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24k Genuine Miles: 1970 Dodge Charger 500 SE

Finding a low-mileage classic car is like striking gold, and gold is precisely what you get with this 1970 Dodge Charger 500 SE. The Light Gold Metallic classic is in beautiful condition, which is to be expected when the car has never seen snow or inclement weather and has only traveled 24,000 genuine miles during its lifetime. The Charger is located in Youngstown, Ohio, and is listed for sale here on eBay. With bidding now sitting at $35,000, the reserve on the Charger has been met. There are also 133 people watching the listing at present, which indicates that this is a car that has really hit the spot with a lot of people.

The first thing that I’ll address is the luggage rack, as this is not a hugely common sight on a Charger. As the story goes, the original owner ordered the Charger in June of 1969, but he had to wait until December for delivery. By way of compensation for this extended wait, the dealer provided and fitted the luggage rack at no cost as a form of compensation. The owner says that the car still features all of its original steel, and due to the fact that it has been garage kept for its entire life and never seen wet weather or snow, it is completely rust-free. The Charger did receive a repaint in its original Light Gold Metallic back in 1996, and this still appears to be in very nice condition.

While it isn’t specifically mentioned, I believe that the engine and transmission are original. This is the 290hp version of the 383ci V8, while the transmission is the reliable 727 automatic. The car also features power steering. The owner doesn’t mention how the car runs and drives, but I have to say that the presentation of the engine bay is very impressive for an original car of this age. The owner also holds a huge stack of documentation for the car dating back to when the Charger was new, which is a nice bonus.

If you want a true testament to careful vehicle ownership, then take a good look around the interior of the Charger. The interior is spotless and still features the original factory floor mats. It seems that the original owner knew exactly what he wanted when he ordered the car, because the SE pack brought with it leather and vinyl bucket seats, and features woodgrain on the dash and center console. The gauge cluster also looks as good as new. The interior has held up well over the past 49-years and looks virtually as good today as it would have looked back in 1969.

I don’t hate the term “time capsule,” but I do think that it is a phrase that has been overused when describing classic cars. Instead, I will call this car a well-preserved survivor. It is a car that would look great parked in any driveway or garage and would attract plenty of attention wherever it went. The incredibly low mileage makes this a truly special car, and the next owner is going to own a car of which they can be rightly proud.

Comments

  1. Avatar Fred W

    This is eventually going to go for a stupid price, and for good reason. I hope whoever buys it doesn’t touch it!

    Like 4
    • Avatar Ramone

      Agree, Fred. It made it this far without being abused, altered, or neglected. It deserves to carry on as it is…and it’s perfect as a real survivor.

      Like 0
  2. Avatar Rex Kahrs Member

    Absolutely one of the best bodies of the 1960s.

    Like 3
  3. Avatar 86_Vette_Convertible

    I have to admit I like a luggage rack on many cars to cover the luggage when traveling and limited space. I doubt that’s an issue with this one unless you’re going away for the summer. Wish it hadn’t been put on this one, but then again I wouldn’t touch it as long as it’s documented.
    Car looks to be in amazing shape for a ‘midwest’ car and fully expect it to go for insane $$ when all is said and done.

    Like 4
  4. Avatar Angrymike

    What a beautiful Charger ! This would be perfect in my garage !

    Like 3
  5. Avatar JimMedals

    Wow beautiful.

    I like to jump something with and and yell yeee haa like Bo and Luke .

    I bet it do well airborne 👍👀

    Like 0
  6. Avatar Will Fox

    Of the second-gen Chargers, the `70 is my fave. You can look at RT’s and Daytonas until you’re blue in the face because they are everywhere it seems, but a pristine SE 500 is an uncommon sight!! I can’t dispute one inch of this beauty; it’s probably THE nicest original `70 I’ve seen. And yes; I remember seeing these with luggage racks on the trunk lid; not many but they were around. Personally, I was hoping it was a 375HP 440, but I wouldn’t complain with the 383 either. If bidding is already at $35K, I can see this surpassing $40K, maybe even $45K. For a restored one you’ll pay ALOT more. whoever buys this better put down beach towels where it’s displayed at shows; the drool from lookers will be all over the place!!

    Like 5
    • Avatar JBP

      This is much better than a restored car. Imo.

      Like 6
    • Avatar Johnny Joseph

      For the ‘Moparians’ this could hit $100,000 and still be stuck in a bidding war. I remember the mid seventies when these were five or six years old and when you would close the doors and hear the nuts, bolts, screws, and everything else rattling around in the body. Who doesn’t remember seeing Daytona’s and Superbird’s sitting on the lots of the Dodge and Plymouth dealers six to twelve months after they were unveiled to the public. They could not give them away. Now if you want one it will only cost you a million dollars, give or take $100,000-$200,000, in either direction. We are most definitely living in the Idiocracy, just five hundred years ahead of schedule. Let’s see if it hits $100,000…

      Like 1
      • Avatar Steve R

        That’s funny, $100,000 for this car, no matter how nice or original, is not going to happen.

        Steve R

        Like 3
      • Avatar Stillrunners

        Has Kieth come back as JJ ?

        Like 1
  7. Avatar Woody

    Well-preserved is an understatement for this beautiful piece of Mopar history,what an awesome sight to see and this could go for big money! They must be selling it for a retirement fund because if it was in my garage my Grandchildren would have to deal with selling it!

    Like 2
  8. Avatar Boatman Member

    You’ve got to be kidding me! ONE bid? What is going on with this auction?!

    Like 0
  9. Avatar 433jeff

    For me i put the 68 Gto on one end of the spectrum and this car on the other…..and everything else in between. There was no watering down of styles like today, In my opinion only. What a profound era for cars,this car should be put back in the bottle with the stopper tightly on it. That way man and time cant eff with it. Next year we will see this car with a hemi and its original motor on a stand, way way out of my league

    Like 0
  10. Avatar Matt steele

    Wowee. That is nice to say the least

    Like 0
  11. Avatar Nick hockman Member

    What did the 500 package give you in 1970?

    Like 0
  12. Avatar BigDoc

    Absolutely beautiful

    Like 0
  13. Avatar John

    This will be one of those “I wish I hadn’t sold it” cars.

    Like 0
  14. Avatar Moparman Member

    Personally, I DETEST luggage racks, even on Corvettes, where they’re needed for T-Tops. This car is beautiful, and even though I have my dream 70 Charger 500, (one owner, original, but with about 6 times the mileage, no rust, but dents & dings!) I am salivating over this one. I’m sure it will go for a super sum! Best wishes to the seller and new owner! :-)

    Like 0
  15. Avatar Lance

    Paint it black buy some horn rimed glasses, get a black trench coat and go chase Mustangs.

    Like 1
  16. Avatar Moparman Member

    By the way, this car does NOT have the Tic-Toc-Tach, the clock is deceptive! The tach would have “RPM x 100” above the winding stem. It also is a single exhaust, non remote mirror, no A/C or power brakes car as well. (See this link for a close-up of the tach: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Mopar-68-69-70-B-Body-Charger-GTX-Tic-Toc-Tach-Tachometer-1968-1969-1970-NEW/173908976832?hash=item287dc864c0:g:b8AAAMXQlgtRuJNs&frcectupt=true

    Like 3
    • Avatar Adam Clarke Staff

      Thanks so much for picking me up on the Tic-Toc-Tach, Moparman. That was a mistake that I shouldn’t have made. I’ve corrected that in the article and will cop my error on the chin. Cheers.

      Like 2
  17. Avatar TimM

    Love this car!! One of the beasts from the muscle car era that will definitely live for ever!! The car is pristine and the only thing I would do is ditch the luggage rack!!! The car has the largest trunk of any muscle car ever!! In my opinion a luggage rack on this car is like lipstick on a pig!!! It doesn’t go!!!! Now a corvette had a tiny trunk but I never like them on vetts either!! But a vett it’s needed cause no back seat and no trunk!!!

    Like 1
  18. Avatar Nick

    Yeah this is a 1970 Charger 500, basically a gussied up standard model with a “500” script. It has no performance pretensions.
    If it were a 1969 Charger 500 it would be a very different story.

    Like 0
  19. Avatar Pete in PA

    Aside from the current market value of this car and what should be done with it by the new owner, I just plain *like* this car! The color combo is unusual and interesting, as is the option content. Maybe I would have checked a few more boxes adding A/C and power windows but the the light gold with the saddle leather interior and console is really nice. And I’ve always been a fan of hidden headlights and hood-mounted t/s indicators. The whole package works very well together and I’d love to own this car.

    Like 2
  20. Avatar Nevadahalfrack Member

    sold-$37,700

    Like 1
  21. Avatar MoparDude

    BTW did anyone see the new challenger in the background?

    Like 0
  22. Avatar david

    37,000 seems a incredibly good price for a awsome charger.

    Like 0

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