The Dodge Charger caught my eye, but the more I look at it, the more I question if it’s even worth saving. It’s been sitting outside most of it’s life and there appears to be serious corrosion on every panel. At least, the seller is realistic in their description when they mention that just about everything needs attention. The engine is gone, but it wasn’t that great to begin with (318). To top it all off, the title is missing. Even with all these issues, the car has garnered 40 bids here on eBay where the auction ends in a few hours!
There might be some parts here worth saving, but is there enough here to justify the cost? I can’t help but wonder if TV could be the cause of some of the irrational thinking here. There are many programs that make restorations like this look like child’s play. Anyone who has attempted to rescue a car knows that there is a lot of time and expense that goes into a project like this. That doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be done, but I just hope that the bidders are being realistic here. What do you think?
Truth be known, a lot of Chargers ended up like this. I had a ’70, 383, 4 speed that I beat the heck out of. There was a time when there was a clear line as to when a car became a “parts car”. Now, I’m not so sure. I can’t believe someone would try and restore something like this. And don’t poo-poo the 318. It was one of Chrysler’s best motors.
My 318 comment had more to do with value than anything.
If it doesn’t go any higher, you could make out on the parts.
Well, if you scrap it, it’s gone for good…gone for good…sad to see it got this far, was it sellers ego that kept it from going to a good home? Who knows…..if it were my car and I knew it would get fixed I’d give it away, just to make sure it was still around for many years. The 318 is a great engine, easy to get parts for, sure, it’s not a big 440, but like the 289 you can’t beat the reliability and it has plenty of power. There are lots of big block engines stuffed into cars on eBay.
That charger you stole last year, hear is your chance to re badge it with a legit vin
If you think you should restore it you will be upside-down quickly. Some parts will be used and theV.I.N.will go to a new home…..
I got a big laugh out of the farmer’s wife saying that they wanted to see the taillights of this Charger heading out the lane.. My question what taillights? I think I would make this one into a white lightning runner.
Barrett-Jackson Disease strikes again! They’ve been watching too much Discovery Channel.
May I just say that I like BAT. But I love this site. When you guys say Barnfind you really mean barnfind (most of the time). But what I like best are the knowledgeable, measured comments.
As I write this there is an hour left on bidding. It’s up to $1,480.00 with 40 bids. Not so much invested that the new owner will go broke buying it. Just enough invested that he might realize it’s not worth the gas and trouble to collect it once he sobers up.
Hi Cargirl, in the beginning, it really was vehicles “found in a barn”, but seems to have morphed into a collection of classics for sale, that may or may not have spent any time in a barn, but the selection is as varied as the writers imagination. There’s been everything from Russian space shuttles to battleships to who knows what. Personally, I like the trucks, but you never know what will show up. Tell your girl friend car buddies about the site. If you ( they) are looking for something specific, it probably has been shown.
I shudder to think how many of these cars got crushed over the years. For sure, many were in much better condition than this one. But you work with what you have. Hopefully someone will put the effort in eventually.
American Pickers – didn’t they start it ?
It has sold for under $2k so I figure it is worth it given that anything can be restored back to original if one has the time, space, and money. Two replacement quarters for this car are under $2k delivered. New carpets are about $250.00. A new motor is $7k to $10k, and transmission is roughly $1k to $5k. Floor pans are cheap and so are trunk pans, and new rockers.
The car may look bad, but it was a good deal IMHO.
Bob
can it be saved? yes.
should it be saved..probably not.
It will cost just as much as a high valued car to do so (properly), yet the value will never really be there in the end…you can still find complete original big block chargers in need of resto for 18-25k..you’d need this much ( and years of searching) just to re-aquire the missing parts from 30-50 different sources and cars.
There is certainly a ton of parts value there, far exceeding the ending bid price…one may die so many others may live..I fear holds true on this one.
I have restored a 69 r/t charger in a much better state but even there i had to replace the rear frame, rear fenders, trunk etc. not to mention the nightmare on the electricity on these cars. If ur bot into enjoying the working itself but look only for the result at the end dont buy it. It will consumate u.
As Spock once said, “The needs of the many outway the needs of the one”.
What you guys aren’t factoring in are the people that want this car more for its sentimental value than its actual dollar value. How many kids grew up watching Dukes of Hazard and now The Fast and The Furious movies. Those that can afford to drive their dream car get the EBay’s and the Barrett-Jackson cars, but the rest of us find some rotted hulk we can afford and attempt to fix it ourselves over years or decades.
I’m on over 10 years with my AMX and I know it’s not worth the money I’m putting in it, but it’s my baby. I would do the same if I had a Charger or Challenger.
Sold for 1553.00
I totally agree with AMX Brian….some people buy and restore cars for the bottom $$$…..if its all about the money your totally missing the point of the hobby…ive been building a 62 catalina man steering man brakes man trans heater radio and reverse light delete bench seat car…..found it in a tree row where it took 10 hrs to cut it out and get it on the trailer to get her home….she was sad no dr windows floors full of leaves no hood factory tri power was gone nothing for the brakes past the backing plates sank so far couldn’t open the drs….point bein is she was in sad shape been sittin in the same spot in a salvage yard since 71…..why i wish i knew….but after seeing one in the early 90s ( keep in mind i was born in 82)…as a “correct” ss/s car i wanted one an passed up at least 2 dozen….why…they wasnt the “right” car…..so after getting it in 09 its almost done bout all thats left is interior and building the engine…..i have WAY more time and $$$ in it then it will ever be worth…altho idc its about the car not the price of what its worth or what i have in it….its about saving something that someone for some reason gave up on and being able to bring a rusty hulk back to glory with your own two hands is amazing ya takes alot of time and alot of money but if your doing it for the love of the car and the sentimentalness of the car then your doing it for the correct reason…..and by the way my cat was prob in worse shape then this charger so with a lot of time n money it can be saved like any other one if you want it bad enough…..and i very young also loved the dukes and yes if i bought it id save it not strip it but with a big middle finger to all the dodge guys cuz it would 100% guaranteed to be a general when i was done with it lol sorry guys….