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PostPosted: April 10, 2015, 5:46 pm 
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Joined: January 16, 2009, 2:17 pm
Posts: 134
Location: Langdon, AB Canada
I have been having random thoughts of buying a 1970 Charger recently but this proposes a couple problems:

1) Finding a good one
2) The prices keep rising

I love the muscle car look, sound, and power, but not so much on the handling. Also old car interior quality should not be hard to mimic in a self made car. So I had a theory to solve a lot of this, build a tube frame using a roll cage designed for the car as a base to branch off of($400 from Jegs) then buy body panels from year one (about $11-12000 for almost everything external) and build the silhouette car this way, could maybe finish in the total range of $30-35000. I am no engineer so I only have this as a theory.

Advantages:
Probably lighter weight
You get to have the satisfaction of building it yourself
stiffer chassis
could easily do IRS on a 1970 charger!
less space restrictions then a traditional locost
Roll cage safety
Lower price point then Good real ones
Could be built to really surprise people at autocross and track days
NO RUST to deal with

Disadvantages:
Using a roll cage usually means no rear seats could be put in (I have kids and this is a large appeal of muscle cars over sports cars to me)
Not as LOW cost as traditional builds
will never be a real collector (but this is not the point)
Rollcage access
lining up body panels could and will be a NIGHTMARE
Will have a crap load of hidden build costs


So lets share thought and someone please tell me this is the worst idea ever so I do not feel this is a better path then my current traditional 5.0 build... I am still so early in the build that it would not feel like a great loss just "extensive welding and cutting practice".

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1999 Dajiban build
Autcross car currently 2009 Mazda RX8 R3.

Build is a plus 4" width, 13B Renesis. Wish me luck.


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PostPosted: April 10, 2015, 11:12 pm 
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Joined: December 7, 2012, 8:28 am
Posts: 1410
Location: Sarasota
I would say that if you want a 1970's dodge Charger then buy a 1970's Dodge Chagrer. If you want to build your own car then do it. for $20K you should be able to build an amazing Locost but I think if you try to make it look like a Dodge Charger you will be disappointed with the finished product. I think you would be much better to make your own unique car and have some cool features from a 1970 Dodge Charger like the grill or lights.

I met this guy briefly and he has spent something like $40-50K (at this point) on this Lambo look alike. I thought it looked really bad and when you looked closely it was really really bad. It was still a shitty old Fiero and where they attached the body work with steel was all rusty and it was just a mess and yes the roof and hood are attached with duck tape.
Attachment:
Lambo.jpg
Attachment:
Lambo 2.jpg


Could it be done, sure but I think trying to remake a car to exact specifications is a very difficult task. But here is a cool example https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjG_qizpLek


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Last edited by wrightcomputing on April 10, 2015, 11:15 pm, edited 2 times in total.

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PostPosted: April 10, 2015, 11:13 pm 
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Joined: November 14, 2009, 1:32 am
Posts: 702
Location: Rosser manitoba canada
http://www.pro-touring.com/threads/4026 ... r+chevelle
Look at this build and you can get an idea of how to do it right.
If you acquire a former nascar chassis then you are 1/2 way there.

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PostPosted: April 11, 2015, 12:11 pm 
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Joined: January 16, 2009, 2:17 pm
Posts: 134
Location: Langdon, AB Canada
That Chevelle is exactly what I was thinking. Though I was not thinking of getting a Nascar frame, more making my own. It is however a good thought.

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Convincing yourself you can do it is one thing, convincing your wife it is a good idea is another. Glad I have a great wife!

1999 Dajiban build
Autcross car currently 2009 Mazda RX8 R3.

Build is a plus 4" width, 13B Renesis. Wish me luck.


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PostPosted: April 11, 2015, 1:09 pm 
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Joined: April 26, 2008, 6:06 pm
Posts: 3268
Location: Under the weather. (Seattle)
I've had similar thoughts, except using a fiberglass "OEM Style" doorslammer body from Suncoast Race Cars/Advanced Fibre-glas Concepts. I don't think they have any old Mopars though.

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PostPosted: April 11, 2015, 6:08 pm 
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Joined: November 14, 2009, 1:32 am
Posts: 702
Location: Rosser manitoba canada
Hopefully this summer, I have a friend who has a 65 comet convertible that has no undersides left.
The idea is a complete tube frame underneath with a 3 link rear and a complete asphalt stock car front suspension.
Don't worry I will post a build log when I start. My idea is silhouette assassin. Believe you me, it will be the next big thing.

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PostPosted: April 12, 2015, 12:04 am 
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Joined: January 10, 2008, 4:47 pm
Posts: 7652
Location: Massachusetts
The only real problem I see here is that it should look like a 68 Mustang. If I remember this story right, the people who drive Chargers wear black gloves, develop bad attitudes and explode gas stations. If you have kids that's what I would worry about...

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PostPosted: April 12, 2015, 1:32 am 
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Joined: August 27, 2005, 1:04 am
Posts: 1414
Location: Kamloops, BC, Canada
I want to do something similar with a 63 Falcon. I never thought about buying a used roundy round chassis though, that's a good idea.
Kristian

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