My restoration journey began in Sept. 2003 when I purchaced a 1969 Dodge Charger off of Ebay for $6800.  I wanted to go toN. Carolina to pick up the car, but was told that it was to be shipped only.  That's when the first red flag went up.  Then I ended up spending another $900 to get it up to NJ.  But, that wasn't the end, it was just the beginning.   The transport co. was not supposed to take the car from NC to begin with because it did not run.  However, when I bid on the car, the listing said that the car ran, but had a tick.  The paint also looked like it was a glossy finish.  The transport co. called me, and said that they were in Atlantic City,NJ unloading another car, and then I was to be the next stop.  He informed me at that point, that the car did not run, and that it had a flat tire.  After waiting all afternoon for delivery, we decided to go get a bite to eat.  The driver, was upset, and decided not to deliver the car to my house, but instead, he took it on to the transport company's yard in Long Island, NY.  That was on a Sun.  On Mon., I was in contact with the transport co. to try and sort out the mess.  They asked me if I had seen the car in person, and told me I should come there and look at it before I agreed to take possesion of it.  This is not what you want to hear when buying a car.  They also told me that if it wasn't what I thought it should be, they would help me get my money back.  I had just started a new job, and had never been to Long Island before.  Now I was leaving work during rush hour to go look at this sad sounding car.   Well, when I arrived, they took me in the back of the yard, and there it was, a flat black 69 Charger, passenger side front tire flat, interior trashed, and the motor wasn't even mounted to the K frame.  It was sad, but it was all there.  After a few phone calls, we decided to keep the car.  But now, it was going to cost another $300 to get it from Long Island to NJ.  So, without doing aqnything to the car, we had $8000 into it.

You mean like this?

Anyway......I understand no pix yet you are prob up in arms about it all & didnt / dont wanna take pix & post to a website but we'd really like to see what you aquired espically since I am doing a 69 now myself.

Good luck with your project & post pix if / when ya can & if you are in need of parts or a hand let me know, Tom

oh & what parta NJ are you in? (sorry if I asked you this b4) 

John,

BIG DUH on my end....I went back & re-read your post up top here & spotted the "IN 2003"" I was thinking you just got this car. LMAO.

Now that I am back to reality & the present I understand & saw the # on your door. Your in front of Lowes in yer pic sittin in/on your door right?

As for the BBQ I wont be there. The car is actually coming home next weekend & I need to finish laying a floor in my sons room, & cleaning out the shed, Cleaning out the garage, and then the last parts of the car need to go back together. So I am booked, I will, however, be at Randys event in Mine Hill NJ.

Hell I should post that on here since he is OPEN to all makes models & years right? The people on here are mostly up north I am noticing & well so is Mine Hill. Hope to see you there & I am posting the event in the events section. Later.

Tom    

So, in February of 2004, I began preparing the car to go to the body shop for an estimate. During the stripping of the car, I found two build sheets, one in the rear seat, the other under the passenger seat carpet. Then, as I was taking things apart, I found that the car was not the color originally that the build sheet said it was. The build sheet said the car was triple black. But as I took more of it apart, there was no way that the car was ever painted blck at the factory. This car was HEMI Orange. I am guessing that a kid must have owned the car in the mid to late 80's about the time that The Dukes was on TV. He must have gotten in trouble with it, so they took it to have it painted with a cheap paint job. So over top of the orange, there was a medium blue metallic paint. Then, over that, the guys that I bought it from spray bombed it primer black. "http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p1..."

It's interesting how when you look back at how the puzzle for the build came together, it was almost like the car was destined to be a General Lee. So, after all the prep work, and waiting for many months, the car finally went to the body shop for the beginning of its transformation. Up until this point, I really haven't put in writing all of the places and people that helped with the build. The first stop was at Shore Collision in Neptune,NJ. I dropped the car off to them in May of 2004. As with any body shop, they like to take thier time, and your money, lol, anyway, after many, many, many trips back and forth, taking pictures, giving them money, pushing as hard as I could, I picked the car up a year to the day of when I dropped it off to them.

Hey Billy.... 1 year is not too bad. My Laguna has been in for 2 years and 3 months. I'm not giving them the anual - please get my car done Christmas Bottle of Burbon - this year. I'm going to ask him for one instead

A big thanks for the Club participation and support!!! Looking forward to a great year!