is this question too obvious?


Im looking for a challenger.. 13 -17,000 budget...

on ebay i bid upon and lost a nice RT 340 4 speed.. (matching #) basically my dream car... i let it go at 15,850 i should have bid more but was suprised to see it go that high; my budget at the time was 13,000 but now i know i would not get that car for 13,000.. plus it was in california and would have cost me about 1500 toi get it back to maine...


anyway.. thee are lots of clones around.. they look nice - but non matching #'s ... many have bigger than a 340 4B


given the choice.. do you always go for matching #'s if possible? if it were an investment id asume matching is better.. but id probably keep the car for 10-15 years... (this will be my weekend & fun car to drive)

so would matching #'s be important or would it be ok or better to get a non matching with a bigger motor?
and given my budget.. would i have to settle on a clone?

 

Investment wise, sure a #'s matching car would be better, but from the sounds of your post you aren't looking to invest, your looking to buy a nice challenger and your on a budget. Personally I would get what you want, #'s matching or not. Mine just happens to be #'s matching but I never looked when I bought it cause I wanted this body style with the air grabber. I picked the important items I wanted and found what I wanted. To many people get caught up in the #'s matching hype when all they want is a nice strong driver and there seems to be pressure to look for #'s matching. I say buy what you want so long as its in your price range and it has all the things you would like in a car. The more accurate it is the less you want to drive it. If your interested in restoring it to original then you know the answer to looking for #'s matching. Otherwise get you a cool car and enjoy....That's what its all about......[sm=happy046.gif]

Chris

 

Ditto that! I had a numbers car that I obsessed over and never really enjoyed it like I should have. I built a custom '65 Barracuda next and had a blast with it. It's the same with my Belvedere. It's a clone of a '65 Super Stocker and I thoroughly enjoy it.

 

thanks, besides for ebay and hemmings any suggestions on where i might find a car in my price range?

 

Try Mopar Collectors Guide, or locally, since you're in Maine, look through the Auto Hunter and Want Advertiser. Carlisle has come and gone, but if you can make the trek to the Nats, they have a car corral there too, although prices tend to be out of whack at the big shows like that. They are good for amking network contacts, though.... I have found cars that way as well as friends of mine too.

 

Numbers matching will ALWAYS retain or improve their value over time but the big blockis what everone wants. If performance is what you want, go with the big block. You'l be happier and there wil always be thenext guy like you waiting in 10-15 years.

 

if i may...it seems that alot of people have this mentallity of "you have to run a big block to go fast", but a well put together small block will keep up with many big blocks...

 

If your going to drive it get the clone. if it is a investment get the number matching.The clone you can have fun with the matching number is only a investment. I have a number matching 70 CudaV code in my garage and the only time i take the cover off is to show someone. Beside it i have a non matching Dart and have a blast with it.

 

Find what you want in your price range. IF you find a BB car #'s matching then go for it, otherwise most of the #'s matching are like mine, your typical small block auto cars. If it has lots of options then great, if it doesn't then great. Mine is #'s matching, but i'm debating a BB swap......you just keep the parts you swapped out, don't chop up anything that isn't replacable, and later you can change it back if you want. Otherwise most of the non-matching cars are SB auto anyway, 70-74 318's are plentiful, make your own #'s matching car....just look at your loacal junk yard and you'll see what im sayin......if I can't drive it, I don't want it.

 

Agree w/ all posted here. I have matching #s cars and non ones and you do "stress" more on the matching cars...at least I do.

One thing I would add, is even if not matching, try to get as complete a car as possible, including the right paint. If you find for example, a nice Challenger w/ non original motor, but correct displacement for that VIN and correct trans & rear end as well as color...that's a pretty strong score that won't hurt you in the long run either. And, you can still have fun with it without worrying as much. At least that's my take.