I usually pick more oddball cars to write about, but this 1971 Dodge Charger R/T was too good to pass up. It was sent in by a Barn Finds reader who found it here on eBay in Fenton, Missouri. This is a buy-it-now listing with an asking price of $79,895, but there is an option to make an offer.
The Charger was redesigned for 1971, thus being the first year of the third generation. I’m sure it’s an unpopular opinion, but I think the third generation Chargers are the best looking of all Charger generations. There were just 3,118 Dodge Charger R/Ts built in 1971 and only 98 of those had the 440 Six-Pack engine with automatic transmission. If this is the combination you’ve been looking for, this is a rare opportunity. Be sure to check out the high-resolution photos here.
I know I lack the color perception skills that many others have, but this Charger that looks light blue to me is actually Gunmetal Gray. The seller says the sidestripe delete and vinyl top delete are rare, and I’d believe it. Goodyear Polyglas tires are wrapped around magnum wheels. The body, paint, and chrome all look excellent. As a former museum car, you’d expect everything to be near perfect, and that appears to be so.
That near perfect theme continues inside. The interior is finished in black and charcoal. The contrast between the two colors is more subtle than I’d expect. The high-back bucket seats are split by a full-length center console. The seating surfaces appear unused, the carpet looks like it’s never seen shoed feet, and all surfaces show as new.
A description upgrade from near perfect to perfect may be in order under the hood. A 440 cubic-inch V8 powers this behemoth. That six-pack configuration was in it’s final year in 1971 and was built in limited numbers. A console-shifted 3-speed Torqueflite automatic transmission sends power to the rear wheels. For your driving pleasure, this Charger is equipped with power steering and power brakes, and for your view while driving pleasure, it’s equipped with an Air Grabber hood.
Any car with a pedigree as strong as this one is a rare find. Throw in some uncommon features and overall low production numbers and you have a needle in a haystack kind of find here. I’m not the target audience for this car, but for those who are, I’ll expect they’ll be taking a long look and maybe making a quick decision.
And gone already!
Nice car. Smart seller, they included lots of pictures and included documentation. No wonder it sold quickly. Buying the best possible car you can afford or find has always been the smart move. I hope the new owner likes it.
Steve R
The listing Ended, was not Sold.
It a well optioned, desirable car. It’s not a surprise it sold quickly.
It interesting to read the bitter responses from the peanut gallery when someone decides to pay more than those perennially sitting on the sidelines decide something is worth.
Steve R
Isn’t that the truth Steve.
Hard to run into the street when ya got no shoes. Again, the cigar smoking class is not mentioned, is that by choice?
The color is GA4 Light Gunmetal/Winchester Grey. Favorite color for 1971 Mopars. I even have a small page dedicated to this color.
I love that color! About 15 years ago, we visited the Automotive Museum here in Sacramento. My dad, a WWII veteran, got a kick out of posing next to a vintage military Jeep. They also had Gov. Jerry Brown’s 1970’s official car: a Plymouth Satellite, light blue 4 door.
@Chris M, I am not only poorly endowed, but just plain poor. What I do own though, is a working set of gears between my ears and I have noticed that many of the most expensive things in life have too much speculative value assigned to them, mostly for bragging rights. Seems pretty primitive to me. Maybe the buyers of such things should get a nice new grass skirt and put a fresh bone in their nose. That says “look at me” too.
But…with a name like that, how can you be poor?
Another perceptive and informative write up. I can’t disagree with Mr. Collier’s opinion of the styling but for me the ’68-’70s were such a landmark design that the later cars had an enormously tough act to follow. The ’71-up Mopar intermediates should be appreciated for the masterful job the stylists did to introduce a wholly new and fresh look.
As iconic as the first Road Runners are the second gen cars are much more purposeful and aggressive looking. One can only hope that enough people are interested in preserving and DRIVING these Mopars so the rest of us can enjoy them as well.
Can’t remember seeing a vinyl roof delete one. I used to really like vinyl roofs. But time does not seem kind to vinyl roof cars, as they tend to rust through more quickly. Maybe the delete crowd was the innovative group.
There is no “vinyl top delete” as it was an OPTION, not standard equipment, lol.
Beautiful car! Looks much better and more purposeful without the sidestripes and vinyl top. Had almost forgotten what a nice one looks like after seeing all the rusted out POS ones for sale here.
Beautiful car, but no staggered rear shocks on a 440 6 pack?
Lot of money for a car w/o a/c or p/w or cruise or tach.
Odd Chrysler never offered a hood tach. AMC did.
Imagine if it was a hemi with 4 speed what it would be worth.
On the other hand, if the only rich buyers, say at an auction, were in their 20’s or even 30’s, would they even be interested in such a TWO door car “equipped” as such?
I say no.
Ken, the phrase is “could NOT care less”.
Its a Muscle car ,I wouldn’t expect A/C or power windows. all the power you need is under the hood !
I have zero recollection of these things ever existing. Exactly what were those vents in the doors supposed to be venting?
They look like shark gills, as they are commonly referred to…however, they are actually meant to appear as vents for cooling the massive powerplant. Totally for decoration only, non-functional, but cool looking as hell. There are black decals in the indents to make it appear as an opening.
Doesn’t say it sold on eBay just that the auction ended.
Not envy, but lament. Though, there will always be exceptions, I feel most people in this situation do less then they could/should, for others. What ever happened to the idea that with great privilege, comes great responsibility? Remember, WWJD? Many who are able to buy things like this on a whim (like someone who is going to get 10 million + after the hypocrisy of all he professed yet did not live up to), say that is also important to them, yet their actions do not live up to the words they speak. Economics should have a moral compass to show the way, right now that compass is spinning out of control, so many just ignore it.
Ken, you are a funny guy.
You arbitrarily assign a standard for how you think wealthy people should should behave, invoke WWJD out of thin air to add a phony sense of righteousness. Then call them hypocrites for not living up to your arbitrary rules which are unknown to them.
From what I’ve experienced, the biggest hypocrites are those that play the morality card and attempt to sit in judgement of others character based on superficial metrics such as the size of their bank account or the car they choose to purchase.
Steve R
Economics does have a compass…”build a better mousetrap and the world will beat a path to your door”.
The advent of the Internet provided a great new opportunity, and many have taken advantage of it. That said…
It’s not difficult to see the irony in the current events here in America, where the only social activity permitted is streamed online via Facebook and Twitter, by people wearing clothes they bought on Amazon, while complaining about the wealth EARNED by those who created Amazon, Facebook, Google, Twitter, and Microsoft.
If you think that they’re too rich, stop buying their products. If you WANT to be rich, create something that everyone who hates them will use, then revel in how the irony has made you rich.
Nearly 80 grand? Wow. That kinda money deserves a hemi or at least an A/C.
I bought a new 1971 Charger, very basic, 318 cu. in. power steering, A M radio. I had a choice of this color, or gold, which I took. Very first new car. Loved it.
You have no idea who bought it or why (and thats his business) For all you know the buyer may be a successful self made guy (not born wealthy, since you hate them) ) that had one when he was a poor kid and wants to relive his youth . He may keep it in a garage , but he may take it out for cruises and car shows as well. Its a near 50 year old car , and should be well taken care of.
I think he’d be happier living in the 1950s Soviet Union …
You all think you would be in orbit if you lived in the film Elysium, but remember how most of the population lived? We are heading down a slippery slope. Many here should re watch that film. Or in a pinch, watch Freejack.
He’s a Bernie Sanders supporter so you’re entirely accurate with that comment. Socialist pig.
Making assumptions on a buyer based on how much he paid for a car is worse
Nice car but 80K is just ridiculous in my opinion!!