So my dad has an old challenger, that his dad game him. It has rust holes in some places, the windshield and dash are busted due to a tree limb falling on it it didn't damage the roof or anything just the windshield and dashboard. How much would it cost to restore this?
Cost of restoring this 1973 dodge challenger?
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Hello and Welcome to the 'Z' from the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. :4-wavey: Enjoy your Ride and the Site! You'll find some knowledgeable and friendly people to answer your questions or just entertain you. Glad you could join us!
Hello and Welcome to the 'Z' from the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. :4-wavey: Enjoy your Ride and the Site! You'll find some knowledgeable and friendly people to answer your questions or just entertain you. Glad you could join us!
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Like most have already stated it will be expensive and the more you look and the more you know about what you want to do with the Challenger the cost will go up or down. The good news is that almost everything you will need, floor pans, roof panel, dash is rebuildable, including instrument cluster, and can look as good as new, is available from various sources.
I have brought several of these old mopars back from near destruction over the years and by doing what you can do and getting the right people to do the things they do best you can control the costs and spend rates but you are probably looking at 35 to $50k to bring this one back.
Like most have already stated it will be expensive and the more you look and the more you know about what you want to do with the Challenger the cost will go up or down. The good news is that almost everything you will need, floor pans, roof panel, dash is rebuildable, including instrument cluster, and can look as good as new, is available from various sources.
I have brought several of these old mopars back from near destruction over the years and by doing what you can do and getting the right people to do the things they do best you can control the costs and spend rates but you are probably looking at 35 to $50k to bring this one back.
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I would guess between $25-40K depending on how much you bargain hunted and did yourself. If you sent it off to some popular bodyshop/restoration place it'll be well over $40K.
Just to give you an idea, I've had my Nova for almost 18 years now and it was in solid shape when I got it years ago, much better than the Challenger pictured above.
Here's a quick off the top of my head breakdown of what I've spent restoring my car over the years...
1.) $4K purchase price, engine/trans ran great, body solid, interior mint.
2.) $7K in engine/drivetrain upgrades (faster engine, better trans, converter, rear end, axles, frame ties, traction bars, drag radials, etc)
3.) $12K in bodywork, professionally restored, all new fenders, doors, quarter panels, bumpers, dash cowl, package tray, windshield, window felt, trim pieces, then put together and painted.
Without thinking hard that's about $25K and I started out with a solid car. Not to mention Chevy's are cheaper to rebuild and get parts for compared to Mopars, both older and modern ones from what I've seen.
If you want that car to have show car quality afterwards and a solid running fast engine/trans that will keep up with the modern cars like the new 392's and 5.0's then you'll easily surpass the $30K mark and probably get near the $40K mark or higher when it's all said and done. Certain Mopars are worth that or more when professionally restored, but I don't think a 1973 Challenger would be.
So what you're looking at is an immediate loss on investment in this car IMO. BUT, if the car has a lot of sentimental value AND you have the time/money/interest to do the car up right, then I'd say go for it. It's a hobby, that's how it goes. I knew when I sunk all that money into my Nova doing the bodywork and getting it painted professionally that I'd never get my money back out of it, but it was my first car, lots of memories with it, so I did it anyway and never plan to sell the car, so it really doesn't matter to me. If you have that attitude, then you're golden. If you think you can restore it and make a massive profit on it, you'll most likely be very disappointed.
Hope some of my rambling helps!
I would guess between $25-40K depending on how much you bargain hunted and did yourself. If you sent it off to some popular bodyshop/restoration place it'll be well over $40K.
Just to give you an idea, I've had my Nova for almost 18 years now and it was in solid shape when I got it years ago, much better than the Challenger pictured above.
Here's a quick off the top of my head breakdown of what I've spent restoring my car over the years...
1.) $4K purchase price, engine/trans ran great, body solid, interior mint.
2.) $7K in engine/drivetrain upgrades (faster engine, better trans, converter, rear end, axles, frame ties, traction bars, drag radials, etc)
3.) $12K in bodywork, professionally restored, all new fenders, doors, quarter panels, bumpers, dash cowl, package tray, windshield, window felt, trim pieces, then put together and painted.
Without thinking hard that's about $25K and I started out with a solid car. Not to mention Chevy's are cheaper to rebuild and get parts for compared to Mopars, both older and modern ones from what I've seen.
If you want that car to have show car quality afterwards and a solid running fast engine/trans that will keep up with the modern cars like the new 392's and 5.0's then you'll easily surpass the $30K mark and probably get near the $40K mark or higher when it's all said and done. Certain Mopars are worth that or more when professionally restored, but I don't think a 1973 Challenger would be.
So what you're looking at is an immediate loss on investment in this car IMO. BUT, if the car has a lot of sentimental value AND you have the time/money/interest to do the car up right, then I'd say go for it. It's a hobby, that's how it goes. I knew when I sunk all that money into my Nova doing the bodywork and getting it painted professionally that I'd never get my money back out of it, but it was my first car, lots of memories with it, so I did it anyway and never plan to sell the car, so it really doesn't matter to me. If you have that attitude, then you're golden. If you think you can restore it and make a massive profit on it, you'll most likely be very disappointed.
Hope some of my rambling helps!
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Glad to have you here !
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yup...going to cost you big bucks...if you have an emotional attachment to the car and can do some of the work yourself and have the budget...do it....other than that...you're probably better off getting one that's already completed!
I like this idea. Can't lose anything by trying? They are pretty much Mopar guys, so they might take this on.
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