Occasionally, a seller’s frustration is evident in their advertisement, and I think this is one of those circumstances. The owner of this Dodge 600 simply wants to get rid of the car; it belonged to his late father-in-law, he can’t find the title, and “the house is being sold.” Therefore, this might work out well for a buyer who wants a rust-free Dodge convertible with 68,000 miles on it. Barn Finds reader Ted found it on Marketplace in Ohio with an $800 obo asking price.
With a three-digit asking price, you know you’re going to be dealing with some problems, the lack of a title notwithstanding. The Dodge was parked 19 years ago and has sat in the garage ever since, so it is filthy. The convertible top’s rear glass has come loose and the latch needs to be replaced. It’s also not running; the seller thinks that the fuel pump connections are corroded, but that will be up to the next owner to deal with. In reality, it’s probably best not to pump 19-year-old gasoline through those fuel injectors anyway.
The engine itself is one of two Chrysler fours, the 2.2 or the 2.5. Both had throttle-body electronic fuel injection for 1986, and the horsepower difference between the two is less than five (the 2.5 does have a 14 pound-feet of torque advantage). These days, it probably doesn’t much matter which one is under the hood. Interestingly, the brochure for the 600 labels the horsepower in kilowatts and brake horsepower – that bit of salesmanship never caught on, did it?
Another digression: the 600’s newly updated front fascia for 1986 bears a striking similarity to a Fox-Body Thunderbird from the same era. Coincidence?
According to the brochure, the only transaxle available in the 600 was a three-speed automatic, and that’s what we see here with a sporty console-mounted shifter. There’s also Chrysler’s neat shiny radio and heater control fascias, which clash a bit with the obligatory fake wood paneling. Someone ordered the optional tilt steering column on this one, as well.
This convertible occupies an interesting corner of collectibility. The owner says that it’s rust-free (“has never seen snow/garage kept since new”) but has a few dings and dents. It will clearly need some fuel system and brake work, in addition to tires. And then there’s the title situation – I’m not sure how easy it is to get a title on a bill of sale in Ohio, so maybe our Buckeye State readers can illuminate the process for us. With an asking price of roughly one-month’s mortgage in an average midwestern town, it’s a cheap place to start for some top down fun next summer. I’d wager you could get it on the road for two grand all-in (if you leave the top down all the time). What do you think?
Once you got this running, it could be a fun little car without breaking the bank.
Holy K-Car Batman. And that’s basically what the 600 was, a K-car with a stretched body. Or looked at another way, a Chrysler Town and Country with no frills. Still the price of admission is good on this hooptie, especially if you have another parts car and a little knowledge to get her up and running yourself…oh, about the title..depending on where you live, it could be easy, it could be difficult.
John Voits car?
The dentist?
Even if the odometer has rolled over as the wear on the steering wheel may indicate, it is still a good price and very tempting.
The good thing is if you live in NH or VT anything over 11 years old does not need a title to be registered
In laws had one. So underpowered, to get up hills you had to shut off a/c!
Lee Iaccoca was at both Ford (the Mustang) and Chrysler (the K car) so a Thunderbird reference is not surprising. In 1982 when I worked at a Dodge dealer the bosses wife gave me and several other employees a lift in her Dodge 400 convertible. I got the backseat, which was paper thin. The seat part wasn’t too bad but the seat back couldn’t have been more than 3/4 of an inch thick. Very uncomfortable. Hope the upscale and newer Chrysler was thicker.
I don’t do Facebook but I would be interested to know what part of Ohio this Dodge is in. It could be a decent driver for less than what the writer says I think. Being in Ohio I’m no help with the title situation but it is tempting. And no, the front end only resembles a turbo t bird from an angle.
The listing shows Independence, Ohio, which is in the Cleveland area.
IN NH law was recently changed any vehicle model. year 2000 or newer needs a title Any thing older bill of sale and a previous registration by seller is all you need
Don’t understand his comment about probate, as legally, he would HAVE to go through probate with anything not in a trust or with a TOD.
FYI…
To get a car title in Ohio, you need a properly assigned Certificate of Title from the seller, which includes the buyer’s information, purchase price, mileage, and the seller’s notarized signature; a completed Application for Certificate of Title to a Motor Vehicle (BMV 3774) form; and proof of identification, like a driver’s license; while a bill of sale is not strictly required, it’s recommended to have one detailing the vehicle information, purchase price, and signatures of both buyer and seller.
Plus, I see that the sale is pending as of this post.