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Posted: Fri May 09, 14 10:07 am
by Pete
That car has a '70 front and rear end.
I think you need to get the VIN details.
340's don't make a lot of torque but they scream....hence being the basis for the Trans Am motor - I have had 4 340's - good engine in stock form. You need to see the casting numbers on the block too to ensure its not z 318 with pretensions.......
Posted: Fri May 09, 14 10:13 am
by Dave-R
Posted: Fri May 09, 14 10:17 am
by Dave-R
Yes it looks like a '70 model.
In 1970 the R/T didn't come with a 340. Although 340 convertibles were badged as such.
This is not a 100% original car as you have been told.
Posted: Fri May 09, 14 10:18 am
by Dave-R
Get a good clear photo of the FENDER TAG and let us see it.
Posted: Fri May 09, 14 10:23 am
by Alex-Nova396
Thanks for the info guys, I'm glad I posted this up here now.
As soon as I get some more info I'll post it up.
Posted: Fri May 09, 14 10:30 am
by Pete
Having imported several cars for my own use, the only piece of advice I can give you is be clear about whether you want the car or just want to flip it.
You cannot automatically expect to make a profit on a car and the costs of importing do mount up - though in this case you are lucky that it is close to a cheap and assessable port.
Also, the working assumption is that it is a good car - you will never really know unless you get someone to view it, and even then standards vary.
Even if it is a nice car, there are not that many people in the UK prepared to pay the right $$$ for a good car.
For most people it is out of their reach and would rather spend less on a crap car and attempt to restore it - even if it costs more in the long run. To them it is the difference between having or not having a car.
The vast majority of nice cars I have imported and subsequently sold have gone abroad. In truth there is not much market in the UK for "high end" cars - even if they are not particularly "High End"......
My rule of thumb is that a Challenger or Cuda is always worth more in the USA in real terms than over in the UK. It seems there is a different rule for Chargers though....
Posted: Fri May 09, 14 12:45 pm
by Jim
Dave wrote:In 1970 the R/T didn't come with a 340. Although 340 convertibles were badged as such.
David, I am surprised at you.
I believe owners or dealers may have put the R/T emblems on the cars.
Have you ever seen a '70 340 Challenger with a JS VIN?
Posted: Fri May 09, 14 1:03 pm
by Dave-R
Jim wrote:Dave wrote:In 1970 the R/T didn't come with a 340. Although 340 convertibles were badged as such.
David, I am surprised at you.
I believe owners or dealers may have put the R/T emblems on the cars.
Have you ever seen a '70 340 Challenger with a JS VIN?
That's what I am saying Jim. You must have miss-read me.
But yes. The 1970 340 Convertibles at Hamtramk with HD brakes/suspension often got R/T badges on the production line even though they are not R/T cars.
You could only get a 340 R/T in 1971.
Posted: Fri May 09, 14 1:23 pm
by Jim
Dave wrote:The 1970 340 Convertibles at Hamtramk often got R/T badges on the production line even though they are not R/T cars.
Mine certainly didn't.
But I am not convinced this happened on the production line. As you know 1970 A66 code 340 Challengers had other differences over and above even 383 and 440 R/T cars, including Hemi suspension and Hemi 7" Rallye wheels as standard. And as far as I know all 1970 340 Challengers (except T/A's) were A66 code.
To badge a 340 car as an R/T would mean more than just the emblems. Certainly an R/T grill and possibly an R/T stripe to finish the effect. Have you any evidence of the factory doing this? And only on convertibles?
TBH most of the 1970 340 Challengers I have seen, hardtops and convertibles, have R/T emblems. But I question their originality.
Posted: Fri May 09, 14 1:41 pm
by Dave-R
Jim wrote:[To badge a 340 car as an R/T would mean more than just the emblems. Certainly an R/T grill and possibly an R/T stripe to finish the effect. Have you any evidence of the factory doing this? And only on convertibles?
Yes. Quite a lot of them. All exactly the same. Badges, grille, hood and twin exhaust cut-outs. Being convertibles they also have the torque boxes of course. Everything exactly like an R/T. All have the HD brakes and suspension but I think you got that anyway with the 340 package?
I don't think any hardtops were done as R/Ts at the factory. I would agree there.
Posted: Fri May 09, 14 1:49 pm
by Jim
Well, mine got the hood and the twin exhaust cut-outs, - I think all A66 340's did...
Posted: Fri May 09, 14 1:55 pm
by Dave-R
Yeah it is just the odd batch of them that were on the line at the same time. Maybe when building batches of R/T spec cars?
Now I think on I am not 100% on the R/T grille being fitted. I would have to go back through all my old stuff to check on that one. But an R/T badge on teh grille for sure.
Posted: Fri May 09, 14 1:56 pm
by Dave-R
None of these badged ones had the side protection strip yours has.
Posted: Fri May 09, 14 1:58 pm
by Dave-R
No V8 badge on your car I see either.
Posted: Fri May 09, 14 2:03 pm
by Jim
Dave wrote:No V8 badge on your car I see either.
I think only 318 and 383 low performance cars got V8 badges.