Normally, I pass on reviewing muscle cars. Over the years there has been so much written about them that there’s really not much else that I can add. And, I’m old enough to have owned a few when they were just cheap, late-model used cars – fun but no great shakes. Today, however, I’m going to review a 1971 Dodge Charger R/T, primarily because it seems to be complete and original and it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. Then again, it has some noteworthy “issues” that explain its price. OK, here we go, located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida is this third-gen Charger and it’s available, here on craigslist for $6,900.
Dodge assembled 46K redesigned, “fuselage” bodied Chargers in ’71 but only 3,100 wore R/T trim so this is a rather rare car and is certainly collectible. Other Charger trims included the SE, 500, Super Bee (moved over from the Coronet line), and the plain ole basic Charger. This would be the last year for the R/T edition as it was replaced in ’72 with the Charger Rallye.
Rust! You bet, this thing looks like a Liberian tanker with all of the rust streaming down its sides. Sadly, most of it stems from Mopar’s obsession with slapping a vinyl top on so many of their cars from this era – they are absolute rust incubators! My estimate is that the quarters and the Dutchman panel will need to be replaced – and perhaps, the entire roof panel. Additionally, the fender legs and lower quarters – just behind the doors will need attention. Note the leading edge of the driver’s side fender – it looks like the Iron Giant took a bite out of it. The seller sums it up with, “Complete car. Very rusty either parts car doner or major restoration project but can be restored. Solid floors and frame“.
Power, when running, amounts to 370 gross HP emanating from a 440 CI V8, and in this case, channeling the “go” via a TorqueFlite automatic transmission. The engine appears to be intact and I noticed two changes, one being a swap to a Holley carburetor and the other being the badly corroded, chrome-plated valve covers. Based on the odometer, it has been at least once around.
The black vinyl bucket seat interior is rather ratty but not quite to the same extent as the exterior. Actually, the real issues are split upholstery and dash pad, along with dirt and oxidization. Judging from the condition of the backseat, my thought is that the roof may in fact have been breached as the top of the backrest shows indications of rust particles.
I’m torn over this one. As stated earlier, it’s a valuable car and seems to be complete and original – so much so that it’s a tough call to relegate it to parts car status. Then again, repairing all of the metalwork is going to be a bear. What’s your thought, restorable or parts car candidate?
Another one of those that you know will take a HUGE infusion of time and money to restore, and to what avail-will the intrinsic value be worth the net result? I for one really appreciate the “Coke bottle” Chargers but I don’t know if it’d be worth it even with help from a SuperLotto winning ticket (as in more than $100,000, not the usual $3.12 I occasionally score..).
To what avail? Because once they’re gone, they’re gone. With that attitude the only cars of this era that will be left in another 50 years are ultra-high dollar investment pedigree cars and a few low mileage survivors that are in climate controlled storage. Who cares about preserving them so our kids and grandkids have interesting cars to drive and see outside of a museum, right?
Yes once they’re gone, they’re forever gone.
And the ones to rebuild a project like this will be those with the wherewithal to buy it and rebuild it, which leaves more than a few of us having to balance what we can do as opposed to what we would like to do but can’t for whatever reason, which is my point.
This R/T stands for Rough ‘n’ Tumbler
Or “Rust Through”
The car hobby is all about money anymore. I wonder when it was that car enthusiasts deviated from having fun with an old car, to making it all about the almighty $$$. If dollar signs pop into someone’s eyes when that look at an old car, then they’re in the wrong hobby.
How long did it stay under water?
Go through the mechanicals drive as is, wait for the offers to roll in!
You missed a couple steps-
1. Stop by your local military base and somehow wangle an unused NBC suit,
then
2. Update your tetanus shots,
and finally
3. Go through the mechanicals so you can the. safely drive it..
Strip it down to the bare frame and soak it in a acid bath to clean out of paint, vinyl top residue and oxidation. Then see what’s left and go from there.
It’s not a Super Bee, but has the Air Grabber hood on it. It fits have buckets and not that ugly buddy seat option some had in this and other year’s. The center console is a nice touch too.
No, it is not a Super Bee, it is a R/T and that is worth MORE than a Super Bee…and it does NOT have a Ramcharger hood (Air Grabber was what Plymouth called it). It has the standard hood insert, not the functional Ramcharger hood.
Never thought about that. That’s a good selling point.
Take it to a local Cars n Coffee
They’d probably want you to get out of it before they hand you the cup. 🤣
It seems to be sitting awfully low in the front. Methinks the torsion mounts may have collapsed. Common on rust bucket Chryslers like this one. Nevada has a good point: I need a tetanus shot just looking at it.
I’m so so tempted.
(I already have a 71 Superbee and 71 SE)
Needs an LS motor
I’m surprised the super boring LS comment took so long to get posted.
I was just being a troll to see what responses I would get. Anyone who would put an LS i it should see jail time
Hush child. Lol
What’s a Dutchman Panel? I agree with the comment above about once they’re gone, they’re gone but anyone with the money to restore this will be shuttering it away when done too. I’m very suspect of the frame and floors being OK.
Panel between the trunk lid and rear window.
JO
…and I thought I knew everything.
The roof my be a sunroof panel missing. I am looking closely to the top and I see a cut out in the roof. They made sunroof in these cars. My family has a 70 Challenger RT with a sunroof from the factory. If the seller took a picture of the fender and it reads N51 that’s a sunroof. It’s a shame what happened to this Charger. Also the front looks like the torsion bars broke. Or there is rust on the frame. It’s a very good price to look at this. A good parts car for a project Charger RT or Clone. Good luck. 🇺🇸🐻
Definitely a clone candidate. That body is too far gone. I wonder where it came from originally.
Captain! we have hit a rust berg and are sinking by the head. Just looking at this lets anyone familiar with these know what lurks below the waterline. If your good a rust free Satellite or Coronet 4 door could help but there is much to do that isn’t seen. Frame rails, torsion mounts and the windshield area are no fun. This doomed liner will need it all. If this is your love car, close your eyes and jump otherwise a long expensive divorce may be in your future.
No more rust needed , it’s done! I’m surprised it’s still rolling and not split in half. Cheap enough for a parts car I guess?
Only one buyer for this one…”Grave Yard Cars.” And he’d probably put it on eBay with the option of them doing the body work.
Stop with the GYC stuff already. There’s plenty of competent restoration shops all over the country, they just don’t have a television show.
This brings back some memories, in 1975 I was home on leave , and after getting in a wreck and totally my Chevelle SS, I went looking for a new car. At a local Mopar dealer I spotted a 1973 Charger SE 383. Line Green with the White Vinyl Landau top and louvered side rear windows. Great car and only 1900 miles on it ( a person in his 60’s bought it, he didn’t realize the power. So brought it back and traded it after a year ) But perfect for a 20 year old lol. I paid $3,200 dollars for the car, but the Insurace, due to my age , the sports car, and financing was over $3800.00 a year. I had the car until 2 years later. As I was getting out of the military, I was hit in the rear, buckling the frame. That’s OK cause my next car was a 69 GTO Judge lol
1973 Chargers had the 400 not the 383.
Patrick, you beat me to it. I was gonna say the exact same thing! 👍
I am on the fence here. Not as popular as the late 60s models but after watching Graveyard Carz for many years, I know that all the body panels are available. No clear comment as to whether it is numbers matching but it is complete. This would suit somebody with excellent welding skills and lots of time. The alternative would be to farm out the basic bodywork and get it back in primer ready to paint and reassemble. It would be stunning restored in this original color but it would have to be a “thing of the heart” and not for resale because the post 70 MOPARs do not fetch the same money as the earlier stuff.
I’m seriously getting tired of this group! All you guys do anymore is sit and think of ways to insult a car and it’s amazing how much brain power you waste finding ways to insult a vehicle that might really interest other people. I myself find this car very interesting and I would definitely consider restoring it if I were younger and had the help and finances to do so. Like the stupid comments about how to destroy it rather than just leaving it go, pass it by and let the guys who appreciate this car enjoy talking about it. Your turning into a bunch of sheep. One person insults something and you feel the need to fit in. It’s stupid. Be your own person. Sheep! Your all getting to know each other personally by name and your afraid to go against something your “leader” said. I don’t need to be a part of people like you! I like the car and like I said I would fix it up.
This guy gets it.. what you describe is the same basic reason why people here can’t handle my commentary. For a website dedicated to finding, discussing and preserving/selling old neglected cars, there sure are a lot of haters here who would just as soon let 3/4s of the cars that get posted here dissolve back into the earth. Most of these people like the “cool” cars only because it fits in with the whole popularity contest mantra they live their lives with. If it’s not popular at car shows, they aren’t interested. It’s really sad, and very detrimental to the hobby all around. Then these same people endlessly complain about young kids and their rice/tuner cars and wonder why they aren’t getting more into true classics.
For all that people hate on me for my commentary and calling people out, they do far more long term damage to the classic car hobby than anyone. Now just watch the hate roll in for this post just the same. It’s more predictable than sunrises and sunsets.
It’s because not a single one of these lookie-lous could afford to even think about buying one of these cars, let alone restoring one. They just love to profess their uninformed, innacurate, (lack of) knowledge.
Couldn’t have said it better myself.