For those of us who love their classic cars, it’s great to know that there are still low-mileage survivors that will appear on the market regularly. This 1969 Dodge Charger proves that point. It is claimed to be an original and unmolested black-plate survivor that is in fantastic condition. With a genuine 39,000 miles showing on its odometer, it appears to be something special. It is also a classic that has recently been listed for sale here on eBay. It is located in Lodi, California, and the bidding has been nothing short of frantic. There have been 78 bids submitted at the time of writing. This has pushed the price along to $50,100 in a No Reserve auction.

There’s a lot to take in with this Charger, so let’s get one thing out of the way first. The vehicle has received a repaint, but it isn’t clear when this occurred. However, the Fender Tag confirms that it was completed in its original color, preserving the car’s authenticity. A Black vinyl top complements the Silver paint, and both aspects of the Charger look close to flawless. The paint shines beautifully, while the appearance of the vinyl seems crisp and consistent. The panels are laser straight, with no evidence of dings, dents, or prior accident damage. The grille features the distinctive covered headlamps. The doors for these do operate, but the driver’s side looks a bit slow. It might need some tweaking and lubrication to get them both working correctly. The remaining trim and chrome appear to be flawless, and the same seems to be true of the glass.

If there is one thing that these Chargers are renowned for, it’s rust. This can have a nasty tendency of consuming floors, frame rails, and the area around the back window. It appears that this one has spent its life in California, which is never a bad thing when it comes to the preservation of classic metal. The floors are as spotless as you could hope to find, while the rear frame rails and spring shackle mounts are perfect. The same is true of the trunk pan, while above decks, all of the lower extremities and the back window region look perfect. Pack away the grinder and welder because you won’t be needing them for this car.

The Charger is a numbers-matching classic that features an H-Code 383ci V8 and a 3-speed TorqueFlite transmission. You can also add power steering and power brakes to the list of optional extras. That 383 is quite an engine and should be pumping out 330hp. That is enough to fire the Charger through the ¼ mile in 14.9 seconds before it ultimately winds its way to 129mph. The owner claims that the Charger has a genuine 39,000 miles on the clock, but he doesn’t indicate whether he holds evidence to back this. How does it run and drive? Pretty good, actually. The engine sounds crisp and clean, the transmission shifts smoothly, and the Charger rolls down the road without so much as a squeak or a rattle. Still, please don’t take my word for it. I’ve included a short video at the bottom of this article. It provides a walk-around as well as a chance to hear the car running and driving. You will find things to be pretty impressive.,

You will notice an aftermarket CD player mounted under the dash. That represents the sole aftermarket addition to this Charger’s interior. If I look long and hard, I can spot some fading of the carpet on the transmission tunnel. Beyond that, there isn’t a lot to be critical of. The dash looks perfect, and the Black upholstery on the door trims is just as impressive. The dash pad shows no evidence of deterioration, and there is no wear on the wheel. The original radio remains in place, while the Rallye gauges feature a functioning Tick-Tock-Tach. Life inside the Charger would already be pretty comfortable, but the fact that the original owner ordered the vehicle with ice-cold air conditioning should take that comfort up a notch or two.

Apart from the CD player, there has been one other change to the interior. The bucket seats wear new covers, and these look spot-on. They match the rear seat perfectly. The back seat looks like it has never been used, and the headliner is as spotless as the rest of the interior. No-one has messed with this interior, and even the seatbelts wear their correct identification and date codes.

There’s a lot to like about this 1969 Charger, and it’s easy to see why the bidding has been so intense. This is a classic that needs nothing but a new owner who will continue to appreciate it. That is only a matter of days away, and the No Reserve listing makes this a virtual certainty. With that in mind, it will be interesting to see what this one finally sells for.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGlumPFjuPA&feature=youtu.be