When you stop to consider this 1970 Dodge Charger 500 Special Edition, you can’t help but think that the original owner was trying to achieve the perfect combination of performance and comfort. They sat down and ticked many excellent boxes on the Order Form, and all of these original items remain intact today. It is a structurally solid classic guaranteed to turn head and receive favorable comments when restored. If you feel up to the challenge, you will find the Charger located in Monument, Colorado, and listed for sale here on Craigslist. The owner has set the sale price for the Charger at $30,000. I have to say a big thank you to Barn Finder Gunter K for spotting the Charger for us.

The original owner commenced his quest for perfection by ordering the Charger in the highly desirable shade of Plum Crazy. This was a popular color in 1970, and any Mopar product from this era that wears it today will attract the attention of enthusiasts. It looks tired now, but returning it to its former glory will not be as difficult as with some Chargers we’ve seen in the past here at Barn Finds. The trunk pan is pretty rusty, but a replacement is included. The story is similar with the right rear quarter panel, but once again, there’s a shiny replacement in the box that goes with the car. These are the only rust issues that the owner identifies, and apart from surface corrosion, there is nothing in evidence. The external trim is in reasonable order, although I’m not sold on the luggage rack. The grille features hidden headlights, and the doors work perfectly. The original owner also ticked the box next to tinted glass, and this appears to be flawless.

When it comes to the subject of luxury touches, the original owner was willing to splash the cash inside the Charger. The good news is that not only are all of the original components intact, but it appears that they all work. The list includes air conditioning, power windows, cruise control, a remote driver’s mirror, and the factory AM radio/8-track player. Finding a Charger from this era with that combination is a rarity, but seeing one where it is all intact makes this car pretty special.

The buyer won’t need to spend much on the Charger’s interior because not only is it well equipped, but its condition is close to flawless. The owner uses the word “beautiful” in his description, and it’s hard to argue with him on that point. I can spot a crack in the wheel rim, but that seems to be about it. There is no wear or damage on any of the upholstered surfaces, the carpet and headliner are in as-new condition, while the dash, pad, console, and faux woodgrain trim are just as impressive. You can’t help but think that spending an extended period inside this Charger would not rate as a hardship.

When we turn our attention to this Charger’s mechanical specifications, the news remains pretty positive. The original owner ordered the car with a 383ci V8, a 3-speed TorqueFlite transmission, and power brakes. That 383 would have been producing 335hp when it was new, which is enough to send the Charger galloping through the ¼ mile in a neat 15 seconds. More potent combinations were available in 1970, but this car would have trodden a great middle-ground in the range. The engine bay doesn’t present as well as we might have hoped, but if I were a gambling man, I’d wager that the buyer will probably pull the motor to return everything to a factory-fresh state. However, it seems that they won’t have to lay a spanner on the drivetrain itself. The owner says that the Charger runs and drives extremely well and that it is ready to be driven and enjoyed.

This 1970 Charger 500 SE would have been a spectacular car when it was new, and I can’t see why it couldn’t be once again. Apart from its structurally sound state, its greatest strength rests in its combination of optional equipment. It isn’t as fully loaded as it could’ve been, but it offers an excellent compromise between performance and comfort. It is also refreshing to find that all of its original equipment is intact because that is a rarity after 51-years. Now that you have seen what this Charger offers, are you tempted to contact the seller so that you can park it in your workshop?