Dodge would be the last of the major automakers to get into the pony car game. The Challenger debuted in 1970, more than five years after the Mustang began to set the market on fire. The Challenger itself would run for five model years and see more than 165,000 units leave the factory. This ’73 Challenger, from the waning days of the muscle car era, has a bad motor which is not correct for the year and nameplate. This Dodge has been stored indoors for 12 years in Bradenton, Florida and it’s available here on Facebook Marketplace for $12,000.
When we initially found this Mopar, the seller only had one photo in their ad, but they’ve since added more photos. From what we can see, the body looks to be straight and solid. The paint is dusty but looks like it might clean up nicely. A look underneath doesn’t show any signs of corrosion or damage.
Challengers would change little from year-to-year except for the size of their bumpers. For 1973, they had to withstand a 5-mph impact, some big rubber bushings were added to the front. That model year would see production of about 28,000 cars, all with V8 engines. As the desire for big motors in small cars cooled off, the largest powerplant you could get in a Challenger in 1973 was a 360 V8. This car does not have that engine, but a 400 instead, likely from a Mopar of a similar vintage. It has a broken piston, which explains why the car is laid up.
We’re told this Challenger has 73,000 miles on the clock with a TorqueFlite automatic, which may or may not be okay. There’s not much in the way of information provided, but they do provide enough photos to determine that it needs restoration. The black on black color combination is a good one and will look fantastic once the car is back in top condition. The tires are also shot, so once you get the car running again, you’d need to add a new set. This could be a very desirable car if we knew more about the car’s history and condition.
I’d be willing to bet that this car started life with a 318 c.i. engine. It has the flat hood (with incorrect scoops), non- original front buckets, damage to the one piece fiberglass front end cap, and a disaster of an interior; a destroyed engine and a questionable transmission. With no available clear views of floor/trunk pans, a personal inspection would be needed. At a $12K ask, (IMO) this car is
overpriced
And you’d be right because it doesn’t have a rear sway bar that would have been standard on a Rallye model with a 340 and Challengers never had a 400 in any model year. He’ll be getting crazy money if he gets 6k, it’s really just a decent shell at best.
Perhaps a decent shell that can serve as the basis for a hot rod project involving a Hellcat Redeye engine?
Junk. No one wants a 73 Challenger.
wrong.
I will admit that the ’73 challenger is not as cool as other model years, but with a little TLC, that cat could be up and running and restored to look like the 12k that the seller wants. until then, the seller can keep hoping to get someone to buy that car for $12,000.
I’ll admit that I think they’re just as cool.
Nobody wants a 73 Challenger in this pathetic condition.
I do.
The most interesting thing about this Challenger is the vintage speed equipment, the shifter, valve covers, intake and Tachometer are all early to mid-70’s pieces. They would welcome addition to anyone building a day 2 Road Runner or 70-71 Challenger or Cuda/Barracuda. Beyond that it’s hard to see paying $12,000 for a roller 73 Challenger that needs at a minimum an engine and interior. For that price you might as well hold out for a more desirable year.
Steve R
Agreed. Too bad this couldn’t be had for a few hundred bucks like it once was worth, that way a person could put it back together on the cheap and over time work on it in the evenings and weekends in his garage, like in the good ol’ days. I miss the hobby of my youth. It’s okay though, the undertaker will soon be closing the lid on my story. (wonder if in future years, I will go up in value? Will I be worth rebuilding?)
Wow Bill. Lighten up on the foreboding commentary huh? Heres to great health and longevity! And of course great old cars!
People in Hell want ice water too.
Uh, they were the first in the pony car game, lest you forgot the 64 Barracuda that preceded the mustang in 64.
Wow Bill. Lighten up on the foreboding commentary huh? Heres to great health and longevity! And of course great old cars!