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Field Find: 1971 Dodge Charger

When it debuted in 1966, the Charger was Dodge’s initiative to build an upscale, upsized “pony car” on Chrysler’s B-body mid-size platform. AMC had done something similar a year earlier with the Classic-based Marlin. But that automobile was positioned as a “personal car,’ an emerging market niche that the Charger would also try to tap into. This 1971 Charger is from the car’s third generation and features fastback styling shared with the Plymouth Road Runner and Sebring. The car has been sitting for ages in a field or woods with some other relics and will need a complete restoration. This challenging project is in North Augusta, South Carolina, and available here on eBay where a single bid of $2,500 has been cast (the reserve is north of that). Thanks for another 1970s Mopar tip, Larry D!

With the 1971 redesign, Dodge divided the Charger and Coronet model lines. The Coronet nameplate now only applied to sedans and wagons, while the Charger was a coupe and 2-door hardtop. The styling between the two groups was quite different. Five versions of the Charger were offered in ’71: the base model, Charger SE, Charger Super Bee, Charger 500, and Charger R/T. In today’s collector world, demand for the automobile seems to work in reserve order with the R/T being the most desirable (and thus valuable). The seller’s car seems to be the base Charger.

The seller took this Charger in on a trade, so the background on the car is limited. It has the 383 cubic-inch “Hi-Perf” V8 which was in its last year in 1971, to be replaced by a 400 a year later thanks to the detuning that had begun to lower exhaust emissions. We don’t know if the motor, partially disassembled as quite rusty, is original to the car and the same might be said about the column-shifted 727 automatic transmission. We’re told this Dodge at one time had factory air conditioning.

Wearing blue paint, this Charger looks to have once had a vinyl top, but that’s no longer there. The sheet metal appears to run between good to fair and – while the seller says the frame is “perfect” – there are some holes in the floorboards. The interior, which may be complete, is going to require an extreme makeover. The VIN is still intact, but the cowl tag has either rusted off or was removed. As a restoration, this will be an expensive and time-consuming project. Is this one you’d undertake?

Comments

  1. Avatar Chasbro

    Boat anchor engine option. Yet another steaming pile of mopar. Just kidding, not!

    Like 2
    • Avatar Gary

      Typical idiot, don’t know your ass from a hole in the ground

      Like 4
  2. Avatar Calipag

    Man I’m interested!…………… In the cars in the background!!!

    NOT this one for sure!

    Like 4
  3. Avatar ThunderRob

    Someone popped a 73/4 Front end on it,pity..prefer the 70/1.

    Like 1
    • Avatar Chris

      Not too expensive of repops available for 71 grille. About $500/pr.
      This one isn’t going to need that for awhile though! Only about $40k to spend here first!

      Like 0
    • Avatar Steven Dempsey

      That looks like the 71 marker light in the left front fender. I think that was 71 only and the next year the used some that looked like they came from JC Whitney.

      Like 0
  4. Avatar Chasbro

    Junkyard ghost. Seriously it looks like someone just dragged it out of the scrap yard and is looking for a sucker to pay them for it. How bad do you have to want a charger to buy something like that??

    Like 0
  5. Avatar PRA4SNW

    Ended at $3,050, Reserve Not Met.
    it’s amazing what one year can do to the value of junky Chargers.

    Like 0

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