What would you do with this car?

[rich006]

If you had the opportunity to buy this car (asking price is $5500), what would you do with it?


My son and I got excited about a red '74 Duster 225ci slant 6 (http://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/showthread.php?t=258141) that we saw on Craig's list. Should've taken an expert with us, but we ended up buying more of a project than we can really handle--rust absolutely everywhere including frame rails, pretty much every part needs replaced. So looking for something similar in better condition, I found this tan '73 Duster 225ci slant 6. It's unbelievably well kept--25K original miles, zero rust underneath, just immaculate. Current owner bought it from an old lady or something, and has been driving it around. The only problem is I'd almost be afraid to do anything to it because it's so pristine.

So what would you do?

 

[Back in Time]

Buy It...Then do what ever will make you happy with it.

 

[bighammer]

Put some sweet rims on that ol girl and drive it!! Or, what's your budget? There's lots of potential there!

 

[Bad Sport]

If that truly is a 25K original car, in my opinion, it should stay that way. They are original only once.

Fix any minor mechanical issues and drive and enjoy it.

 

[RustyRatRod]

Make it a rat rod.

 

[DaveBonds]

Buy it and enjoy it the way it is. If you are looking for a hotrod, you could pull it apart, but look at that paint on the air cleaner. They don't stay that nice, by tearing it apart for chrome and loud pipes.

In my opinion, anyone can build a car to their liking. I'm no purist by any means, but after restoring and customizing a lot of cars, I've come to appreciate the truly rare ideas and circumstances more and more, when I get to see them.

In my opinion, that car is cooler in that condition than any type of modification, restoration work, resto-mod or customization you could throw at it. It would only detract from how untouched it is. That really is the entire appeal behind that car and doesn't need any muscle to be appreciated by anyone.

That reason alone is why I would leave it the way it is. Not out of purity or historical value, but just sheer shock value as to its condition, intentional or not. I have the same reaction, even to 1980s cars in pristine shape, because you just don't get to see that anymore, so when you do, its a sure smile. You can't look at that car, the way it is, and not be interested or happy to see it. I would mow past a dozen chrome air cleaners to see that car if I spotted it at a show.

Anymore, when you go out to any event with your car, those are the real head turners.

Buy it and leave it.

 

[DaveBonds]

I'd polish the hell out of the aprons in the engine compartment to get the stains and dull paint back out, get a battery cap for the group 24 battery to make it look original and leave a Montgomery Ward grocery bag and a bible on the seat.

 

[nothingbutdarts]

I'd polish the hell out of the aprons in the engine compartment to get the stains and dull paint back out, get a battery cap for the group 24 battery to make it look original and leave a Montgomery Ward grocery bag and a bible on the seat.

LOL Love it!!!!!

 

[66340SEDAN]

I'd polish the hell out of the aprons in the engine compartment to get the stains and dull paint back out, get a battery cap for the group 24 battery to make it look original and leave a Montgomery Ward grocery bag and a bible on the seat.

X1000!!!

I would love to have that car but IMO it should stay original.....survivor cars are one of a kind. If it were mine, I would slap some rallye rims on it and enjoy it as a nice cruiser. But, the temptation would be there for me to hot rod it, in that case, I would save every part and not modify the car in anyway that can't be switched back...that car is nice and looks to be a fair deal :glasses7:

 

[Chuckman]

Leave it like it is. Please don't put low profile tires and stupid rims on it. If you ,must change the wheels use Mopar Rallys.

 

[Frankie]

Add A/C before ANYTHING else.

My opinion, "If it doesn't have air, it doesn't even need tires".

 

[WildCat]

Buy it

Change the fluids every one of them

Put some nice wheels and tires on it and enjoy it as is

The are 2 1980 aspens in the area that are both low mile original cars and look great. Both slant 6 cars one has wheels and looks great, other about the same color as this duster and all stock, still a very cool car

Plus a slant 6 will be easy on gas and you can drive them everywhere and enjoy it.

 

[krazykuda]

If that truly is a 25K original car, in my opinion, it should stay that way. They are original only once.

Fix any minor mechanical issues and drive and enjoy it.

If it's in that good of condition, buy it and drive it as is.

You can always upgrade to a v-8 anytime. Enjoy the slant 6 and the fuel economy for a while... :thumleft:

 

[318willrun]

If that truly is a 25K original car, in my opinion, it should stay that way. They are original only once.

Fix any minor mechanical issues and drive and enjoy it.

Buy it, your money, then do what you want with it. YOU only go around once..

 

[1968FormulaS340]

I would change the wheels to rallye wheels but keep the white walls for the grandma look.

That's about it.

 

[DaveBonds]

I'd also keep a gray wig with curlers in it, wrapped up in a floral mu-mu, so I could toss it on to drive to cruise-ins.

 

[moperformance]

Buy it and enjoy it the way it is. If you are looking for a hotrod, you could pull it apart, but look at that paint on the air cleaner. They don't stay that nice, by tearing it apart for chrome and loud pipes.

In my opinion, anyone can build a car to their liking. I'm no purist by any means, but after restoring and customizing a lot of cars, I've come to appreciate the truly rare ideas and circumstances more and more, when I get to see them.

In my opinion, that car is cooler in that condition than any type of modification, restoration work, resto-mod or customization you could throw at it. It would only detract from how untouched it is. That really is the entire appeal behind that car and doesn't need any muscle to be appreciated by anyone.

That reason alone is why I would leave it the way it is. Not out of purity or historical value, but just sheer shock value as to its condition, intentional or not. I have the same reaction, even to 1980s cars in pristine shape, because you just don't get to see that anymore, so when you do, its a sure smile. You can't look at that car, the way it is, and not be interested or happy to see it. I would mow past a dozen chrome air cleaners to see that car if I spotted it at a show.

Anymore, when you go out to any event with your car, those are the real head turners.

Buy it and leave it.

X2
great little ride

 

[95teetee]

X1000!!!
I would slap some rallye rims on it and enjoy it as a nice cruiser. But, the temptation would be there for me to hot rod it, in that case, I would save every part and not modify the car in anyway that can't be switched back...that car is nice and looks to be a fair deal :glasses7:

this (including the swap of the drivetrain but keeping the original stuff for future reinstallation if so desired)

 

[Abodybomber]

Slap some wheels,and CRUISE!. That's sweet.

 

[1968dartman]

X1000!!!

I would love to have that car but IMO it should stay original.....survivor cars are one of a kind. If it were mine, I would slap some rallye rims on it and enjoy it as a nice cruiser. But, the temptation would be there for me to hot rod it, in that case, I would save every part and not modify the car in anyway that can't be switched back...that car is nice and looks to be a fair deal :glasses7:

My thoughts exactly!!

 

[barbee6043]

you will get looks of looks at it cause of its great unmolested condition, survivors are neat and actually RARE ( an overused word). I say drive it and keep it as nice as possible. it wulll be your car, so in the end, you need to do what makes you happy and enjoy it whatever it takes... just me.....

 

[Dartnut]

Buy it, and do a complete service to it.
Then drive it for about a year and then decide if you want to do anything more to the car or enjoy it as is.
Be honest with yourself, once you modify it, it will never go back to stock......

 

[VDART]

Buy it & Drive it-- very nice looking vehicle ,Lawrence

 

[GEO]

Since it's just a slant car I'd wanna sell off all the original drive train , tubb and big block it

 

[abodyjoe]

I'd clean and detail it then drive it as is until I put a nice small Block drivetrain together for it. The 6 would be ok for a little while but like our dart gets boring as hell real fast.