy and that car is worth grabbing. I would go for it myself, but 3 projects is all I can handle right now.
 
Not the one OMR offered. He is a straight up guy and that car is worth grabbing. I would go for it myself, but 3 projects is all I can handle right now.

Thanks foe the kind words Dave.
I have more then double what im asking for this car invested in parts alone.
Only thing i dont have for this car is a set of bucket seats. Its a solid car any sheetmetal that was rusted was replaced.
It is basically an 06 charger with a cuda body on it.
 
Jeez I hate E Bodies but am figuring the currency conversion to buy that one with shipping lol . there are cars out there that are decent and do sell for a reasonable price , my neighbour up the street sold his black on black challenger 440 rt clone with 20's and the brembro brakes , big stereo etc for 24k Cdn a couple of summers back after trying to sell it local for a while some guy in Germany ponied up for it , he hjad bought it cheap from a guy who went bankrupt and drove it twice in three years because he hated the way it drove . He used the money to restore a 70 Fury ragtop .So they are out there check the mopar sale's groups on facebook .
 
There are plenty of deals out there if you have the cash at the right time, and the seller needs money.
Picked this 70 Challenger up cheap last spring.
Its my next builder, nothing fancy but a good solid rust free car.
It came with most of the parts.
They are out there, just have a trailer, cash, and be able to move fast.

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It waits for me. Sleeping peacefully collecting dust. Bought for $600 many many moons ago.

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Yes, ‘73-340-4spd w/3.23 - 8-3/4 suregrip equipped car, P/S, P/B car. No AC! Ralley dash, center console.

I didn’t get the 340 with it. I got a 318.

Haven’t driven it in 1almost 16 years. Kids, collage, wife’s car (67 Cuda) etc....

So while it waits, I got some extra money and got the hood, frnt/rear valances and a .....

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We’ll have to see how that works one day.
 
Go for it, I bought a supercharger for my challenger, have so many trans options, may even change it to a 4-speed, but I am getting older and already have too many 4-speed mopars.
Engine, small block, ask me when its running, I got so many, just need to pick and choose.
 
A lot of guys here have trashed how the E bodies drive and I never thought such. Honestly I think the A bodies are worse though I’m used to them more. Which could be a major factor! LOL!

Someone also said it is a (huge?) boat like a B body. There is some slight truth to that because the E body is based off of the B body.

When you really get to know an E body, it does indeed look like a shortened B body from under the car.

The Duster isn’t all that smaller than an E body. I’ve had them next to each other in the same garage.

Some A bodies are a bit smaller than a Duster, so, that’s where that must have come from.?!?!

My thing in life is, just like the tv commercials, Just do it! Never regret.
And so what my Cuda is a POS!
That’s the best part of it. Beat it like bad dog and never care a for a moment!
Break it, fix it, race it, break it again, fix it again.....

Best $600 I ever spent on a pony car!
 
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