[BlueSS454]

So since the car was wrecked last July, not much has happened due to other projects needing to get done. Now it is time to get this one fixed after being nearly totaled. It has already been on a frame rack to be pulled. Today I disassembled it. Tuesday it's going to get the quarters hung. I can do it myself but I don't have time nor the inclination to do it. Besides the insurance is paying for it. I will do the body work and paint it once the metal is done. I should have it back in 2 weeks. The whole front steering is trashed as well so all the needs to be replaced as well as the right side control arms. I will also be taking the time now to put a better engine in it. I have a spare 440 sitting on a stand that will be built to run on the same level my blue 70 hardtop runs...not slow. The trans is also going to get freshened up as well, and the interior completely replaced.

I'm not going to go crazy with the pics, but I'll start from the beginning...

 

[toofastforyou]

Nice work Tom…glad the car is being "saved" and not totalled.:thumbsup: Do you plan on leaving it orange?

Claude.

 

[BlueSS454]

There was no way I was letting it be totaled. The estimate was written so it wouldn't be. It could have very easily been totaled just because of the cost of 69 Charger parts.
As for the color, right now I'm leaning towards leaving it orange but have been toying with the notion of doing it black.

 

[64tempestwagon]

Black is the new speed!!! Chargers look BEAUTIFUL in black!!

 

[toofastforyou]

There was no way I was letting it be totaled. The estimate was written so it wouldn't be. It could have very easily been totaled just because of the cost of 69 Charger parts.
As for the color, right now I'm leaning towards leaving it orange but have been toying with the notion of doing it black.

Personally, I think that "triple black" would look killer! I think there are too many General Lee out there… almost as if every '69 Charger was orange!…In fact, I don't know if orange was a factory color back in '69...
Back in '69, my dad bought a brand new '69 Charger R/T, gold (code Y4) with a white vinyl top and white bumble bee stripe, 440 cu. in. engine, 727 automatic transmission and a Dana 60 rear axle with 4:10 gears! I still have plenty of pics of that car which has been frame-off restored and now resides in England.
Keep up the good work! :thumbsup:

Claude.

 

[jeffs68]

Tom, Have you ever seen the movie called, Bullitt?? There is a charger in the movie that is triple black, that is beautiful.... The movie was made in the late sixtys, to me had the best car chase seen... Steve McQueen, Robert Vaughn was in it...

 

[BlueSS454]

Tom, Have you ever seen the movie called, Bullitt?? There is a charger in the movie that is triple black, that is beautiful.... The movie was made in the late sixtys, to me had the best car chase seen... Steve McQueen, Robert Vaughn was in it...

That's a rhetorical question right 😁
The Charger in Bullit was a 68 R/T 4 speed car driven by stunt driver Bill Hickman.
I have debated going black with mine for a couple months now. In order to do it, the car has to come all the way back apart meaning the rear, all the brake and fuel line, wiring, etc and the n go back on the rotisserie.
Mopars are body color all over. I would have to paint the bottom, engine bay, and inside the trunk. It is a lot of work that I'm not sure I want to do. It depends on how soon I can have the body done and if I'm in the mood to take it that far apart again.

 

[Robinls5]

Mr. Tom:
For me, Nothing is better looking than a Black Charger with the stock MOPAR Black Black V. Top. To be different and to look TOP SHELF !
NO STRIPES, ( If needed , They can be done later, I hope not ).
With all due respect, Its " Toms Car ".
YA Gotta due what makes " Tom " happy. I will repete, Aint Nutten looks nicer than a Plain Vanilla " Triple Black Charger ". :smile2:
Bob

 

[Chevycollecter]

If anyone can fix it, it is you Tom. I vote for painting it black.

 

[Kopfjaeger]

Tom, good call on having the quarter done. Those "effin" b-body quarters are huge and hefty! Save your back! Lol! I remember, back in the day, meeting a Mopar parts distributor in Carlisle,PA. I purchased two NOS fenders for my 68 R/T from him. Lugged those big heavy bastards out on my shoulders during a monsoon rain. Ah, fond memories!! Not really!

 

[bry66]

I remember seeing your thread when it first got hit, and I think I remember commenting thinking it was crazy how identical the damage on your Charger was to my Chevelle. Good to see you are making some progress. Did you do anything yet to the suspension? Any other upgrades along the way?

Oh, and another vote for painting it black

 

[1971ss454Elco]

Personally, I think that "triple black" would look killer! I think there are too many General Lee out there… almost as if every '69 Charger was orange!…In fact, I don't know if orange was a factory color back in '69...
Back in '69, my dad bought a brand new '69 Charger R/T, gold (code Y4) with a white vinyl top and white bumble bee stripe, 440 cu. in. engine, 727 automatic transmission and a Dana 60 rear axle with 4:10 gears! I still have plenty of pics of that car which has been frame-off restored and now resides in England.
Keep up the good work! :thumbsup:

Claude.

The studio, or its builder, painted the GL's AMC Big Bad Orange. Of all the manf. colors at the time it showed best on TV.

 

[BlueSS454]

Tom, good call on having the quarter done. Those "effin" b-body quarters are huge and hefty! Save your back! Lol! I remember, back in the day, meeting a Mopar parts distributor in Carlisle,PA. I purchased two NOS fenders for my 68 R/T from him. Lugged those big heavy bastards out on my shoulders during a monsoon rain. Ah, fond memories!! Not really!

Heaviest quarters I've ever picked up. I dropped it off to John tonight. I could do it but I don't have the time nor the inclination to do it right now and I want it done. Seeing it up on the lift all banged up is getting old. It doesn't really need quarters but full ones were not available when I did it 12 years ago. Time to do it right this time. I'll probably have it back in 2 weeks or so.

I remember seeing your thread when it first got hit, and I think I remember commenting thinking it was crazy how identical the damage on your Charger was to my Chevelle. Good to see you are making some progress. Did you do anything yet to the suspension? Any other upgrades along the way?

Oh, and another vote for painting it black

The front suspension might be ok, but the steering linkage is toast. I'm looking at possibly changes to the front end. The car steers and handles like crap compared to a Chevelle. Since I'm building a new engine and trans, it would be the perfect time to do the front end better.

 

[Andy's Auto Repair]

Tom, kudos for not bailing on it. And for doing ANYTHING to make those turds handle better. I had a 68 R/T 440/727 and that thing would go straight as an arrow in a straight line. Any input to the brakes or steering left me feel wanting. You could make a left turn and feel the front tires fighting eachother.

I know it's your car, but yellow over a black interior is stunning.

 

[66 Bu]

black would be sinister looking, just sayin'... but that is a lot of work to do a color change, especially on a Mopar... I'd wish you luck but we both know that you don't need any of that, quite the auto refinisher you are... looking forward to seeing her done...

 

[BlueSS454]

Metal work is done

 

[HS70SS_454]

Looking good! Can't wait to see finished.

 

[blue_69_malibu]

Do I think that car would look great in Black? Yes.

Do I think that would be almost cliché, as they have been done God knows how many times in Black? Yes.

It's kind of the same thing as a 1970 Chevelle SS in Red with Black Stripes. Looks awesome....but has been done (seemingly) a million times before.

Personally, I'd go with something different just to stand out a bit. It's not like Mopar is lacking in bold color choices from that time period.

Just my two cents. Many will disagree with me.....with I totally understand.

 

[BlueSS454]

It's staying orange. What I do behind that I have not decided yet.
And I would never paint a 70 red. I hate red. Good way to ruin a perfectly nice 70 SS 😁

 

[Freddy Mercado]

Looks good! Keep up the great work!!!