The Challenger was an all-new car in 1970, Dodge’s late entry into the “pony car” market. It shared an E-body platform developed by Chrysler to be shared with the Plymouth Barracuda. Convertibles would be rare in the Challenger line-up, and an RT with a 383 cubic inch V8 and an automatic transmission saw only 554 copies. Factor in this car’s once Plum Crazy paint job (according to the seller), and the figures may drop to a few dozen. Located in Utica, Michigan, this significant Mopar project is available here on eBay where the starting point for a restoration won’t come cheap. The current bid is $27,800 with an unmet reserve and a pass-go price of $39,500.
Timing is everything and the Challenger’s arrival on the scene was just as demand for muscle cars was beginning to decline. Though the automobile wasn’t just a muscle machine, sales of both the Challenger and Barracuda nose-dived in 1971 due to rising insurance premiums and a ramp-up of emissions controls that would rob the cars of their horsepower. 77,000 Challengers in ’70 turned into 27,000 Challengers in ’71 and continued to fall further after that. Chrysler exited the pony car market at the end of the 1974 model year.
Back in the day, rough cars like the seller’s Mopar would be a dime a dozen, but not anymore. The Challenger is a hot property on the collector scene and the combination of body style, equipment, and original color on this car could speak to a six-figure auto once restored. But it will take every bit of that spend to get there. It’s a numbers-matching vehicle that came with a ton of options when new, like power windows and factory air conditioning. We’re told the fender tag is present and that should confirm if the car was finished in Plum Crazy paint from the factory.
However, someone decided that white was a better color than purple, so the Dodge received a color change at some point. At this stage, there are probably no pieces of sheet metal that don’t contain rust, holes, or dents. The floorboards are of the see-through variety and the seats appear to have taken flight. We assume it does not run and has not for many years. This Challenger has led a hard life up to the time it reached 83,000 miles, the odometer reading. Before you can even start ordering parts to restore this once proud beast, it could cost you nearly $40,000 just to get it home.
If you want to evaluate the condition of the drive train take a look at the tire marks behind the rear wheels where it was dragged out for the photo shoot.
Good catch!
Oh Lord, here we go, Russ, how do you sleep at night? Because he’s a professional, that’s how. I don’t know of many sites that would glorify this, or even give it a passing thought,( Junk.com?) and I’m convinced, BFs posts these abominations clearly for shock value, and nothing more. Okay, it’s pretty obvious, this car was run year ’round, and the convertible tells me, in a salty area, it was just a beater they got cheap, and froze their axx off, I might add, but hey, $200 bucks, got them to work/school, and that was the name of the game, not how much you can bilk someone for some pig in a poke. Capitalism ripoff at its utmost extreme. I suppose the only plus is, we’re not being FORCED to buy this, like other “isms”. It’s still America, where you can charge whatever you want and whenever I see a Challenger convertible, I think of this.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTNDPmIO4Lw
I have junked better cars.
Although I can agree with many of the comments above about the horrible condition of the car, I think covering this sort of car on the site is absolutely of interest to many of us. I clicked on it, and I’m in no way a Mopar guy, nor would I, in a hundred years – ever consider a project like this. However- it is INTERESTING and it’s got all of us talking about it, doesn’t it? 🤣. I’ll bet this was a pretty incredible vehicle as it left the assembly line (with POWER windows- notice the controls on the door panel), and it’s fun to dream and think about it in that way, isn’t it? Good job, Russ.
It’s not so much that this one’s featured here.it seems that
it’s become mandatory to feature one of these overpriced
rust buckets almost daily here.
I’d be interesting to see if these actually sold,& what they
sold for.I believe that most of us here could never afford to
pay these kind of prices,plus afford to restore them.
NOW , you can call this is a Barn Finds .
Not for a minute do I believe there’s a legitimate $27k bid on this POS. But I wonder if it was found IN the barn or UNDER it.
I bid $27,900 knowing for well I wouldn’t touch the reserve and to follow along. Personally I wouldn’t give 10K for it.
Ragtop.
ragged out.
Looks like about .6 of 554 to me
Good Lord people lost their minds!!! It’s a freaking rust bucket plain and simple. I don’t think Mark Worman would touch it except for parts. It’s a RT Convertible HP383. It would cost a Kings fortune to bring this Mopar back from the dead!!And it’s a damn shame it looks like this. If anybody buys this for the asking should have there head examine!! 🙄
How did things like this ever escape the crusher? Didn’t someone, sometime, ever desire to clean up “the back 40”? Is it valuable now? Of course, but for years upon years it was an eyesore. As much as I like to see more old cars saved, the fact that this was something ugly for the neighbors to be forced to see for years and years diminishes that for me. The kind of person that will plop down crazy money for this, and pay even crazier money to restore it, was never the kind of person who had to suffer through its ugliness for all those years. There are many clues to social injustice.
The only one who will ever make money on this car is the one selling it today!
Your comments are based on a false premise. You have no way of knowing that this car was an eyesore that was so terribly disturbing to the neighbors. It could easily have been parked in a backyard under a tree and no one looked at it for years and years.
Also, the cost of restoration is always about labor. Reproduction parts are cheap and abundant. If someone has the time and the skill and the tools to restore an old rusty car, more power to them. The idea that you can bring a car back from the dead is a great challenge and a great joy for many. So why all of the cynicism and negativity and criticism.
Yes, the initial investment is higher than anyone would like. I certainly wouldn’t spend that kind of money on this car. But everyone’s situation is different.
The fun is in the doing, not in the having.
As someone who will have no money invested in this ghost of a car, I say go for it! Spend big $$$ and turn this heap into a museum piece. After that, it can go up on Mecum’s auction as part of the so-in-so collection.
There’s a no reserve red with white top 340/A727 equipped 1970 Challenger convertible on this site currently bid to $49K. The car is in excellent shape. I will take that over this heap any day please!
Because, for a few years, 1972 to 1974, I had a used ’70 RT Challenger convertible with a 383, 727 and few options, I hope someone will restore this back to its glory. During that short time period, racked up 60,000 miles on it and drove it all over Canada, the US and Mexico. May this beautiful, Dodge creation continue to shine.
At what point is it cheaper to start from scratch?
This is one of the rare dodge/ Chrysler/chryco/mopar car model that i would drive
But not this one …
Air Conditioning is a major selling point today. This is a factory air car.
Yes, I bought real muscle cars, and they were real muscle cars, not a 6 cyl Nova with an added 396 to then be called a muscle car, which its not, with no rust, paid $60-200 a car. Parted them out.
Because back then, I had too many cars, but no room.
Now, lots of land and buildings for them.
Point is, the younger generation today cannot always just buy a done car.
My son, who totally restores from worse than this Challenger, has no problem.
He is booked 3-4 years right now.
We have found cars that others said were too far gone.
They are done and his restorations are assembly line correct, to each plant, and they vary.
Lets see a Father-Son project here. Do it for the love of it, not money.
This car could save a childs life by keeping them from gangs or drugs.
How much is that worth.
Bless you and your son, Joe. Yours is the exact opinion I have. I believe life is about enjoying ‘the doing’ and not ‘the having’.
Maybe a father and son who otherwise would be hanging out on Park Avenue? The prices here have killed what once was a family oriented hobby for the vast majority of people. Your sentiments are wonderful, but you are living in yesterday.
The reason this car is here is that when restored it is one of the most beautiful, striking muscle cars of the era. Without the Plum Crazy high impact color and convertible top, it probably wouldn’t be worth restoring. But that combination is so rare now that it may just get a savior.
If you don’t like the posts, just keep scrolling,no big deal.
Doubtful it was a purple car, floor & other areas white, trim tag held on with Phillips head screws, easy to switch.
all the trim tags are held on with Phillips screws , but I dont see much purple either
Graveyard Carz, you have 3 years of shows here! Only one guy can make a buck on this and it’s Mark Worman. It takes money to make money.
Mark had one like this, it was deemed not worthy of a restore. I saw it on YouTube definitely a graveyard car.
wow what sheet metal on this car is salvageable?
It really doesn’t matter because repops are availiable. Due to its rareity, this car is worth the time and effort.
If you repop it it is going to be made in China basically. If you painstakingly search for NOS and original used parts it could be proper. But this thing pretty much needs everything. That would get very costly, and time consuming. So I have a feeling the new buyer will go the former route. That is why I would never buy a restored muscle car. I would hold out for an original, even if it was rougher.
Oh my goodness.
Bid up to $30,000 💸💸🤦🤦Why? Again it’s a rust basket case!! Someone is going to buy this thinking it can be brought back life and when done… Resale it for $100,000! Did miss something here? My family has a 70 Dodge Challenger RT with a power sunroof and many options. Own this since 1978. I know the work involved. This world went mad over rust bucket’s! …. Happy New Year!! 🎆🎇
All the above Comments is why I keep myself locked into all these fascinating vehicles that come on line, yes, I have bid and lost some, but also won a couple, I really don’t know how some people just simply attack the sellers, or the vehicles, I for one, Love all that is, just can’t get enough of it.
All the above Comments is why I keep myself locked into all these fascinating vehicles that come on line, yes, I have bid and lost some, but also won a couple, I really don’t know how some people just simply attack the sellers, or the vehicles, I for one, Love all that is, just can’t get enough of it.
All the above Comments is why I keep myself locked into all these fascinating vehicles that come on line, yes, I have bid and lost some, but also won a couple, I really don’t know how some people just simply attack the sellers, or the vehicles, I for one, Love all that is, just can’t get enough of it.
Just LOL
Nice ventilation in the floor…..so who needs AC !
Had a Datsun B210 with the same feature.
Made it easy to stop too…….ala Fred Flintstone.
Looks more like it was dug out of the manure pile instead of a barn
Everyone needs to remember the seller is just that, the seller. The bidders are the ones raising the price to the stratosphere. Yes it is rough but it can and should be saved. What you spend your money on is your business, no one else’s.
I’ve never really understood the hype over these, they were nice looking cars, had good powertrains, but the bodies had all the integrity of a beer can, as did all Chrysler products of the period. This wouldn’t even make good yard art, let mother nature resume what she started.
They rusted like EVERY other car of that time, some even worse, like the Asian imports and Fiats. No need to be a Mopar hater – A rare optioned Mustang or Camaro would have the same bidding frenzy .
You’ve gotta be plum crazy to pay 40 k for this wreck.
If it was a 440 6 pak or Hemi car. Yeah, ok restore it. 383? Pass.
Restorable?
Yes, by the right person.
Worth more than scrap metal prices in this condition?
Not to me.
Might be a parts donor at best.
“Buy the best condition car you can afford”
What DON said. While Chrysler products did rust, so did GM and Ford. Dad bought a new, against my advice, 1968 Ford full size station wagon. We lived in northeast PA, where road salt is as common as a Wal Mart today. That POS rotted out by 1973. despite me washing it to death. Truth be told, our beloved old cars were built like crap, but at least don’t look stupid like this messed up world of SUVs. BORING.
washing cars to death is a bad idea, the inner rockers & bottom of cowl & other inner crevices fill up with water, washing cars just cleans the outside & cars mostly rust from the inside out. A paste wax in spring & fall will help the paint job. I had two friends, each had 70 camaro’s, Steve never washed his car, just brought it to car wash when very dirty. Rob, washed his almost every 2 days. In 5 years Robs’ car had bad rust holes & was rusting everywhere; steve’s car had some bubbling in the usual spots, nowhere near the shape of Rob’s.
Some people think any old car is worth big money. This guy takes it to a whole other level. There’s absolutely NOTHING good on the car. If it was a 1 of 1 car I wouldn’t even have it for a lawn ornament.
Could be beneficial to somebody looking for a title or vin tags or maybe an original drive line if this car has any of those attributes. They could be driving the car they stole ,legally.
holy crap, this one would take a lotta years to complete if your 60 years of age or older like me,you may wanna pass on this basically a body rusted with a nameplate I’d pass
The age demographic for these cars are shrinking. Sorry it just is. This is a car meant for the scrap yard. 40k is laughable and a bad joke. These young people are buying Hellcats at the 50k mark or a Scatpack. Not a 150k plus several restoration project. Pretty obvious the people behind this ploy have a barn full of these old rust buckets and are trying to cash out. Buy a 20k Dynacorn body and start over. Less headache and save a ton of cash in the end.