MPC '74 Charger--Take Me to School PICS ADDED 3/14

[Snake45]

I got in the mood to go back into the pile and dig the thing out last night. It's in even better shape than I thought. Should be a good weekend resto project. Will try to get some pics up soon.

[Snake45]

Here's the model in question. I hope to perform the cleanup/resto very soon.

[URL=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Snake45/media/Model%20Cars/Mopars/74Charger03_zps3aeoack9.jpg.html][/URL]

[URL=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Snake45/media/Model%20Cars/Mopars/74Charger05_zps8kpbofe9.jpg.html][/URL]

[URL=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Snake45/media/Model%20Cars/Mopars/74Charger08_zpsss33wlge.jpg.html][/URL]

 

 

[Dodge Driver]

That Charger is loaded with potential! I really like the color of it. Cleaning, washes, and some touchup will have this looking fine.

Edited March 14, 2017 by Dodge Driver

[Can-Con]

That actually looks pretty good Snake.Should clean up real nice.

Too bad MPC used that dark tint on thier glass back then though. 

BTW, here's a side shot of my '74 annual so you can see that I meant about the wheel openings. I don't think I'd mess with that one you have though.

 

[Lunajammer]

The Centerlines (or whatever) actually don't look terrible. But it's hard to beat Eric's treatment.

[Robberbaron]

Here's the model in question. I hope to perform the cleanup/resto very soon.

[URL=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Snake45/media/Model%20Cars/Mopars/74Charger03_zps3aeoack9.jpg.html][/URL]

 

Wow, that really is pretty straight!  And the color seems pretty passable as a factory color, kind of surprising that it got painted that color in the '80s (seems like back then especially, there was very little appreciation for many of the 1:1 muscle cars that were originally painted green).

I'm also surprised to see that this kit appears to have the correct, stock grill and front bumper guards.  The awful MPC box art always led me to believe the grille pattern was incorrect and the bumper guards were still MIA.  Guess it's the opposite of most '80s MPC box art - the contents are actually better than the box art indicates.

Makes me really regret passing on one of these back in the early '90s.  This is another one that it seems like Round 2 SHOULD be able to repop without too much drama...

[CapSat 6]

That is a nice built you have there- and if it were mine, I would try to preserve, clean & detail it.

That green cracks me up (Metallic Pea?)- as I could swear that Chrysler Corp. painted about 1/3 or more of their cars that color. Growing up in the 70's and '80's, that's about all you saw left: Darts, Furies, the occasional Satellite or Charger in that color. Maybe the green ones ran best? Maybe Chrysler had their paint supplier make tankers full of that paint? I could go on...

I went to look at a used '73 Charger in about 1989, on the recommendation of a friend. It was a base Charger, 318, auto, bench seat, standard dash, AM radio, flat hood car. It was that exact color green, inside and out. It was actually a well maintained original car, but back then, if you can believe it, many Mopars (anything post 1970; 72-74 E-Bodies, mid '70's cars were virtually worthless) got no love on the market. It ran and drove well, and amazingly for a Pennsylvania car, it had no rust. 

I drove it and liked it well enough (well- except for the miles of green!), and when it was time to find out how much it would cost me, I asked the seller, and he pulled the old "how much do you think it's worth?"

Uh huh. Dude- just tell me what you want for it, 'kay? I was annoyed, so I lowballed: "I'll give you $500." (I would have given $800 at the time- after all it was clean, but this was 1989, and old cars just didn't get big bucks, unless they were big blocks in colors like blue or yellow). 

He sputtered: "I was thinking more like $2000!". I mean- he looked pretty stunned and angry!

(Aha! He DOES know what he wants for it!) I told him that kind of money usually was more for cars considered classics: some Mustangs, etc. I wasn't being too harsh- that was the market back then. I told him it was a nice car nonetheless- if he reconsidered, to call me. 

He did call me about two weeks later- kind of sheepish, hat-in-hand- and told me he would accept my offer. Unfortunately, I had already bought something else- a 1971 Plymouth Satellite Sebring Plus- originally painted in that same green, but, mercifully, somebody had repainted in a darker green. 

And I later owned a green Diplomat...

...and I now own a Chrysler in that exact same color...

 

 

[CapSat 6]

Oh- and you might need a set of these. KevinL (Missing Link Resin) sells these...

 

[mr68gts]

Here's the original annual kit. Unfortunately I am missing the destructions and the mag front rims but the rest of the kit is there.

[Ron Hamilton]

I have an un-built '73 in my basement, which I am going to use as a guide to clean up my "Super Charger". I am glad that Steve showed how the body should look with the stock wheel openings. I believe that I have a set of Fred Cady '73-4 Charger Rallye Decals, and a set of Rallye Wheels in my stash. If so, that is the direction I am going to go in. And before it is asked, no the '73 is not for sale. I have plans for it.

[mr68gts]

Ron, how much of the new tool 71 can you use for your 73? I was contemplating going this route with my 74 annual.

[Ron Hamilton]

Ron, how much of the new tool 71 can you use for your 73? I was contemplating going this route with my 74 annual.

I used only the body, glass, chrome, and wheels when I "upgraded a '74 Road Runner using parts from the latest tool '71 Charger. I cut the underhood structure from the '71 Charger, and mated it to the Road Runner after I removed the underhood area from the Road Runner. I also used the basic '71 Charger Interior, modifying it to Road Runner specs using the research materials I had. I retained the seats, console, steering wheel, and installed the rear seat inserts from the Road Runner, as well as reshaping the side panels.

I plan to o the same thing to my '74 Charger Restoration project.

I have pulled it apart, and it has to go into the stripper. I have to decide which version to do. Base Charger, or Rallye 

[Snake45]

Meanwhile, I got mine disassembled and cleaned today, re-did all the chrome with Sharpie, sanded the tire treads, and started the grille and taillight area detailing. With a little luck, I'll have it all back together (on the Centerline wheels, for now) tomorrow.

[Scott Colmer]

Ahhhh... 70s Chargers. The memories. My best friend in high school drove his step Dad's 74 440 with those three little vent windows. I remember him literally standing on the gas while he pushed it to max speed on a freeway run. The front end was floating like a piece of drift wood. He eventually spun a rod. Good times. Glad we survived.

 

I look forward to seeing what you do with this one, Mr. Snake.

Edited March 16, 2017 by Scott Colmer