Having originally been purchased at Chicago’s Grand Spaulding Dodge in ’72, today’s find, a 1973 Dodge Charger SE has been cooling its heels in Los Angeles for the last 45 years. Purchased new by the seller’s father, this old Charger is up for sale in the exact spot where it was last parked, so many years ago. It’s available today here on craigslist for $20,000, OBO. Thanks to T.J. for this discovery!
Between 1963 and 1977, Grand Spaulding Dodge was thee place to go, back in the day, for a hot rod Dodge, be it a stocker or a dealership-modified mash-up. Unfortunately, by 1973, the guiding light for all of that go-fast folderol was fading thanks to surcharged insurance premiums, strangling EPA regulations, and by the end of the year, an oil embargo with unheard-of, high fuel prices. Standard, non-modified cars like this ’73 Charger reflected the times – 1970 was only three years prior, but boy, how things changed in that short period of time.
Dodge’s third-gen Charger (’71-’74) was an undoubtedly popular car but lacked the visceral appeal (and power) of the second-gen (’68-’70) which has ascended, today, into unobtanium territory. Our subject car, being a model SE, puts it at the top of the heap, ahead of the sporty Rallye and the basement-dwelling ordinary old Charger. The most obvious SE styling cue was the louvered quarter windows, usually accompanied by a vinyl roof covering. Other than the dust blanket, this Charger is pretty fair looking – there’s no sign of rust or crash damage and the Magnum 500 wheels are always a welcomed inclusion. One inconsistency is the exterior description which states this Charger is wearing a black vinyl top, obviously, it’s not.
Inconsistency number two is under the hood. The seller tells us that a 260 net HP, 400 CI “Magnum” engine is occupying the engine room but the engine’s air cleaner decal disagrees, proclaiming that the top option 280 net HP 440 CI V8 is where the action is. So which one? If we knew the VIN, we could solve the mystery. Regardless, this one doesn’t sound like a runner and 45 untouched years in the garage could be a problem. The mileage is stated as a reasonable 59K miles, but there’s no claim to that recording.
Inconsistency number three resides inside where we’re told a black interior was the original order but like the vinyl top, it too is white. From what can be spied, the bucket seat/center console environment, other than the dust and dirt blanket, appears to be in a promising condition. With the exception of the added under dash “Sun” tach, an early ’70s favorite, this Charger’s innards are pretty original appearing.
OK, so this one’s not an asphalt melter but it’s a nicely equipped, desirable model, that may not take a lot to get a second chance at some road work. I hedge on that thought due to the length of its dormancy – 45 (really 46 now) years is a long time to sit idle. Price? What do you think, priced right, or not quite?
This is a rather poor presentation of a marginally desirable Mopar.
The fact that it hasn’t been on the road since 1977 tells you that you’ll spend probably 4 or 5 grand upgrading everything…brakes, carb, pumps, hoses, wires, tires, fluids and possibly suspension. That’s IF the motor isn’t seized after sitting for 45 years.
Clearly, the seller hasn’t put any effort in maintaining the car, and his modus operandi continues with little effort in presenting it for sale. But he does want concours money, according to Hagerty.
The seller’s obviously not too attached to this,or a car guy.
If this were my Dad’s old car,& garage kept,I’d want to clean it
up & get it going again,& maybe even keep it.
Heck,if If this were in a neighbor’s garage,I’d probably do
the work for free.
Say the name “Mr. Norm” today, not much reaction, but this guy was the Carroll Shelby of Mopars. He, like Shelby, thought outside the box, so much so, like Ford, Chrysler listened to him. This is a pretty lackluster example of what came out of Grand Ave. in the Windy City. He was the 1st to stuff a 440 in a Dart, and had such success, that Chrysler offered it a year later. You wanted a wheelstander, Mr. Norm was the guy to see. Union Grove, Route 30, the Michigan tracks, all featured Mr. Norms cars. He was a humble man, and often credited his employees rather than himself, but was quite a guy.
This car? Well, as mentioned, by ’73, the steam ran out of muscle cars and Spaulding Dodge was “reduced” to selling cars like this. A mere shred of the once famous Mr. Norm.
Extremely rare with the 440 for this year and even rarer for the SE, he would have gotten a lot more on Ebay, will be gone before the day is out, great deal for the condition as it sits!
Looks like my old mini-trail stuffed in the corner.
I remember Grand Spaulding Dodge, Nickey (backwards k) chevrolet in Chicago. Any other Chicago dealers then that specialized in hot cars?
There were plenty. Hemmings put together an accurate list of retail dealers, not just Chicago, willing to give you what you wanted, however, every gas station, always had the “old man” and could set you up for a lot less after hours. It was quite a time, we never thought it would end,,
https://www.hemmings.com/stories/2020/10/01/the-10-greatest-dealer-special-muscle-car-shops-of-all-time
The colors and engine are properly listed in the CL ad.
$20K is reasonable compared to a rusted 1968-70 roller that fetches $50K these days.
No, I’m not losing my mind. The listing has been updated, actually eleven hours ago, since I wrote the post early yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon.
JO
Speaking as a member of the ”Generals” camp, this is one super nice appearing car at a very reasonable price. But as the Ford and Doge guys would probably say: what do I know.
way to high priced, it may be in good condition but not really the year that is desirable, as with the 2 gen Charger’s are , and no proof of the engine being a 440,and here’s something that people need to remember just because something is rare does not mean that it is worth any value, value come with supply and demand and there’s to many of these around and not enough people who want them,, good luck to the seller
A little more money up front for this project versus the “$7500 pigs” on FB Market, probably cheaper in the long run. Nice options too. Would be a looker cleaned up and detailed with a set of proper re-pop, wide oval tires. Too pricey for a flip. Biggest bummer is it isn’t a ‘72 with the hideaway lights. Most of these ended up as some kind of low rent General Lee wannabes.
Hard to tell if it’s a diamond in the rough or if every part of the car was allowed to slowly disintegrate, seize up and be covered in dirt during its Rip Van Winkle slumber. The Dodge has an attractive style and leans more toward personal luxury car than hot rod in SE trim. The car has a larger engine, bucket seats and floor mounted automatic transmission so might be fun. Mopars of that vintage handled decently having driven 1971 and 1972 Plymouth Fury III driver’s education cars, my mom’s 1973 Fury Gran Coupe and my own 1977 Gran Fury. The intermediate Dodge would be a little smaller and more agile. This car is a gamble but there is probably a collector who has the garage space, money and skill to clean up the sleeping Charger and get it running in it’d 50th year.
Living in the northeast most of my life these were rusted to nothing by their tenth birthday. I mostly gravitate to gms and ford’s but a nicely untrusted hight optioned car as this is to me the gold standard. This fellow will make a fantastic piece of any collection.