One of the Mopar models frequently featured here on Barn Finds is the Dodge Charger, as its desirability remains strong and demand in the marketplace never seems to lessen.  Much of the interest is often centered around the performance-oriented vintage examples, which is understandable, as there were some great engine options available, especially during the early days.  However, this also makes it easy to lose sight of the fact that not every Charger was born to be a powerhouse, with some prioritizing a more luxurious experience over a high level of horsepower.  This 1973 Charger here on Craigslist is noteworthy for several reasons, all of which are positive, and we’d like to thank reader Zappenduster for bringing it to our attention!  This one’s located in Coffey, Missouri, and comes with an asking price of $24,900.

As the third generation was nearing its end, the Charger was evolving into a more personal luxury car, as the era of muscle was fading fast.  The seller states that his vehicle is equipped with the rare Spring Special package, an option I wasn’t aware was available in ’73, which included no performance upgrades but instead provided buyers with a vinyl roof, side stripes, and some really cool seats inside.  The interior here is described as original, with a combination of less than 60,000 miles and a lifetime of care responsible for the fine condition.  It’s nice to see those A/C vents in the dash, so this one was made with comfortable cruising in mind, not excessive tire smoke when the traffic lights turn green.

The seller is the car’s third owner and tells us that the second caretaker bought the car in ’81, but only drove it about 500 miles for nearly the next four decades.  Everything outside is claimed to be original, down to the paint and body, with the sheet metal reportedly never having developed any rust.  This one’s trimmed out nicely, with whitewalls and wire wheel covers becoming more popular on the B-Body by this time.  Even after a close inspection of the photos, the only imperfection I spotted was a small ding or two on the passenger-side quarter panel.

While the 318 isn’t one of the more coveted engines to find in a Charger, it got the job done, and with so much originality still intact here, I hope the next owner chooses to let the small block be.  This car appears to be one where preservation is of key importance, making it a less likely candidate for an engine swap or a Restomod treatment.  I’d probably leave everything as is and continue to just maintain and care for this one, keeping things as close to factory specs as possible for the long run.  Any thoughts to share about this 1973 Dodge Charger?