I haven’t been following the old (original) Dodge Challenger all that closely, especially since Dodge has put up such a media blitz on the endless variations that possess the current Challenger. And since the current Challenger (and every copy produced since 2015) is supposed to be based on the ’71 version, I thought it time to take a look at an original, one like this ’71 base model hardtop. It is located in Vancouver, Washington and available here on eBay for a current bid of $9,800, reserve not yet met.
This Challenger is a genuine barn find having been parked in one since 1992. The current owner pulled it from its slumber, cleaned it up and has made it presentable for sale. It’s nice to find an original example that is just a plain old Challenger and not an R/T or otherwise hopped up version. The muscle car variants are great but the volume sellers, the basic models like this example, are what rung Dodge’s register. And while the base models are the Challengers that most people owned, they are the versions seldomly found and least likely to be preserved. The seller advises that this Challenger has been repainted in a light yellow hue whereas, originally, it was finished in white. The body is in pretty solid condition other than the passenger side fender and door which looks like it had a Kowalski style side-swipe with something out in the desert.
The underside appears to be pretty solid, rust being the bain of this vintage E-body if exposed to the wrong climatic conditions or not stored properly. There is minimal surface rust but nothing approaching rot-through or parts getting ready to dislodge themselves. It also appears that somewhere in the past, a previous owner converted the exhaust system on this Dodge to a dual set-up.
Under the hood is Chrysler’s tried-and-true 318 CI, “LA” series V8 engine, good for 230 gross HP. The seller has not tried to start this engine or perform any mechanical work so there’s no telling what shape it’s in. He does advise that it will need mechanical work. A Chrysler TorqueFlite three-speed automatic transmission is in place as would be expected. While this mechanical arrangement is far from a barn-burner, it is still a satisfying combination. I had a high-school friend who had a Barracuda version of this Challenger, the same powertrain and modified exhaust system, and it was a fun ride.
The interior of this Challenger is not without its difficulties. It has the typical problems of ripped seats, a split dash pad, worn/dirty carpeting, etc. The gear selector lever would seem to be missing parts too. The seller states that the stereo and speakers are missing but there is no word regarding the instrumentation and whether it is functioning or not.
While there is so much attention placed on the modern Challenger, and there is a passing resemblance to this original version, they are far from the same car. There’s nothing quite like the original version of anything! There has been quite a bit of bidding activity on this Challenger; I wonder what potential new owner’s intentions could be for this old Dodge? I would imagine that some are thinking about resto-modding or hot-rod upgrades. I would be inclined to return this Challenger to its former newness and just enjoy it as is. How about you, what’s your favor?
A great car to be a hands-on learning tool. You can see a family working around this car to restore it, learning from good friends and knowledgeable relatives-kids pull up YouTube, folks dig out a Haynes or Clymer manual, everyone gets their hands in it and everyone gets a ride when it’s done with the cumulative effort as a family group..
Just a simple, clean machine being brought back to life and being a part of someone’s good times again without sinking the bank account into something everyone is afraid to drive lest it gets dinged on their watch.
Could be Kowalski’s car. Sharp observers will note, the Challenger did not hit the dozers, it was a staged Camaro. Great investment, as cars like this will always be popular.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOb2BqiGZGA
That was a 440 and a 70 model. They had six cars from Chrysler for the filming, one with a 383 auto used as a camera and tow car. Great flick indeed. Newman was made at 20th Century Fox for the way they cut it, made it into a standard drive in chase movie, he thought the story was much deeper. The English cut of the movie is a little better, the bluray has both cuts.
LOTS of moisture, everything seems to have a film of water on it, the car seems to be dripping. Rust on the gauge faces and turn signal stalk indicate moisture intrusion, which is not good for electrical components. Otherwise, a good solid start for a restoration, but the price is escalating for a base model car, w/ mechanical condition in question. The reserve hasn’t been met yet with three days to go on the auction.
It is dripping, it’s really rainy right now. Background is all wet in pics too.
Am I the only one that thinks the new ones look like someone took an original like this, put it in a crusher for 5 seconds and pulled it back out? Or like a 5 year old tried to draw an original one with a thick magic marker. I feel like I’m in the Twilight Zone. They look too tall, narrow and the sides are flat as a board. Give me this all day- beautifully styled; wide and low looking with curved sides. I could care less if a new one could blow it’s doors off, at least I wouldn’t be driving something designed by a little kid.
I can just imagine you reaction to the styling of the modern camaro & the rear of the upcoming vette. This car looks much better than those, as is! lol
The Camaro and Mustang are great retro interpretations of their predecessors. Low, wide, aggressive looking with classic retro nods to the past.
Yep, the Camaro looks like a puffy loaf of bread with a sunken roof. Challenger was the only one that came close to looking like they missed a few years from a ’73 R/T like I once had. Mustang’s at least tried to stay true. But the Camaro, other than an egg crate grill & the louver indentations forward of the rear tire remeniscent of the ’69s, are the only Camaro reminder thereof. I’m Chevy for cars & Ford for trucks, but I’ll take a Mustang over a Camaro any day. I would not have said that back in the mid 70’s at all!
The Mustang is the only car that has morphed into its own great looking, highly updated, version. The latest GT350 is amazing to see in person.
A lot of that has to do with Federal safety standards that require high door height for side impact protection and pedestrian safety mandates such as a certain distance between the engine and the hood.
That’s why the new one looks rather chunky by comparison. Not defending it. Just saying that’s why.
I’d argue on the door heights. The newest Camry, for example has much deeper door glass and a lower belt line than previously. The new Challenger, while being a sales success, just leaves me discontented whenever I look at one. I try to like them, but their proportions are more Subaru circa 1975!
Also, that latest Camaro has a rear roofline that is so early 70s Ford or AMC. The rake, the scallop around the quarter window and length of the roof to the rear wheel center line is so not GM. More like a Javelin, Mustang or Galaxie XL.
Don,t forget the big wheels with low profile tires and electronics .That are all the time giving people troubles and expensive repairs. Plus the aluminium engine parts that crack and warp and expensive to replace. I would much rather have this one in the shape it is in then a brand new one . You start working on it. You know what has to be done.Fix it and drive it. Plus it wouldn,t cost you $50,000 or more. I agree with you totally.
Agree on the wheels. I cant stand looking at all wheel and tow motor tread. Nothing & I mean NOTHING looks sexier on the back of a muscle car, than a 15×10 deep dish Cragar S/S on an L-60, raised letter BF Goodrich T/A Radial or Firestone! NOTHING!
You nailed it right on the head Eric
Agree & Ditto for the new Retro Camaro.
Now imagine this blasted clean, NOS Plum crazy paint, new F. I. crate Hemi and Tremec 6, aftermarket brakes and some chassis work with reasonable wheels and wide rubber… Off to buy my lottery tickets!
EL5 is a 99 paint code. Butterscotch. Fairly rare. Not high demand color that I know of.
The car was not white originally.
Here is a link to one for sale that is Butterscotch.
https://www.volocars.com/auto-sales/vehicles/15438/1971-dodge-challenger-se
You would be much better just buying this one DONE… these rusty old barn finds.. you will never… ever get your money out of them..unless they are something rare.. which this one is NOT…It needs completely disassembled.. the engine will need rebuilt..if you think you are gonna drain the gas tank and clean the carb and drive this… GO AHEAD and MAKE MY DAY.. Tranny will need rebuilt..everything will need redone… you cant do it for NO 38 grand DONE like the one for sale… If you the wife to stay mad at your for 3 years while you are spending ridiculous money on this… Its your Marriage
I was gonna buy one in 1972 in Garretsville,Ohio at Polichina Chrysler. They told me it wasn,t for sale. The car was gonna be the owners daughter. It was dark brown with automatic –318 motor. The olny thing I didn,t care for was the steering wheel.The rest I liked. I ,d rather have this one.Then the new ones they put out. Why have a big souped up motor .When you can,nt get good gas for it to run on. Besides the speed limit. The 318 was a really good tough motor and dependable. Anytime –anyone who has worked on cars,Will know the wires will corrode. This would be a great car to work onand learn as you go. No ELECTRONIC JUNK to mess with. Give me this one anyday–then a new one. I hope the price is reasonable and not way over priced.
To me the “new” challengers look like some kind of self parody. Puffy and pretentious as far as I am concerned. Hellcat, hellfat, whatever. The original Cuda and Challenger will always be the real deal for me.
The new ones are a lot cheaper though. Some of us don’t have the money just to lay down $50,000 in cash or more on one of these.
The challenger in white has always been a dream since Vanishing Point came out. When deciding to get into cars that’s what I hoped for but here in New York they were rotted wrecks when in my price range. I love them but I’ve fallen more for the GLH’s and other turbo Chrysler from the 80’s and 90’s. Considering the 318 engine only has 30 ponies on my GTCruiser turbo. I’m happy enough with the toys I have filling my barn.
I’ve had both a Barracuda with 318 auto and GLH-T manual. The GLH was about 100 times more fun to drive and the Barracuda was an ill handling tank by comparison.
Your turbo has MORE HP, the 230 HP from the 318 is the old rating, prob about 150HP net. More pull, but less high end twist HP.
Im kind of off topic, i like this car. As far as the new Challenger, it looks good, mustsng camaro look good, I think personally that Gm made the new Gto to look like 💩 because of the years that the Gto was way more stylish than the chevelle 68-72, justmy humble opinion, the chevelle was awesome with the ss gauges the 4 speed and the cowl induction flapper right smack in your Tv screen, i really enjoy that too
Eric, well done. Call the Seller and find out what he/she wants for the car. If they are not on another Planet go ahead with it and take your time. You will be in it North of $20,000.00 when done and have a car not designed by a juvenile with impossible ergonomics. You will have a neat car with impossible ergonomics. Do it anyway.
yep.. far north…
Send to me the “new” remakes are a far cry from the old ones ! They massy all run better. But dollar for dollar you can make an old one keep up with the new ones if you want .
Nice pay day for the flippers…..over 10 grand and reserve not met….gots to figure they paid a lot less for it…….below $5000 I’d figure…….
This was listed last week locally for “best offer” and was on eBay less than a week later, quick flip. Wonder if they transferred the title or not… Seller has sold two things in the last year and items are “private”, always a red flag, and one of the sells the guy got a negative for selling a bad car.
This may be a base car ,but the hood is not original to the car – it should have a flat hood with no scoops
Not true my friend offended a one in high school. As a matter of fact when he sold it 20 years later, the guy cleaned it up and it made front cover of Popular Hot rod magazine
Yes, not a stock hood on a base Challenger at all.