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I have the chance to get this 84 coupe fairly cheap with a clean title. Given the condition best uses would be to use it as an autocross car solely or to part it out. Realistically what would you expect a car like this to part out completely?
Honestly I was thinking more of realistic expectations as far as what I could get out of it as far as price if I were to part it out? The seller's nephew wants to take the engine and transmission out and put it into his 90s silverado, but they're willing to sell to me for a $1000 with the engine and transmission still in it. Or I could get it whole without the engine and transmission, obviously for less money.
It'd be a shame to see that one parted out when in all likelihood it probably only needs paint and some maintenance work.
In this case, you are correct. From the pictures, the interior seems to be quite reasonable. The C4 is a complicated issue. On one hand, you have a group of people that own them to drive and/or compete in amateur car events. They accept the C4 for what it is - a fun, inexpensive hobby. However, you need to have this group willing to spend the money to restore and/or maintain the quality. Only Bubba's would drive the said car in its present condition with any semblance of pride. New paint, tires, interior repairs, will run this car up to far in excess of its saleable value. Most are not willing to make this spend. (it's not an investment)
Then you have another group who own these cars because they think down the road they are going to hit the jackpot. Every few months here, someone will make a post like "Are the prices of C4's going up" with false hope that their ship is coming in soon. That isn't going to happen - there were far too many produced and far too many still in existence. Supply and demand rules. That is why the 70's era Mopars command a huge price. There were not that many of the "big boys" and a lot were driven like they were stolen - no longer in existence except in last night's soup can. Most have been snapped up by collectors like Mark Worman. Coming across one for sale to the average person is highly unlikely.
In this case, you are correct. From the pictures, the interior seems to be quite reasonable. The C4 is a complicated issue. On one hand, you have a group of people that own them to drive and/or compete in amateur car events. They accept the C4 for what it is - a fun, inexpensive hobby. However, you need to have this group willing to spend the money to restore and/or maintain the quality. Only Bubba's would drive the said car in its present condition with any semblance of pride. New paint, tires, interior repairs, will run this car up to far in excess of its saleable value. Most are not willing to make this spend. (it's not an investment)
Then you have another group who own these cars because they think down the road they are going to hit the jackpot. Every few months here, someone will make a post like "Are the prices of C4's going up" with false hope that their ship is coming in soon. That isn't going to happen - there were far too many produced and far too many still in existence. Supply and demand rules. That is why the 70's era Mopars command a huge price. There were not that many of the "big boys" and a lot were driven like they were stolen - no longer in existence except in last night's soup can. Most have been snapped up by collectors like Mark Worman. Coming across one for sale to the average person is highly unlikely.
I remember when I bought my C4, I wasn't even shopping for a car. I was shopping around for a vintage Omega Speedmaster.
Then, for whatever reason, I ended up buying a complete beater by the looks of it when it popped up in the so-called ''you might also be interested in'' column of the web site, and for no other reason than to have something to tinker around with out back. It was purely arbitrary. And boy, was it a total piece of crap. I got it for next to nothing, and I still think I paid too much for it.
17 thousand dollars or so later, it's presentable.
I knew fully well it wasn't any kind of investment. And I sure didn't think it would take that much to bring it back, but that's what it took.
And it's still not really what I'd call ''finished'' by a long shot.
Would I do it again? Definitely not.
But...I'm not complaining either. It just is what it is.
The front wheel looks narrower than the rear wheel which is a characteristic of the 1984 Z51. The 84 Z51 springs and fast ratio steering rack alone should recover the purchase price of the roller without engine and transmission. If it is a Z51. Measure the sway bars and read the spring codes.
The front wheel looks narrower than the rear wheel which is a characteristic of the 1984 Z51. The 84 Z51 springs and fast ratio steering rack alone should recover the purchase price of the roller without engine and transmission. If it is a Z51. Measure the sway bars and read the spring codes.
I'll also see if the RPO codes are showing when I go there next. The reason I don't have a picture of the engine bay is because the passwnger side of the hood was stuck. I do have a hood opening tool here at home so next time I go over there hopefully, we can get the hood up and see if it will run.
Another question I have and maybe I should have started a different thread about this in the tech/performance section. But they say the 700R4 shifts like a manual transmission. Is that possible and if so, what is wrong with the transmission to allow it to do that?
I pretty much shift and drive my 700R4 like a manual all of the time. I just like the way that it drives better. Rarely even hit 4th gear, honestly, unless I'm on Interstate or something like that. Which is very rare.
I'll also see if the RPO codes are showing when I go there next. The reason I don't have a picture of the engine bay is because the passwnger side of the hood was stuck. I do have a hood opening tool here at home so next time I go over there hopefully, we can get the hood up and see if it will run.
Another question I have and maybe I should have started a different thread about this in the tech/performance section. But they say the 700R4 shifts like a manual transmission. Is that possible and if so, what is wrong with the transmission to allow it to do that?
"They" (or you) need to clarify what you are referring to. Was "they" referring to this particular transmission or 700R4's in general. Operating correctly, a 700R4 shifts no different than any other four speed auto. If you are referring to this one in particular, if it has to be shifted manually then there is an obvious fault with it. Governor, TV valve, valve body, governor gear - who knows, could be many things.
Supply and demand rules. That is why the 70's era Mopars command a huge price. There were not that many of the "big boys" and a lot were driven like they were stolen - no longer in existence except in last night's soup can. Most have been snapped up by collectors like Mark Worman. Coming across one for sale to the average person is highly unlikely.
Absolute fact! When the time came to sell my family's collection of Mopars almost all sold within days at asking price. I even had someone drive from another state to pick up the last one which was a wrecked car with no drive train only good glass, trunk lid, and doors for 2k. (and a Duster!) I see running driving examples of C4s sitting around for weeks at that price. The 65 Mustang we had was similar to the C4. High production numbers and even with nice burgundy paint and white interior only fetched about 6000 or so. We owned it for 25 years and after I calculated for everything (repairs, insurance etc.) and inflation it was a loss of 8k.
Comment regarding transmission removed. Who knows what has been changed around.
I suggested measure the sway bars and look for the spring codes because about half (the ones actually built in 1983) of the 84s don't have SPID labels. If it does have a label, that's makes it easy.
Absolute fact! When the time came to sell my family's collection of Mopars almost all sold within days at asking price.
There's an early 70s purple one just down the road from me, and from a distance it looks like it might have some white stripes on it.
Looks to be a '73 Challenger from what I've gathered after searching around on Google images.
I did snag a picture off of google maps just now while I was thnking of it, but you can't really see much because it's all blurry...
It's been sitting there next to the house for a long time with weeds growing around it.
I keep wanting to stop and knock on the door and ask about it because it doesn't really look all ratty or anything. At least not from the road anyway. It's a good couple of hunded yards off the road, so, can't really get a good look at it. But it sure hasn't been moved in a whle, I do know that much, because I drive by it every other day or so. The tires are on it and it isn't sinking into the ground or anything like that so far as I can tell.
It's probably way out of my league, though, in terms of being able to restore something like that on my own, even if it were for sale. I think that would require professional, experienced knowledge of those cars in particular. Which I do not have, admittedly.
And that'd be some serious money, I think, just because if you're gonna do it, it's gonna have to be done proper.
Next time I drive by, I'll try to snag a picture if I can and maybe you can tell me what you thnk it might be. You can't really stop on the road so have to keep moving with traffic is the thing, though. Dunno if I can get a decent pic while moving from that far away.
"They" (or you) need to clarify what you are referring to. Was "they" referring to this particular transmission or 700R4's in general. Operating correctly, a 700R4 shifts no different than any other four speed auto. If you are referring to this one in particular, if it has to be shifted manually then there is an obvious fault with it. Governor, TV valve, valve body, governor gear - who knows, could be many things.
They as in the owner and his nephew. His nephew and him replaced the engine about 10 years ago with the bottom end from a 91 and then put all the CFI stuff back on top. When the uncle was talking about the transmission he said something about how the 7 speeds were finicky in 84 and that it shifted like a manual. His nephew interjected and said it was the 700r4 and that it starts out in overdrive and then you have to shift to 1st and so on but without the typical H pattern in a manual. He was not sure though why it did that and thinks something might be missing. However they both said the car drove really solid and fine down the road.
There's an early 70s purple one just down the road from me, and from a distance it looks like it might have some white stripes on it.
Looks to be a '73 Challenger from what I've gathered after searching around on Google images.
I did snag a picture off of google maps just now while I was thnking of it, but you can't really see much because it's all blurry...
It's been sitting there next to the house for a long time with weeds growing around it.
I keep wanting to stop and knock on the door and ask about it because it doesn't really look all ratty or anything. At least not from the road anyway. It's a good couple of hunded yards off the road, so, can't really get a good look at it. But it sure hasn't been moved in a whle, I do know that much, because I drive by it every other day or so. The tires are on it and it isn't sinking into the ground or anything like that so far as I can tell.
It's probably way out of my league, though, in terms of being able to restore something like that on my own, even if it were for sale. I think that would require professional, experienced knowledge of those cars in particular. Which I do not have, admittedly.
And that'd be some serious money, I think, just because if you're gonna do it, it's gonna have to be done proper.
Next time I drive by, I'll try to snag a picture if I can and maybe you can tell me what you thnk it might be. You can't really stop on the road so have to keep moving with traffic is the thing, though. Dunno if I can get a decent pic while moving from that far away.
Yes, just for ***** and giggles a followup would be interesting. It's not original though. It looks like it is painted "Plum Crazy" and that color was only available in 70 - 71. It has the 72 - 74 grill and if original bumper, appears to be a Rallye.
A little anecdote. Back in the 90's there was a Hillbilly in my neck of the woods that had a 1970 Superbird that had been parked on his farm and not moved for years. It was visible from the highway and over the years, the story goes from neighbors that often people would stop in and want to buy it. Now this fker obviously watched too many Barrett Jackson auctions because every one was sent packing because they wouldn't pay him 500 large. Eventually, one day his bale stack caught fire and included the Superbird. Some people didn't just ride the short bus to school, they sat on the front axle.
There's an early 70s purple one just down the road from me, and from a distance it looks like it might have some white stripes on it.
Looks to be a '73 Challenger from what I've gathered after searching around on Google images.
I did snag a picture off of google maps just now while I was thnking of it, but you can't really see much because it's all blurry...
It's been sitting there next to the house for a long time with weeds growing around it.
I keep wanting to stop and knock on the door and ask about it because it doesn't really look all ratty or anything. At least not from the road anyway. It's a good couple of hunded yards off the road, so, can't really get a good look at it. But it sure hasn't been moved in a whle, I do know that much, because I drive by it every other day or so. The tires are on it and it isn't sinking into the ground or anything like that so far as I can tell.
It's probably way out of my league, though, in terms of being able to restore something like that on my own, even if it were for sale. I think that would require professional, experienced knowledge of those cars in particular. Which I do not have, admittedly.
And that'd be some serious money, I think, just because if you're gonna do it, it's gonna have to be done proper.
Next time I drive by, I'll try to snag a picture if I can and maybe you can tell me what you thnk it might be. You can't really stop on the road so have to keep moving with traffic is the thing, though. Dunno if I can get a decent pic while moving from that far away.
Arbee pretty much got it on the paint job and grill. Year One used to sell reproduction stripes like that so maybe it was repainted sometime back then.
If you do approach, be prepared to encounter some eccentric and reclusive folks though. When I was a teenager I used to hunt Mopars like Bigfoot; they were getting rare even back in late 90's early 2000's. One man with a 340 Duster in his yard told me "It ain't mine, but if it were - I'd crush it and give it to ya'!" There's a little sadistic pleasure some of these folks get by telling people they would rather let it rot then sell it, but you never know who you might encounter maybe they'll deal so it's worth a try. Came across a guy asking only 3k for a 440 73 Challenger R/T probably circa 2001 - felt bad for him since he was trying to pay for his daughter's operation. At the time I was a student with no money and dad didn't want yet another Mopar.. Back then who knew they would blow up in price like they did?
Also remember a Coronet Hemi destroyed by the huge flood that hit Eastern NC back then. Rust was everywhere after being submerged..
Had a similar situation with a black C4 probably an 85-86 which I approached and asked if for sale as a parts car - they didn't speak much English but told me they don't sell cars. (even though the sign said they were a car dealership and there were many cars out front) Some run down place out in the sticks..
Arbee pretty much got it on the paint job and grill. Year One used to sell reproduction stripes like that so maybe it was repainted sometime back then.
If you do approach, be prepared to encounter some eccentric and reclusive folks though. When I was a teenager I used to hunt Mopars like Bigfoot; they were getting rare even back in late 90's early 2000's. One man with a 340 Duster in his yard told me "It ain't mine, but if it were - I'd crush it and give it to ya'!" There's a little sadistic pleasure some of these folks get by telling people they would rather let it rot then sell it, but you never know who you might encounter maybe they'll deal so it's worth a try. Came across a guy asking only 3k for a 440 73 Challenger R/T probably circa 2001 - felt bad for him since he was trying to pay for his daughter's operation. At the time I was a student with no money and dad didn't want yet another Mopar.. Back then who knew they would blow up in price like they did?
Also remember a Coronet Hemi destroyed by the huge flood that hit Eastern NC back then. Rust was everywhere after being submerged..
Had a similar situation with a black C4 probably an 85-86 which I approached and asked if for sale as a parts car - they didn't speak much English but told me they don't sell cars. (even though the sign said they were a car dealership and there were many cars out front) Some run down place out in the sticks..
Parting Out 1984
