With its long roofline, formal Halo vinyl top, and factory crank sunroof, this 1973 Dodge Charger SE represents the luxury-leaning side of Mopar’s early-‘70s lineup. Finished in green over a matching green interior, this well-documented survivor is highly optioned and well-loved. It’s listed here on craigslist and located in Homewood, Illinois.
Built at the Lynch Road Assembly Plant, this is a real “WP29” Special Edition model, featuring a rare manually operated sunroof, one of just 2,494 SEs equipped with it in 1973. The car has lived much of its life in Pennsylvania and was well cared for by two long-term owners, even making summer trips to Maine. It still carries a ton of original documentation, including the window sticker, build sheet, sales receipts, and even the original deposit check.
Power comes from a 318 V8, which has been treated to a tasteful and reversible performance upgrade. It now breathes through a period-correct Edelbrock four-barrel setup on a port-matched LD4B intake with factory-style mechanical kickdown. It also benefits from a full dual exhaust system by Accurate Exhaust, electronic ignition upgrades, and a correct-style chrome air cleaner. Power is sent through an upgraded A727 automatic to a 2.71 Sure-Grip rear.
Cosmetically, the car shows its age in the best possible way. The original paint has some touch-ups and small flaws, but the body is clean, straight, and 99.99% rust-free. Even the original smell lingers inside, and the seller means that in a good way. A full extra roll of NOS vinyl for the roof and interior is included, along with NOS grille inserts, taillight lenses, and trim pieces. It’s the kind of parts hoard most restorers would envy.
The green interior is nicely preserved with bucket seats, a console with Slap-Stik shifter, and factory options like power windows, rear defrost, and tachometer (though the tach is currently inop). The car sits on 14×7 Magnum 500s with BFG Radial T/As, and even includes a matching spare on a painted steel wheel.
With its rare options, survivor status, and Mopar charm, this Charger stands out in a crowd—and has the paperwork and parts stash to back it up.
Would you preserve this patina-rich SE, or give it a full factory-correct restoration?
If you’re looking for a Charger and this body style is to your liking (it is mine), this appears to be a great deal. Drive it home then fix the little rust spot(s), fix the tach, change the high beam headlights back to the original clear, install an modernized replica sound if you must (the new exhaust is music of its own), and enjoy it for what it is-something YOU like to drive.
Good find, Elizabeth.
Comfortable cruiser. 😌
That is a really nice looking 50+ year old car at a fairly reasonable price. With that 2.71 rear end, it must get great mileage on the highway.
This seems like a very good deal for a very nice car with a very good add by the seller. I like the add saying that any offers with the word teen in it isn’t buying it!!
Not a true SE. In 73 and 74, an SE Charger had a 3-narrow window insert in each side of the roof. Somebody stuck SE emblems on the roof sides of a relatively highly optioned (with rare sunroof) Charger. But SE emblems don’t make it an SE.
The “P” in the model number indicates Premium. I think that makes this an SE.
You are INCORRECT all day long King Al!!! The Halo-Roof with the 4 Roll down Windows is a NO-COST Option if You order an SE. (CODE A58 on the window sticker and on the build sheet under “combination groups”!) I have spoken to the seller who is very nice and very knowledgeable. He has the paperwork to back it up AND The original dealer sales order catalog the specifically illustrates in picture and in text, that you can order it this way!!! You may not have known that, but it’s Ironclad True! KNOW THE FACTS!!!
1973 SE could be ordered with the halo type full vinyl top and no opera windows.
Must be free?
King Al, I was thinking the same thing, but I saw the dash, which is correct for the SE…I dunno
Yes, it has a rare sunroof but since when is the definition of “loaded” a base engine 318 and no a/c?
Not everything is measured in cubic inches. When everything was an option, low volume features like power windows and sunroof meant that a car like this was loaded. This is a delightful car that must have been a joy to the previous owners over the past 50 years.
nice car. i would leave it as is. no a/c is real downer considering it’s an S/E model
Agree about the lack of a/c being a downer. But it wasn’t unusual in those days. My dad bought a new 74 Charger SE Brougham and purposely did not want a/c. The first vehicle he owned with a/c was a new Taurus LX wagon in 86, and that was only because a/c was standard on the LX.
You’re correct, plus Air conditioning was an expensive option as well.
Agree about the lack of a/c being a downer. But it wasn’t unusual in those days. My dad bought a new 74 Charger SE Brougham and purposely did not want a/c. The first vehicle he owned with a/c was a new Taurus LX wagon in 86, and that was only because a/c was standard on the LX.
One of my best friends owned a 1973 Dodge Charger SE. Gunmetal Grey metallic, black vinyl roof with SE quarter window louvers, 440-4v engine, 727 auto transmission, black bucket seats with center console, and lastly, that manual sunroof. Very nice car, although not very quick even with that big block.
I too owned a 73 Charger SE 1978. White vinyl on top, black paint below. Rear side windows had 3 vertical slats. 400/4bbl. column shifter. Had really nice B/W hounds tooth seats. No ac. Very often a white ceramic (resistor?) would go out and the car would not start. Replace and reconnect that item and it was back on the road again. It was not a hot rod but was quicker than my dad’s Aspen (LOL).
You are INCORRECT all day long King Al!!! The Halo-Roof with the 4 Roll down Windows is a NO-COST Option if You order an SE. (CODE A58 on the window sticker and on the build sheet under “combination groups”!) Also, WP29 in the VIN indicates “Premium” hence “SE”! I have spoken to the seller who is very nice and very knowledgeable. He has the paperwork to back it up AND The original dealer sales order catalog that specifically illustrates in picture and in text, that you could have ordered it this way!!! You may not have known that, but it’s Ironclad True! KNOW THE FACTS!!!
Here’s a link to the catalog . . .
https://autocatalogarchive.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Dodge-Charger-1973-USA.pdf
Thanks for the info tune up TV! Great info to know. The paperwork cannot lie. All i can say is i grew up and lived in metro Detroit in those years 73 – 74 and despite many Chargers on the road there, due in no small part to many working at Chrysler locally, I never saw one. But, that doesn’t mean it could not be created through judicious ordering at at dealer.
As they say in the MoPar World: “Never say Never to Mother MoPar!” Lol!
We learn something new everyday!
This is one cool ride! I’ve seen it in the flesh. Not junky, Not perfect, Not Overpriced! What it is though, is an Honest representation of a 3rd gen Charger that shows the longterm ownership upkeep was very caring and the recent upgrades very appealing. It tells a story all on its own. And yeah, the interior does smell like its from 1973 in a “good way”!
Cheers! -TV