Advice please on possible car buy

[XenonJohn]

Hi everyone,
I currently own an Aussie VE Valiant with small block V8, for sale soon by the way.
Currently looking at another Mopar 4 door with 413 and torqueflite transmission. From available history, one family owned til about 45k miles then sold to a new owner along with some kind of trailer towing package fitted at that time.
Another 30k since then. Panel of"adjustable resistors' under bonnet that look like 3 coil springs, strange proportioning adjustment lever under dash and electrical connector under rear bumper. Looks as if trailer had some kind of electrically adjustable braking system, this is definitely more than a light bar plug!
Also 2 vertical plates welded to chassis rails just inboard of rear leaf springs, with bottoms cut off. Presumably was part of some kind of towbar mount.
My problem,: car has very good bodywork, all trim present, minimal rust for age, which for me are all good points. 727 transmission fairly bullet proof, and overpowered if anything. So, despite car having towed something for some of its life maybe, which might normally put me off buying any modern car, you could also argue that the car would have been able to take that without much trouble.

Should I walk away?

[XenonJohn]

Here are 2 pics of the strange coil of resistor wire under the hood, also the bracket welded and bolted to rear chassis rail presumably from towing system.

[MattH]

Pics havent come through but on a car that old I wouldnt worry about if it has been used as a tow car. All it might mean is the mechanicals have had a harder life but if its 50 + years old anyway, its survived the worst and still going.
I wouldn't worry provided it drives and the trans shifts Ok.

Rust is always the main issue on our type of cars. Mechanicals are the easy bit. If its rust free and got all its trim then a tired transmission may be the worst you'll have to deal with, and 727 are pretty strong as you say.

[XenonJohn]

Thanks for the advice.
I did buy the car as; very little rust - about as good as you could ever reasonably expect for car of this age, good paint, good chrome, yellowing plastic carpet protectors still in place (good sign of a careful former owner) and the golf club membership sticker still on the windscreen, I reckon from those clues alone that it must have been garaged at least most of its life and dealer serviced at least to 45K miles where I know it changed owner. Towing system fitted at that time so was in place for the next 30K. Probably just used for a giant caravan for some family trips, who knows? Interior is excellent too, either an unbelievably careful owner or retrimmed at some point. I have learned the hard way, as you say, that the main thing is the lack of rust, I am happy to tackle all the mechanicals, brakes, dodgy wiring etc, all quite logical, it just requires patience.

A few questions, the main objective being reliability, power is fine just as it is:
a) Anyone got a windscreen? Going to cost me 400-500 + rubber plus fitting otherwise. Still I should pleased I can get one at all I suppose.
b) Electronic ignition or not? If so which type? Its got that ballast resistor sitting there looking at me just like my VE Valiant (for sale soon by the way).
c) LED headlamp bulbs or not? Headlamps work but really poor. LED bulbs in theory would be great as use way less power so stress the old loom less than say a halogen upgrade. People seem to have strong views on this but they do seem a logical upgrade if you get correct bulbs not ebay tat.
d) Also thinking of a solid state voltage regulator. I am assuming the current one is the electromechanical weirdness type.
e) Air con not working but does not look to be in too bad physical shape. Not a priority job but once everything else has been done are there any companies that would investigate an old system such as this?

Pics of car here: https://sites.google.com/view/1965newyorker/home

[MattH]

I can only advise on the headlights but would suggest upgrade to halogens and wire in relays at the same time, saves all the power going through the switch, which will equal more melted wires.

[Steve]

I would upgrade to electronic ignition but not the late 60s / early 70s Mopar orange box type. I was advised to, and did go down the HEI route. You need a Mopar electronic distributor, GM style HEI unit, computer heat sink, Mopar distributor wiring loom (available new), twin field alternator, solid state voltage regulator and an MSD blaster coil that is capable of taking a constant 12v feed. There is a ton of stuff on here showing you how to do it....well worth it in my opinion.

You will be hard pushed to find a used screen in this country to be honest. I have used Peter Jones in the past (he had a brand new correct tint screen in stock for my old 72 New Yorker!)

Cheers Steve

[XenonJohn]

Thanks for the advice. Screen on way via Peter Jones, rubber gasket via Rick Ster and managed to obtain some clips for the trim plus a local fitter willing to do it. Will keep ignition stock for now while I do more pressing jobs, although am fitting a solid state voltage regulator, new HT leads etc.