My stepdad has a 1971 Dodge Challenger R/T convertible that was built originally as a 1970 with a 340 magnum (but when my stepdad bought it, it had the 426 HEMI), and a four speed manual, with the shaker hood, with a lime green exterior and a white vinyl interior, and it was sent back in and retitled and rebuilt as a 1971 by Dodge with the 426 HEMI in it apparently. (So if you look at the title, and the VIN, it will say it's a 1971 with a 340) (Also, If you know your Mopars, you know that factory Challenger convertibles didn't have a 426 as an engine. in 1971 and we don't have the paperwork to see if it's originally a 340, 426 or whatever so it's all sort of confusing)
He bought it used in 1978 or 1979 for $90.

As it sits now, it needs some major reworking. The 426 got blown and is long gone, and it now has a Chrysler 440 police motor in it, and a black interior. The shaker hood is gone, and it only has the flat hood, and it's just got some major work to be done to it. My stepdad knows an incredible amount about how cars work, so he's going to do the restoration himself, with some help from me of course, as I want to learn how it's done.

Anyway, I snapped some pictures for you guys tonight... but be warned... not the prettiest thing in the world... yet.

 

Good luck with the restoration!!
It looks like the both of you have quite a challenge ahead of you. Remember it's a slow process and don't lose sight of the outcome. It will be worth all of the time and hard work in the end.

Keep us updated. If you need any help don't hestiate to ask, everyone here trys to each other out.

jdb

 

Thanks for the pictures and good luck on the resto. When you guys finish, you will have quite a tale to tell. Just set goals and keep them simple. Take your time and you will find the going will be a lot easier and the work will only have to be done once. Take it from me I know about cutting corners. It only leads to more problems down the road and alot more expense.

 

Keep plugging away, it can be done!

[IMG]local://upfiles/974/F3F59A6EB893436E9ED82075C300FFE2.jpg[/IMG]

 

Thanks for the support, people. We both know it's a massive undertaking, and hopefully we'll have it on the road by summer. I'm only 18 so I don't have much experience with cars, but my stepdad does, seeing as he's owned 12+ Challengers in his life, among other Mopars, including a Charger Daytona. But I hope to inherit it sometime in the future.

But yeah, we'll keep on' truckin'. And we'll eventually have it on the road.

 

HeyWes, You guys have a lot of work in front of you, just take it 1 step at a time and take lots of pictures, It will all come together little by little.
As far as the documentation goes, that will be another interesting project all by it self. Somebody has to remember a lime green Challenger convertible!

 

Yeah, the documentation will be quite an interesting project indeed. And Challengers are very rare around here (as I suspect they would be anywhere). I've counted a total of five, including my stepdad's, and one other convertible. So, once it is finished, we're expecting a lot of gawking. (As if we don't get gawked at enough in our '65 Bonnie convertible, LOL)