Some restorations are relatively straightforward, while others require deep commitment. This 1969 Dodge Charger R/T falls into the latter category because every area of this classic requires extensive TLC. There are rust issues, a tattered interior, and a V8 requiring a rebuild. However, the auction action suggests that plenty of people are willing to return this desirable muscle car to its former glory. The seller has listed the Charger here on eBay in Sullivan, Indiana. Fourteen bids have pushed the price beyond the reserve to $10,250 with time remaining for interested parties to stake their claim.
This Charger R/T would have been quite a car in its prime. The first owner ordered it in Dark Bronze Metallic, with the photos seemingly indicating that they combined this with a vinyl top and concealed headlamps. It has fallen upon hard times, requiring a total restoration to recapture its former glory. This isn’t a build that someone will tackle quickly, and the extensive rust might lead some to believe that returning the body to a sound state is best left to professionals. The rear rails have suffered enormously, with further rust visible in the floors, around the back window, and in every exterior panel. The trunk pan is nonexistent, meaning the shopping list of fresh steel will be long. Thankfully, everything required is readily available, so sourcing the parts would be easy. The seller includes three spare doors and a trunk lid, but the reality is that these will hardly touch the surface of this restoration. Most of the trim is beyond salvation, and only an in-person inspection will determine whether the glass is fit for reuse.
The news doesn’t improve when we focus on this Charger’s interior, because it needs as much TLC as the exterior. It appears to be missing the passenger and back seats, along with a few minor parts and the radio. Once again, everything required to return this interior to factory specifications is available, but by the time the buyer sources the missing pieces and the trim kit, doing so will add around $3,000 to the restoration cost.
The entry-level engine in the ’69 Charger R/T was the 440ci V8, and as a starting point, it wasn’t too shabby. Generating 375hp and 482 ft/lbs of torque, it could launch this classic through the ¼-mile in a flat 14 seconds. This car’s desirability was enhanced by the first owner’s decision to equip it with a four-speed manual transmission that maximized the car’s performance. The seller indicates that the deal includes this ’69 440 engine block and a pair of “906” cylinder heads. It is unclear whether there is a transmission or any additional parts, making that a question worth posing if you are considering pursuing this Charger further.
I acknowledge that we will have readers who view this 1969 Dodge Charger R/T as a classic that has deteriorated beyond the point of no return. Bringing it back from the brink won’t be easy, and the financial cost will be high. However, with fourteen bids, seventy-six people adding it to their Watch List, and nearly six hundred views during the last day, this auction appears to have struck a chord with enthusiasts. Do you see the potential in this Charger, or is this a challenge you don’t plan to accept?
Wow…talk about 10 grand for a vin plate.
Sorry .. not into swapping vins on vehicles
Every area requires TLC. TLC being short for “Truck Load of Cash”
project??????? Needs a dumpster!!!!
money pit !!!
The Bullit movie Charger after it was wrecked looked better than this mess.
R/T= Rusted Trash. Again, bottom of the barrel. This only shows how neglected the car was and how uninterested this person was about its future. It was merely a beater, and no value. I sure would question a buyers sanity here, we already know the sellers.
Come on guys / gals ! …Easy project, ran when parked,
won’t last long, he knows what he’s got, won’t cost a lot to
getter back to show quaity , ,,,,,,, ha,ha,ha,
What are some other good ones ?
“Classic muscle car”, “worth more than I’m asking”, “saw one like it sold on (name a well known car auction company) last week”, “it’ll rub out”…
PT Barnum was right.
Needs everything but the key (assuming it has one).
In all seriousness, I am surprised no one is offering a new body for these the way someone was with the Challengers. I have no idea if it is still available, but I remember you could buy brand new a 1970 Challenger unibody in primer for about $18k. If you could get a new Charger unibody you could not buy this one and instead just buy all the parts you would need to fix this one up, and have a new car instead.
Ouch! I don’t care for most muscle Mopars, but I do like the ’68-70 Chargers. This example is good for spares only, so I can’t see why the bids are so high. Am I missing something?
General LEE
No. Let it rust in peace.
Oh, come on folks! 10 grand????? While there may be other folks out there with the expertise to take this on, the only place that I am familiar with is Graveyard Cars. While Worman’s shop could most definitely pull it off, the person that elects to go that route better also own a pick up to haul the money in to pay for it, as well has a ton of patience because one could anticipate a 2 to 3 year time frame from start to finish. No mas, walk away.
It looks like it spent time sharing a field with some cows.
As mentioned above it’s likely going to be a VIN donor. The seller made himself some money by not including the entire VIN in the description section of the ad, if he had in the future any potential buyer would be able to see the cars current condition if the Googled it.
Steve R
Graveyard Cars could do it, that’s about it.
Hindsight 20/20, I’ve scrapped better for 30-50 bucks in the 80s.
Holy cow 10k seriously? Not only. deep commitment required but whoever pays over 10 k for this needs to be committed lol