We love cars with a good story here at Barn Finds, and this 1970 Dodge Charger R/T certainly seems to be such an example. In addition to its intriguing history, the Charger is desirable simply for being in unrestored condition and presenting as an extremely honest specimen, with plenty of cosmetic flaws but also has what looks like good bones. This Charger is described as being a barn find that the current seller acquired two years ago, and it is a non-numbers matching example with a 440 under the hood. The seller claims both the engine and automatic transmission were replaced with lower mileage units in the early 80s. Find it here on eBay and read about its days spent pulling a travel trailer.
Bidding is currently just over $27,000 with the reserve unmet. The seller includes some great archival photos of the Charger in its younger days, including this one that shows it living the active lifestyle its original owners intended. The seller notes when it was purchased, the first owner wanted to tow his Airstream trailer with it, which must have been quite a get-up back in the day. So before the Charger was picked up, the selling dealer installed leaf springs, a transmission cooler, and a rear trailer hitch. Can you imagine after selling every Charger R/T you got to some guy who was headed straight to the track with it to all of the sudden have an outdoors-type pop in and look right past the short-bed pickup truck and choose a Charger as his camping vehicle?
Still, I think stories like these are a great indication that a car is going to lead a charmed life. This Charger isn’t perfect – far from it – but it just looks so damn honest. Nothing has seemingly been messed with here, and the interior – although tired – is also loved. The upholstery can be fixed but everything else can stay as-is, with the original details like the door panels and back seat still presenting decently enough. The dashboard features nicely preserved wood trim, and the Charger doesn’t appear to have been altered anywhere inside. The Charger is equipped with power brakes, and the seller notes it will come with ample documentation.
While the non-matching engine is a bummer, a replacement motor in the same specs as the original and replaced eons ago isn’t such a bad thing. You almost wonder if the original owner over-taxed both the engine and the transmission when he was towing his camper all over creation. The good news here is that this Charger has never been modified for racing, so it’s not as if you’re buying a car that’s been ravaged by the local teenagers. The history of it being a tow rig is anecdotal at best, but it does make this survivor Charger all the more interesting. Would you restore it or leave it exactly as-is?
I’d fix the seats and roof then drive it…..I have no desire to sit at some car show with little signs on my car ” do not touch”……
Same here but I’d strip off what’s left of the vinyl top and paint what’s underneath. Probably keep the white as a 2-tone though.
You might have a problem painting what is underneath. If water got under the vinyl top you could have serious problems. Probably the worst thing companies did was start using vinyl tops.
I’d rotistere the body, and restore every nut & bolt. Rebuild the engine and trans, plus whole new interior change to black. New carpets & headliner in black. Door panels redone in black.
Black new vinyl roof, and black paint on the body.
Then I’d go to car shows and put a sign on it that said ‘don’t touch Bob’s car’.
Bob
You would if you could afford such a car.
I wonder if the transmission cooler and other heavy duty components are still there? This car has cruise control! I’d want to do a cosmetic restoration, but like sakingsbury20 said above, it would be to drive and enjoy!! GLWTA!! :-)
Looks like you can see the trans cooler in front of the radiator…
cosmetic restoration for sure….on my 1st cup of coffee this am an started pushing buttons before my brain was fully in gear…..
Yikes, so much to do on this car, and you’re starting at 30K. Wrong radiator, wrong steering wheel (a 1970-only part, by the way), just those two are going to run a couple-three grand to source / install unless you go aftermarket – and why would you at this money level?
I had to torch off a trailer hitch on my first 70 and the bolt holes through the rear bumper were monstrous. Having been used to “pull an Air Stream (sic)” is not a plus.
Looks like it wore Magnum 500 wheels in its earlier days.
In Springfield, Ohio there was a 70 440/6 that the owner bought to pull his camper. White with a black roof and black bucket/console interior. Big Daddy has a 66-67 Coronet four door in his museum that was ordered with a Hemi for the same purpose. There are at least two and I think he owned them both at one time, a red one and a white one. The ultimate sleepers imho.
Where’s the one in Springfield?
In 1966 the Arizona Highway Patrol ordered 5 Hemi Coronet 4-doors to patrol this massive state for a few years. I remember the newspaper article. There is precious little information about these rare cars available on the internet. It is said that there were 2 produced for export to Europe, 2 for Canada, and counting the one red one for the gentleman in Kansas, that makes 10 total produced. I rather believe that the one in “Big Daddy’s” collection may be one of those extant, rather than a special order for Mr. Garlitts at the time. The wild guesses at the number produced ranges from 1 to 5 in internet screeds, but 10 seems most likely.
Check out that rt front fender…ouch!
Another way over price Dodge in bad shape. I think I,ll paint DODGE on the front of my RAMBLER and see how many suckers I can get. Its in alot better shape then this car.
Located in:
Menomonie, Wisconsin
$ 32,500 someone has to much money. 11 k tops .
The owner wanted to travel, but he changed his mind after watching Deliverance.
Menomonie Wisconsin?
Thorough inspection for rust is now MANDATORY for this car.
Having an early picture of it and some history is kind of cool, but being used in that way is hardly out of the ordinary.
People bought cars and used them back then, not like today. Corvettes would have snow tires installed and driven year round.
It’s great to enjoy a car in as many ways as possible. Heck, I took my ’70 Vette Convertible on many camping trips back in the late 80’s. Thanks goodness it had the “dreaded” luggage rack.
I take my unrestored Model A rumble-seat coupe to car shows and put on a sign: “This is how Henry meant the car to be used. Feel free to touch.” Lots of seniors get in the rumble seat and have their picture taken.
This car already had leaf springs. Maybe the Dealer “replaced” the leaf springs.
My friend is doing a restoration on a 69 Charger R/T with the 383 auto. Keeping it OEM has greater value and will turn heads more.