As we roll into the end of December, we are constantly reminded that Santa Claus will soon be here. While we wait for the arrival of Kris Kringle and his sleigh pulled by nine reindeer (Rudolph included), it is the habit of all that have been good all year to wonder what Santa is bringing them for Christmas. Well, a few of us hope this 1974 Dodge Challenger for sale on eBay in Santa Rosa, California is real and will fit under our Christmas trees. The problem is that this Challenger seems, like Santa himself, almost too good to be true. With a claimed 31,000 miles, a handful of grainy photographs, and a story of being in storage for 30 years, do you think this fanciful tale is one we can believe in?
Before anyone starts to speculate that this is an April Fool’s joke instead of a Christmas story, the seller on this Challenger has 45 sales under their belt with 100% positive feedback. So the chance that this is some sort of scam or that a Nigerian Prince will fill the trunk with money if you pay double for the car now by wire transfer is remote. Any hesitancy comes from the story of the car itself. In the grainy picture above, we see this Challenger nestled in what looks to be the narrow confines of an old trailer box. Missing its grille, the car looks longingly outward after being entombed there for 30 years. To add to the excitement, the seller tells us that the car has just 31,000 miles on the odometer.
What else do we know? The seller tells us this is an R/T model equipped with the 360 cubic inch V-8 topped with a four-barrel carburetor. While choked down with emissions equipment, the engine could still unleash 245 net horsepower. It is said to be “highly factory optioned” and comes with “dual fender tags.” Also, for those of you for which this matters, it is a California car. Sadly, the prospective buyers are not provided any pictures of the interior or trunk. In the item specifics, it does list the car as an automatic with a white interior.
The pictures do give us a few clues as to what else this car was equipped with. We can see a power brake booster and an air conditioning compressor in the picture above. It would not be unreasonable to speculate that it also came with power brakes. The dingy engine compartment above suggests that the car may have more than the advertised 31,000 miles on the clock. On the bright side, chances are this car is very original, and solid. Thus, it is a good candidate for restoration with credit due to proper storage in an enclosed shelter of some sort for so many years.
Perhaps more information can be provided by our readers using the plate above and sticker below. The one above is mostly readable, while the one below is very hard to make out. There is also the question of the two different types of screws holding the plate on the body. One seems to be flat while the other is domed. What was the proper hardware used to mount these? Would it be installed at the factory so close to the hose below it? Why is the plate and the area around it so dingy at 31,000 miles?
This may be a great end-of-the-line Challenger. Dodge made 16,437 of these cars in 1974 after being in production since only 1970. Muscle cars weren’t the hot sellers that they used to be and the Challenger’s good looks weren’t enough to save it as Chrysler descended further into debt. While there are some questions about this Challenger, hopefully, it is a legit ad for a good car.
What do you think about this Challenger auction? Is it legit? Do you think the story is correct, or is the seller making assumptions? Please share your thoughts and concerns in the comments.
Was this the top model for 74′
Stan, yes it was the top model for ‘74. However, there was no R/T option available’72-‘74. It is a Rallye model.
The auction may be legit, but the car is misrepresented as an R/T as that option ended in 1971 with the big block Challengers.
From 1972 onwards it was the Rallye package that was the top designation, and could have just been a trim package.
This one however is a 360 4 bbl car confirmed by the E58 code on the fender tag.
It is also a code FE5 rallye red car though the bad pics make it look orange to me.
It is the top performer in 1974, the final year for the E bodies.
As for the fender tag screws, they may be correct as they were installed at two different times on the assembly line.
Correct, Johnnymopar. 1971 was the last year for the R/T model but the 340 (small block) R/T does exist. The 340 was a no cost option for the 1971 R/T. All R/Ts and the 1972 only Rallye models have VIN numbers that start with “JS”. 1973 and 1974 Challenger VINs all start with “JH” and Rallye was denoted as an option package with A57 on the fender tag.
That vinyl top picture looks like a bunch of ugly rust hiding beneath it. 30 years of sitting can destroy a nice car.
I hate to say it but if this car only has 31k on it then it was NEVER taken care of, it was driven hard then put away wet, I’ve never seen a engine compartment look that bad with only 31k on it, and this is a California car that was stored in a enclosed trailer, “sorry” something just ain’t right IMHO.
He added more pics. I live about an hour away from this car. May go look at it!
I’m going to go with “What is faded black over orange/red with 131,000 miles on it” Alex.
Correct R/T option gone after 1971, yes the second screw was installed later, one usually body color and other was bare *odd the author has no knowledge of that, but called it out? The vinyl top looks like a really bad replacement to me, I am going with much higher mileage on this thing
It’s nice to take a lot of photos of a car you’re selling. However I might add, make them useful photos that actually reveal something, and roll the car out into the open first, ok? What I can see out of all these photos is either rust on top or rust bubbling under the surface. And who puts a car away with only 31k miles? I’ll bet it’s 131k.
I don’t know enough about these early 70s Mopar’s to even be dangerous, but this whole ad strikes me as off. The one thing that I am fairly certain of is that this car in no way has 31,000 miles on it.
Man, this poor thing has been dogged. I have vinyl top horror stories. It’s Swiss cheese under that top. Shame!
Hmm. I, too, have a ‘74 Rallye that I bought from the original owner way back when, and it is also ‘highly optioned’. What’s weird is my fender tags are side by side. The only option my car doesn’t have is AC, maybe they installed them differently on AC cars but I kinda doubt it…
If this car were pulled out and cleaned up, there is no way it would have a BIN of $16.5K. It is a relative bargain for a car like this,
Is it a steal, or just a good deal? That is the question.
Hard to believe the mileage claim is anything but what the odometer shows. Options, color and engine are is just enough to make me thing this is a real good deal for a dirty car.
I hope someone here buys it and lets us all know the outcome.
Ended at $14,100.
Reserve Not Met.
There is no world where this thing is worth over 16K. Given the year, It has a boat anchor for a motor and I absolutely do not believe that milage claim. I would also not be surprised if there isn’t rust under that vinyl roof.