A 1969 Dodge Charger. Right, one of about 85K built and we’ve probably covered every existing one on Barn Finds. They are popular and some of the worst examples that I have covered still ring up bodacious prices. This one appears to have had a General Lee conversion planned but it doesn’t seem to have gotten too far. The seller suggests, “These are getting extremely hard to find in restorable condition and this one is a perfect candidate“. I would counter that they’re easy to find, just never at a reasonable price. As for this example’s situation adaptability as a “perfect candidate”, that remains to be seen. Let’s give it the benefit of the doubt and look her over. This Charger is located in Nauvoo, Alabama and is available, here on eBay for a current bid of $15,000 with twenty-six bids tendered so far.

It is stated that the Dodge’s original finish was white and topped with a black vinyl roof covering. I’m not sure about white, the underside of the hood reveals what looks like code Y2 or yellow; regardless, faded orange was not its original hue. And that “01” rendering looks as if it was applied with white roll-on shoe polish. The remaining C-pillar stainless trim is evidence of the vinyl roof. The seller mentions that he decoded the trim tag to determine this car’s born-with threads but there is no included image of it in the listing. Let’s face it, the body is pretty rough, there are plenty of dents, scrapes, and surface rust though the rust appears to be mostly that, just surface corrosion. The seller adds, “Very straight body and shouldn’t need anything but patch panels on rear quarters” and a windshield.

The real fun starts underneath. The seller admits, “it will require floor and trunk pans, rear valance, partial frame repair on the last 8 in under truck pan“. It’s looking shaky!

Decoding the VIN indicates that this Charger rolled off of the Hamtramck (Detroit) assembly line with a G-code engine which I interpret as a 290 gross HP, 383 CI (2 Bbl carburetor equipped) V8. The more potent version of the 383 would have carried an H-code. Of course, I always ask our informed readership to comment on such matters in the event that I have made a misinterpretation.  Regardless, this one’s a roller, no 383, no TorqueFlite automatic transmission, no nuffin’!

The interior is hard to describe, or maybe what I really mean is hard to describe what happened to it. It was a bucket seat/center console equipped model but the console is gone and the buckets look more like yuckets. The instrument panel is curious too, it shows as if it got a bit too close to a fire but it’s not melted, just singed. I suppose that all of the mayhem is the result of weather exposure (remember that missing windshield matter!).

So, what’s your assessment, a perfect candidate for restoration? I’d say it’s definitely a viable candidate, it’s rough, ragged and it’s going to be expensive but with the potential financial upside that a ’69 Charger can attain, the next owner can knock themselves out. I think I’d forget the General Lee personality however, we have enough of those wouldn’t you agree?