Many automobile models that remained successful changed course and adapted to whatever was popular in the marketplace at the time, with the 70s Dodge Charger shifting some of its focus from being primarily a powerful muscle car to providing drivers with a more luxurious feel. The car’s success initially stemmed from offering budget buyers a stripped-down, high-performance vehicle at an affordable price. However, as muscle desirability dwindled, the personal luxury segment was gaining ground, and this 1973 Dodge Charger Special Edition represents the latter genre nicely. Located in Louisville, Tennessee, this one can be found here on eBay, where it carries a buy-it-now price tag of $25,000. There’s also an opportunity to make an offer, should you find the cost a bit steep.
Though the Special Edition was billed as the most luxurious trim offering for the Charger in ’73, the car still featured sporty styling, just in a more comfortable Grand Touring coupe atmosphere than many of the B-Bodies that came before it. It’s great to find this one is equipped with buckets and a console, but those seats also look cozy, plus there are power windows and air conditioning. A couple of minor imperfections are visible on the driver’s seat, along with a broken door strap, but the interior looks quite good overall for its age.
Several V8 engine options were available for the 1973 Charger SE, up to and including the 440. However, this one is equipped with the entry-level 318, topped with a 2-barrel carburetor. From the factory, the net horsepower rating here was 150, but the seller is correct when he states that the HP number is 230 if you’re using the gross measurement. It’s paired with an automatic transmission, and the owner claims the listed 44,000 miles are actual, with the car said to run, drive, and handle beautifully.
It’s getting harder to find vintage U.S. classics this old that remain unmolested and still qualify as survivors, but this one’s also said to be wearing its original paint, so there’s no shiny new finish to cover up any corrosion or prior bodywork. The sheet metal appears to be in very nice shape for the most part, so I’d probably let this one remain as-is and be thankful its appearance is still this strong. Though something larger under the hood would be more satisfying, with the rest of this 1973 Dodge Charger SE Brougham being in such fine shape, I might be able to learn to live with the 318 here. How about you?
Another good used car, not a rare car with the 318, yet too pricey until the offer is floated.
It looks nice and has some good options, but the price seems on the aggressive side. The seller ran it through eBay once before at the same price without a taker.
Steve R
Slap an intake, cam and headers on it like everyone did in the 70s and that 318 will do just fine. The 73/74 SE was again another abomination of added garbage to a cool silhouette. Wonder if it’s a 727 or 904. My 74 had the little one. Gave 35 bucks for it, so ugly I parted it out (perfect black console interior) think I sold the AM/FM radio for 35 bucks, 904 for 75 and got 15 bucks for the shell. Only bought it for the new radials on it. They looked much better on my 67 Fury
love the color combination. this body style is a love /hate 1. i would say high teens but it is clean and low miles, so you never know.
My 2nd car .77 to 80. 400 727. Drove it to death. 9 miles to the gallon.
Way too pricey with a 318
Once the opera window years showed up it was all over for me, but it’s still not as bad as when the ’75’s rolled around. Really love the color and it looks like a very clean original Charger but I think his asking price for a ’73 with a 318 is a bit optimistic.
I bought a used 73 SE Brougham, black with white half roof and B/W houndstooth buckets with no console. Column shift auto (727/904 – IDK) but it did have a 400-4bbl and moved nicely. I had normal used car issues except for 2 things, the ballast resistor and the power steering pump. I had to keep at least 2 ballast resistors in the glove box to keep the car running reliably. Every few weeks replace it. And the PS pump was leaking when I bought it. Replaced with a kit from the dealer which included a mounting kit that was not correct for the car and kept throwing belts. And yes, the mpg’s were horrible.
If it had a 400, it had a 727. No worries there. This one most likely has a 904. I had a ’73 back in high school with a 318 and it had a 904, so that is most likely the case here. It is a nice specimen, but the seller is reaching with that ask. GLWTS.
I bought a mirror image of this car for my first when I was 15 in 1985. Gold, white top SE Brougham with 318. I painted it Corvette yellow, black roof and pulled a 383 / 727 / 8 1/4 rear drive train from a ’71, built it to Mopar Performance specs. Went to college before it was complete. It spent 35 years in my dad’s garage waiting for me to return. I finally brought it to me (I lived in a different state) a couple years ago. I’m reeeeal close to getting back at it!
Nice, but pricey for what it is. My wife would love it though.
My wife and I had one Exactly like this one!! (Not sure about the dash color) I have been kicking myself for years by selling it!! Would almost sell my soul to have this car!! Any bids? (On my soul) lol
Nothing wrong with a 318 LA motor, decent gas mileage and great durability. Can be changed to a four barrel carburetor easily. Not as cheap as it was decades ago. Every Charger does have to be a 440 powered. The more you want for the car every detail should be in working order.