NOT MINE '70 Newport 2-door Hardtop.

[sixpkrt]

For a restoration making the car appear as original as possible, it's the next best option if the correct engine is missing from the car.
A same year engine for the car would be what I'd do if needed. A warranty block with no VIN number, of the same year would be better IMO.
If you'd think about it, a 440 out of a another car of the same year would probably be more valuable to a buyer than if it had a 440 in it that came out of a Winnebago

 

[Turbo301]

If you'd think about it, a 440 out of a another car of the same year would probably be more valuable to a buyer than if it had a 440 in it that came out of a Winnebago

I don't see that logic: if you have a '70 Charger with a 440 from a '70 Fury in it, how is that any better than getting a 440 from a '70 Winnebago?

I agree that a service engine is likely better altogether, but IMO the end result is still a non-numbers-matching car.

 

[crv]

Instead of a non-matching numbers engine, might as well go for broke and drop a Hemi in it, the car will never be 'original' anyway.

 

[ayilar]

Instead of a non-matching numbers engine, might as well go for broke and drop a Hemi in it, the car will never be 'original' anyway.

That was @Big_John's point from the get-go.

 

[crv]

That was @Big_John's point from the get-go.

Yep, just went back and read the comments again...

 

[Turbo301]

That was @Big_John's point from the get-go.

The real question is why are people pulling numbers-matching engines from decent, intact cars and putting them in other cars where, obviously, the numbers won't match? The answer is, of course, that the "other" cars are worth more non-matching than the donor cars are, matching; that's what I find very sad.

 

[fury fan]

Though a bit off-topic, can someone tell me why a correct date code means so much to restorers? That is, if the engine isn't numbers-matching to the car, why does having the "wrong" engine but with a similar date of manufacture matter? Is it just to have the correct appearance and performance? It seems odd because most people slightly modify their engines during restoration anyway (bore them out, hotter cam, etc.) so the need for "date-correct performance" doesn't seem relevant.

I agree. Once it's NOM, trying to chase numbers that will never be the correct one is kinda silly.
Would seem more sensible to try another Roadrunner engine (albeit from a different year) than building a 383-2 Newport engine just because of a casting date.
Unless it's a blank-VIN warranty block, I could understand a person seeking one of those.

 

[Carmine]

What if I told you that I knew of a 1971 Sport Fury GT in Factory Mood Indigo, with white interior, from Florida and not Rusty. Supposedly used to create the 71 SFGT stripe kit back in the 90s. This car had its original engine pulled just to give a date correct, HP stamped 440 block to yet another 1971 GTX? This was done by noted Mopar collector Harold Sullivan, Circa 1997.

 

[polara71]

What if I told you that I knew of a 1971 Sport Fury GT in Factory Mood Indigo, with white interior, from Florida and not Rusty. Supposedly used to create the 71 SFGT stripe kit back in the 90s. This car had its original engine pulled just to give a date correct, HP stamped 440 block to yet another 1971 GTX? This was done by noted Mopar collector Harold Sullivan, Circa 1997.

It would hurt a bit so please dont.

 

[crv]

What if I told you that I knew of a 1971 Sport Fury GT in Factory Mood Indigo, with white interior, from Florida and not Rusty. Supposedly used to create the 71 SFGT stripe kit back in the 90s. This car had its original engine pulled just to give a date correct, HP stamped 440 block to yet another 1971 GTX? This was done by noted Mopar collector Harold Sullivan, Circa 1997.

So, where's the car now?

 

[fury fan]

So, where's the car now?

For 1997, almost 30 years ago, I wonder if that GTX is still around. It's possible it could've fallen into bad hands and succumbed.

 

[Carmine]

So, where's the car now?

I have often wondered. It was in the Detroit area, but I've never seen it resurface. I have some ancient 35mm pics on a computer somewhere. I had the opportunity to buy the remains, but I had just purchased my first house and an immobile car wasn't on my bingo card. Obviously I now regret this.

 

[Carmine]

It would hurt a bit so please dont.

Okay. Forget what I said, lol

 

[Carmine]

For 1997, almost 30 years ago, I wonder if that GTX is still around. It's possible it could've fallen into bad hands and succumbed.

Doubtful. His stuff was all high-end. Probably gathering dust somewhere without the engine casting info being viewed by anything but an occasional spider.

 

[crv]

About a year ago, a video came up on youtube about a '71 Sport Fury GT, same colour combo, perhaps not the same car. Believe the guy in the video is a member here.

 

[ayilar]

About a year ago, a video came up on youtube about a '71 Sport Fury GT, same colour combo, perhaps not the same car. Believe the guy in the video is a member here.

Are we talking about PP23U1D140114 owned by Mr. Smith in Washington State?

 

[crv]

Are we talking about PP23U1D140114 owned by Mr. Smith in Washington State?

View attachment 740872
View attachment 740873

Yep, that's the one.

 

[Carmine]

Yep, that's the one.

I don't mean to be a downer, but I guess I should have mentioned, I'm pretty sure it had a reflective black stripe.. white interior. Now that I think about it I am not sure what color the top was, or if it even had one? But I am pretty sure about the black reflective stripe.

 

[polara71]

But even then surely they must have realized it was something special , no?

 

[Carmine]

But even then surely they must have realized it was something special , no?

A few years later I was supposed to have my 1969 300 photographed by one of the Mopar magazines that was in the area to shoot Harold Sullivan's Silver Bullet car. Sullivan was a big enough collector to have a caretaker at his car warehouse. The guy was a complete douchebag and acted like I had arrived in a Pinto. On fire. So I have no doubt they would have cut up a C body. In fact, i sold that particular car which had a .030 over 6 pack, headers and a 4.30 SG to a local as... guy who later robbed the drivetrain for a fake Roadrunner.