I just got done looking at a new project, its a 70 barracuda that has a new fiberglass front clip VFN,fiberglass doors already hung, stock front k member, the part I am worried about is the stock floor has been cut out and the cage needs some bars changed out. The cage is mild steel 1 5/8" the door X bars are 1 1/4" which I think is to small for 8.5 cert. The back half looks good but it is a ladder bar along with a set of Chris Alston none adjustable shocks with coils that run the entire length of the shock. The rear end is 8 3/4 stock housing, 489 center section posi rear with 4.88 gears, I believe the axles are stock. The rear of the car is straight with tail lights still in the car, the quarter panels have been trimmed to fit the tires.
So my main questions are what do you guys think?













you can see here where the stock floor is removed but the cage is still tied into it and the subframe. Is this legal I thought you had to have 6x6" plate, this does land on top of the sub frame though.

Thanks for your time

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ ??

Quanto???

Race Cars are particularly cheap right now (and projects are even cheaper), so if it were me , I'd continue looking. Regardless of the buy-in price that's a ton of work to be done, and parts purchased to get close for competition.

I'm less than 7k in this car with no motor/trans. It's Dana/4 link rear, strut front, and went down a Drag Strip less than 6 months ago

The bottom line is always " how much ? "
But it is always a multi part question.
How much $$$ ?
How much more will you have to feed it to see it finished ?
How much time will it take ?
How much work are you willing to do ........ and capable of ?
If you can honestly and realistically answer those and still like the answer , than it is a great deal.
I see a heap of finishing to be done , but if you're up for it and the price is right , I'd move on it...........after low bucking the seller.
Times are tough all over and there ARE deals to be had.
7k for the Cuda roller proves that.

I can get it for 1200$

If it's a 'Cuda you want, go for it. I always break them down to parts value. The front clip and diff. should be worth 8-900 and factor in 'cudas are hard to find. When you start from scratch you get to do it your way. On the other hand, if you're not equiped or able to do a lot of the work, I'd think twice.

...and yes, there needs to be a 6" plate on the floorboard, but the way i'ts cut out you couldn't do that and make a safe chassis.

Hi Jeff,I bought that car several years ago fron the Central valley. The wife (widow)told me her husband did all the work himself.using all Alston components and had alot of receipts.I bought it thinking of using the fiberglass parts on my Cuda and becouse it came with a bunch of good extra parts (block tunnel ram wheels, etc.) . The cage goes back to prior to the current rules.I had Ken Gentry check the cage and it will not pass cert.It would work for a 10.0 car. Is Tom the seller?

One door bar needs to be 1.625 material, the other(making the X), can be 1.25". Landing the tubes on the subframe/subframe connectors is the best method. If landing on the stock subframe, it would need 6x6 plates. If it is landing on outriggers from the subframe connectors, it would NOT need plates.
Just from the pictures, I would say it would be easiest just to get rid of all the factory sheetmetal. Its way too far gone to try to tin around it and make it look good. I would say the initial intent was complete new tin work, and they have only cut out what they needed out to do the cage.
The front clip is a little strange to me...but people do things differently. Nothing wrong with the stock pieces, but nearly all the strength has been removed, since the sheetmetal is all gone. I see the tubing going forward, but the stock front frame rails are still old formed sheetmetal.
If you decide to get it, and need someone to do some work on it, let me know. I'd be more than happy to look at it and see what we can do. Good luck.

Yes Tom is the seller and this is Jason,Jeff's nephew. I found out about the car from Jeff. Anyways I think I am going to pass on it if someone is interested send me a message and I'll put you in touch with Tom. The body is in good shape and the doors are hung and fit nice and back half looks good but I think all the forward bars will need to be redone. I was going to buy it get it certified and sell it. I already have a 70 duster 6.0 cert car. I also considered swapping the body over to my chassis as I do like them better.

You said you are going to pass on the car, but here is something to consider when looking at this. What is the rearend worth? Doors and front clip are glass and already hung. The ladder bars are old school but you could sell them, even $75 to someone doing a mild back half might get them at that price, toss in the shocks and springs for a total of $125 for all and they will go. The rear frame rails are fine, the rest needs to go. I see a lot of issues with the "landing spots" on the bars.

So if it were me, I was looking to build a "hot rod" this is a great start especially for $1200. If the body is solid, all the trim and glass is there or most of it. You have the front clip and doors. Spend 7-8k on having someone do a firewall back, back half on the car. Finish it yourself. You have some $$ invested yes, you did work yourself, where are you going wrong.

But if you are looking for something that is minimal work and low $$$ this is not the project.


I was in the same boat not too long ago. I want to build a new car, class race car. I was looking and had friends looking for what I wanted. A lot of nice stuff out there. Some junk too. But in the end I decided to just build a totally new car as it would cost 10-12k to get the car where I need it, let a lone where I wanted it after the inital asking price, usually between 8-12k.

Deals are out there. trust me. I got 3 smoking deals already on my car and still really have not started it yet.