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Daily Driver! 1969 Dodge Charger R/T SE 440

Drive a black second-generation Charger and you’re in good company. They’ve appeared in several movies including the steely bad-guy-driven ’68 trying to exterminate Steve McQueen in Bullitt. This 1969 Dodge Charger R/T SE in Santa Ana, California looks ready to rumble, though it’s along way from winning any car show trophies except “Most DNA contributions.” The listing here on eBay has accumulated bids above $16,000 without meeting the seller’s reserve. It doesn’t just run; it’s had a boatload of parts replaced, and needs mostly cosmetic bits. But first, twist the key and enjoy it as-is!

The 440 cid (7.2L) V8 looks mostly original, though perhaps not original to this car. This feature car at hemmings.com wears a different air cleaner and engine color. As one might expect, this SE’s well-equipped with power brakes, power steering, and air conditioning. A genuine 440 Magnum from 1969 makes 375 HP and enough torque to get by with the sturdy 727 three-speed automatic, though aspiring movie villains and heroes will want a four speed.

The SE package added wood grain on the dash, leather seats (obscured by department-store sheep covers), additional chrome trim, and hood-mounted turn signal indicators (not visible on this car). This Dodge also has power windows. Factory option confirmation will be difficult as this Charger’s lost its fender tag and broadcast sheet. File that under “Things that make you say Hmm.” Reproduction SE parts are available.

Only the ’69 features these wide tail lights (compared to the round ’68 units) without the full chrome grill surround of the ’70. That combination make the ’69 my favorite, and I’ve heard the same sentiment from others. What would you do with this running, driving Charger?

Comments

  1. Avatar Moparman Member

    The pictures must pre-date the installation of the new parts listed in the ebay ad; as stated a LOT of cosmetic/rust repair needed, but it is in better shape than some recent listings. GLWTS! :-)

    Like 3
  2. Avatar JBP

    These Mopars are rustbuckets.. $16,300 reserve not met.. if u slam the door, rear window pups out, or if u pass a truck, with Driver window open…

    i would love a Charger, but not so rusty.. for this wreck, u can buy 4 to 5 other nice Projects, as Long it isnt Mopars..

    what a shame, for that poor Thing…

    Like 2
  3. Avatar JBP

    ***, havent seen it has California plates. so u dont understand it is so bad…
    when u first start cutting and open it up, there is 3 time the rust u see here..
    Chok Chok Chok….

    Like 4
    • Avatar ken tilly UK Member

      No need for the bad language JBP, after all, this is a gentleman’s’ website. Check the rules. “No profanity”

      Like 9
    • Avatar Don Diego

      Besides being spelling-deprived, are you into lots of 4-letter words, or just being a J-E-R-K

      Like 6
      • Avatar JBP

        im Danish, speaking 4 languages. u wana swap,so i learn u something..

        Like 7
    • Avatar Fiete T.

      I always laugh because English is my wife’s 4th language- my older daughter speaks 5 because she had to take Spanish in 9th & 10th grade…loves learning languages, started as an infant and now she has a full USAF ride to a great university partially due to that alone. Also landed her a choice of a car and my buddy’s dealerships hooked her up with a yellow GT350.

      Like 1
  4. Avatar David Mika Member

    Ooh, we have a potty mouth!

    Like 12
    • Avatar Ike Onick

      His ex-wife must have run off with the plumber in F-Bomb’s Charger.

      Like 8
    • Avatar OIL SLICK

      family site dude

      Like 13
  5. Avatar Jaydawg73

    Happy Birthday, General Lee.

    Like 3
  6. Avatar Will Fox

    I think JBP needs to go bye-bye…..

    Like 14
    • Avatar JBP

      dear Will. im paying for using this site, you should try the same. that would be good style, so we can take it from there…

      Like 3
      • Avatar ken tilly UK Member

        Just because you are paying to use the site doesn’t give you the right to use foul language.

        Like 13
  7. Avatar Dave

    If it’s not too badly rusted where you can’t see it then if the price is right it’s a good starting point.
    IIRC, Mopar painted hipo engines red and standards blue-green.
    The biggest problem is the inability to determine the car’s pedigree. Paying top buck for something this car will never have is foolish.
    I had a 69 R/T in 1976. Pittsburgh’s potholes and PennDOT’s road salt did it in.

    Like 3
  8. Avatar JBP

    lets be honest. im Living of Welding up rusty cars, before you are halfway, you could puke over it.. better pay a bit more, and end up with a much better car, nomatter brand.. i think there is too many Sofa mechanics inhere, there cant hear other peoples opinion..be real, this car is a rust bucket, Nothing more, Nothing less….and i have never seen a rusty car i couldnt repair..
    Btw. try reed the rules, for this site……

    Like 5
  9. Avatar David Mika Member

    Well some of us are shop owners, like auto repair shops.
    I actually miss my sofa.
    Happy Halloween!

    Like 8
  10. Avatar JBP

    welcome in club.. ist now 22,55 time to go home call it for today..
    also happy Halloween from here…

    Like 1
  11. Avatar ken tilly UK Member

    Just because you are paying to use the site doesn’t give you the right to use foul language.

    Like 5
  12. Avatar ken tilly UK Member

    No need for the bad language JBP, after all, this is a gentleman’s’ website. Check the rules. “No profanity”

    Like 2
  13. Avatar Dean

    Something IS rotten in Denmark, after all

    Like 6
    • Avatar JBP

      this is kindergarden Level, have fun with it.. over and out.

      Like 5
  14. Avatar PaulG

    People really don’t want to stoop to your level, but I’m certain you could handle yourself in a much more mature level than, like you stated “Kindergarten”
    I believe it might behoove you to re-read the posting rules before you chastise others…and post profanity

    Like 8
  15. Avatar Chuck

    I think JBP should go back to school to learn how to spell and put together a proper sentence, hopefully without his grade school foul mouth.

    Like 6
  16. Avatar Stevieg

    I could be wrong, but it appears that JBP is in Europe. That being said, English might not be his first language. So he may not realize what word he said is a swear word.
    I was a little shocked to see it too, but we are grownups & we have probably all said it at one time or another.
    Let’s stop giving the guy a hard time & try to either over look it or educate him as to where he went wrong.
    I hope you all are having a better Halloween than we are in Milwaukee. We had a blizzard today, the snowiest Halloween in Milwaukee history. I heard reports of 7 inches, although it didn’t seem that bad to me.

    Like 9
    • Avatar Steve R

      I only speak one language, but I know key swear words in about half a dozen. It’s not something he should be banned for, but is inappropriate for this particular website. I like the somewhat civilized nature of this site, there are far too many stunted adolescents elsewhere, I’d like to keep it that way.

      Steve R

      Like 3
  17. Avatar Jesse Mortensen Staff

    Sorry we didn’t catch that earlier!

    Like 1
  18. Avatar pugsy

    He may swear but he’s dead on. Whoever wins the bid will be sorry if they go thru with it and pony up the dough.
    The whole bottom of the car needs to be replaced. Around all the windows, etc. This is a total piece of stuff.

    Like 4
  19. Avatar Del

    No fender tag ?

    Way to rusty. If this is sold at these bid levels , there is going to be a pile of regret

    Like 2
  20. Avatar John Wilburn

    Before complaining about the condition or the asking price, just know it could be much worse.

    It’s a shame there’s no hell for this guy to burn in: https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/news/1970-dodge-charger-destroyed-by-man-sick-of-lowballers-—-he-showed-them/ar-AAJDsbp?ocid=spartanntp

    Like 1
    • Avatar Dave

      At the end of the day, who’s out $4200? The phrase that fits is “cutting off one’s nose to spite your own face”, or perhaps describing it as a Pyrrhic victory?

      Like 3
    • Avatar Mike

      I just watched the Charger demolition video, had to find it on youtube because for some reason the link from the MSN page didn’t go anywhere, but here’s is my take-away from the vid:

      In this particular situation, it’s difficult for me to direct my sorrow towards the car. Granted, a ’70 Charger was lost, but my compassion is for the poor boy that considers himself such a victim of life’s circumstances and is so exceptionally bitter that he feels the need to film this and curse repeatedly and prove to the world that it’s everybody else’s fault how his life turned out. Can you imagine anyone trying to conduct any kind of a business deal with this person? A person’s constitution is in place long before you come into contact with them, and if someone hasn’t learned even basic communication skills by their early teen years it becomes much more difficult as you get older. By this man’s age these skills would be nearly impossible to develop, with all the water that has gone over his dam with how many times he feels other people have done him wrong all of his life. As far as class goes, with most adults it is an open or closed issue, you either have it or you don’t, not a lot of middle ground there. To me, the best part of the non-cuss language in the video comes down to one word… HARVARD! And if it was so important for Mr. Gagliardi to document his “I’ll show you” event on a video, why not get somebody who doesn’t have Parkinsons to film it? Yep, a real top tier Social Media sensation. In all seriousness, this poor guy’s mental state is a worse wreck than the Charger. and the sorrow should be directed towards his family and himself.

      Like 2
      • Avatar Mike

        Oh yeah, here’s a working link to the Charger crushing video mentioned above:

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkQ7r9YbVIY

        Like 1
      • Avatar pugsy

        This guy has no issues. He had a lot of fun and he can afford it. He is a real car guy fed up with all the whiners calling him.
        Kudos for doing it.

        Like 0
  21. Avatar John Wilburn

    I don’t care what that guy’s out of. The culture is out of yet another fine car that could still be making our roads a happier place.

    Like 0
  22. Avatar pugsy

    I love what he did. I hope all the moron low ballers watched.

    Like 1
    • Avatar Steve R

      The moron was the guy having it crushed. If a car doesn’t sell in six months it’s because it wasn’t advertised well, it’s overpriced or the seller was difficult to deal with. It’s obvious at first glance that two out of three were present. He paid $4,200, if he was willing to make a smaller profit rather than trying to more than double his money on a POS, it likely would have sold. This, man child, created his own problems, it wasn’t due to moronic low ballers.

      Steve R

      Like 7
      • Avatar Del

        Seems the car was already parted out before the Theatre Event

        Like 2
  23. Avatar Jay

    That is great crush one to make the remaining ones worth more. The less there are the more there worth

    Like 0
  24. Avatar John Wilburn

    I love this Charger. Yeah, I’d fix those seats, but that’s about it. First class touring car.

    Like 1
  25. Avatar Del

    No. this thing is another rust bucket with no future

    Like 1
  26. Avatar John Wilburn

    What was considered a “rust bucket” a generation ago is now considered a good reasonably solid find. The standards have changed as the cars have become rarer. I think of the cars I saw in junkyards as a kid and realize that the sweat equity of fixing rust is all relative to when we are talking about. I don’t turn my nose up at cars that need trunks, quarters, or rockers anymore. Even frame rust has become a straight forward fix these days. With all the quality sheet metal aftermarket, I say why not!

    Like 2
    • Avatar pugsy

      Why not?

      Cost is way too high for the amount of materials and labor req’d on this one. Then again, a fool and his money…..or is that a rich guy and his money…..

      Like 1
      • Avatar John Wilburn

        Some people buy cars. Some people build them. Both read Barn Finds.

        Like 4
  27. Avatar Mike

    Very desirable car well worth saving and that won’t be a problem with the proper tools and skills now that AMD is stamping out any parts this car may need. JBP get over yourself.

    Like 3
  28. Avatar leiniedude Member

    Ended:Nov 03, 2019 , 6:36PM
    Current bid:
    US $20,470.00 [ 42 bids ]
    Reserve not met

    Like 0
  29. Avatar Moparnut

    Man, this car is a deal. I saw it in person at a car cruise and its got all new suspension soft part on it. I don’t I have seen a running driving Dodge Charger R/T for this price lately. The floors and frame rails are mint.

    Like 2

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