The 1969 Charger pictured above, which is now for sale on eBay in Loveland, Ohio, looks for all the world like a mildly modified stocker, with a breathed-upon 318 and a slight rake to complement its Torq-Thrust wheels. Nope. It has a Mopar Performance Gen III Hemi and a slightly overwhelming list of upgrades. The only catch? The current owner hasn’t quite taken it past the finish line, saying that “there are about 9 more [things that] should be done before the restart setup.” It’s an almost-done project, but as anyone knows, those last few feet can take a lot of time. That isn’t scaring off buyers; the high bid with almost a week left on the auction is already $35,600.

The list of mechanical upgrades is so vast that I recommend that you check out the eBay listing for a full rundown: The owner/builder has certainly done their homework. The engine is a Mopar Performance 6.1 Hemi, which produces 425 horsepower. It’s backed up by an “A41 Electronic Overdrive Transmission,” which is another way of saying (perhaps to not offend the Mopar faithful) that it’s a General Motors 4L60E modified to fit a Mopar bell housing pattern. The cooling system has been upgraded, the suspension has been upgraded, the fuel system has been upgraded, the brakes have been upgraded; it’s an extensive project that seems so close to being complete that it makes you wonder why the seller is unloading it; the ad mentions that they “don’t want to do it and just have the car sit.”

Even the interior has seen some major upgrades, including 2006 Charger seats, a Dakota Digital dash cluster, a new steering wheel, and many new trim pieces. It even has Classic Auto Air.

The Charger looks as if it’s in good, solid shape, but the seller mentions that it has new floor pans, torque boxes, and “subframe ties.” The rust couldn’t have been too extensive, as the rocker panels look solid and fairly original. It also sounds like the front K-Member has been powder coated and associated suspension components replaced (including torsion bars and QA1 upper control arms).

What I like best about this Charger is, as I mentioned above, it looks so stock, like it might have in 1970 or so. It’s even green, as a late-1960s car should be (but is it F5 or F8 Green?). Like it or not, this is a big part of the future of the car hobby, a car with the looks of a classic Charger and the drivetrain of a much newer model. If you aren’t afraid of tuning a fuel-injected V8, this could be the coolest car in your town, wherever you live.