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Magnum Mopar: 1971 Dodge Charger R/T

In ’71, Dodge introduced the third generation of the Charger. The redesign was more rounded and is often described as the fuselage body. With new regulations and emission standards starting to take affect, ’71 ended up being the last year you could get a 426 Hemi in a Charger. This one isn’t equipped with the Hemi sadly, but the 440 Magnum. The seller claims it has been parked for the past 28 years, has just 60k miles and is completely original. You can take a look at this R/T for yourself here on eBay in Southlake, Texas with a current bid of $20k.

If you are a fan of the fuselage look, ’71 is the year to get. It offered the redesigned looks with respectable performance. In ’72, Dodge not only dropped the Hemi but the 440 Six Pack as well, leaving the 440 Magnum as the top engine. Between the move to net horsepower ratings and the drop in compression, the Magnum went from being rated at 370 to 280 horsepower. While I’d rather have the 440 Six Pack or a Hemi, I could definitely live with the Magnum! The only problem is, the original engine is currently seized and the seller hasn’t been able to get it to break free. They soaked the cylinders with oil and it moved a little, but won’t turn any further. That could be a good sign that you will be able to at least pull the engine apart to rebuild it.

While it definitely needs work, this Mopar actually looks to be quite solid. I actually don’t see any rust in the usual places. The interior looks dirty, but in decent shape. With a good cleaning, you should be able to use it as is, just make sure to moisturize and treat the vinyl before putting too many miles on them. After have a closer look at it, I think it could actually be a 60k mile car. It isn’t in perfect shape, but it also doesn’t show the kind of wear of a 160k mile car.

If you can get the pistons freed from the block, you should be able to rebuild the engine and get this Mopar back on the road. It won’t necessarily be easy, but while you are in there, you could do a few upgrades and make this a rocket! So if you could pick any year of Charger, would you go for this ’71?

Comments

  1. Avatar John M.

    To me, the 1971 through 1974 Chargers are a great alternative to the 1968 through 1970 Chargers with the value of the latter blasting through the roof quicker than The General Lee crashing through a barn at a buck twenty.

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    • Avatar DrinkinGasoline

      They wished the ‘General Lee’ could break 120 into, or even through a barn….Hollywood…pfft. Sadly, these were introduced at the tail end of the muscle car era and garner much less respect than their predecessors. One look at the pic of the engine compartment tells the sad tale of the restraints placed upon it. Live and let live.

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      • Avatar Tom Member

        man, upon a good look at the paint and body this looks like it has been in every Dukes of Hazzard chase scene done! especially through corn fields and the like!! I have a had a lot of cars and seen exponentially more…..parked for 28 years……how in the heck do you do all of that damage, chips and scratches, dings and dents all over the entire car ????……I guess the owner just beat the hell out of it. Don’t get it.

        Like 0
  2. Avatar DrinkinGasoline

    My first thought was…..Joe Dirt. In an earlier kinda version. Kinda like saying a ‘Cuda is the same as a Barracuda….Ummmm, No.

    Like 0
    • Avatar DrinkinGasoline

      Disclaimer: All responses are solely opinions and are not meant to describe the sponsor’s opinions but, the respondent’s views.
      Barn Finds assumes no responsibility for the aforementioned opinions.

      Like 0
    • Avatar John B

      Is that David Spade? Look at that dainty little girly hand…never done a days work in his life!

      Like 0
  3. Avatar Kris

    May not be the engine that’s siezed, may be that giant V-twin AC compressor. Take the belts off it and then try turning the crank.

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    • Avatar Tom Member

      Shhhhhhhhh!

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    • Avatar John D.

      The A/C belts looked loose to me.

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  4. Avatar RoughDiamond

    Looks about as original as one could hope to find. Should be interesting to see where the bidding goes on this ’71 Charger R/T.

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    • Avatar MeepMeep

      Best wishes to the Satellite wearing rouge and lipstick :)

      Like 0
  5. Avatar Steve R

    The way he’s cropped the pictures of the right front fender and right corner of the bumper makes it seem like there might be some damage he’s trying to hide, see picture #9.

    It’s a nice looking car that you don’t see often.

    Steve R

    Like 0
    • Avatar MeepMeep

      Quote: “It’s a nice looking car that you don’t see often.”

      There’s a reason for that…..It’s a Satellite. :(

      Like 0
  6. Avatar Tony S

    Very informative article, thank you. ’68 is my favorite year Charger but I’m not really a mopar guy – with one exception – the ’70 Super Bee with the ramcharger hood. Love that one.

    Like 0
    • Avatar Tony S

      An R/T in a barn.

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      • Avatar Tom Member

        Now that’s a car I want to know more about!

        Like 0
  7. Avatar Steven Bell

    This is what happens when you don’t drive your mopar….. rebuild that big ol 440 get out there and mash that pedal!

    Like 0
  8. Avatar Jason

    Lovely looking car. This is the best looking version I’ve seen of the “fuselage” body Dodge Charger. :)

    Like 0
  9. Avatar lawrence

    Yep he’s been a collector of mopars for a while….the current bid price seems indicative – MeepMeep – of their worth – loose mouth or not….

    Like 0
  10. Avatar JimmyJ

    How much more would it be worth if it was a cuda instead of a charger? I’m guessing 3-4x

    Like 0
  11. Avatar Gunner

    Great body style. I am a fan of the previous generation, bit these are still very cool. There were in fact a few very rare 440-6 pack cars in 72 that made it out of Detroit before they slammed the lid. Here is an article on one. My money says there were more, but have been lost to history.

    https://www.google.com/amp/www.hotrod.com/articles/check-out-the-1972-plymouth-road-runner-gtx-4406-chrysler-swore-never-existed/amp/

    Like 0
    • Avatar Mike F.

      My friend had a ’72 440 Magnum that he bought new. He ordered the 440-6 pack, but the dealer knew they were being discontinued and didn’t want to mess with it. So they sat on the order for a few weeks, until the discontinuance came, then called my friend and told him they were no longer available. He was pissed! …but kept that 440 Magnum until the day he died.

      Like 0
  12. Avatar John B

    I can’t speak for everybody, but I would much rather buy a car with a lousy motor and good body than the other way around! I would certainly view this one in the former classification…gets my nature rising just looking at it.

    Like 0
  13. Avatar sparkster

    Gunner , that was a great read for us Mopar guys on the 72′ GTX 440-6. Amazing infomation

    Like 0
  14. Avatar Gary

    Hello I am looking for triumph 2000/2500 rear wings if any one knows of any please ?

    Like 0
  15. Avatar Bradley Clark

    Is it me, or do the sagging A/C belts looks photo
    shopped ?

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    • Avatar Eric

      It does. There’s something strange about that photo.

      Like 0
  16. Avatar erikj

    Paul -resin head, where are you? Paul was a workmate in the late 80s ish. He had a really cool 71 r/t that was a 440/pistol grip 4spd and a Dana(I think) rear. It had the same hood as this one, hideaway headlights, buckets. The color was a brown copper with the white graphics and white int. I remember it had special taillights. What a Hugh car that was, but nice to cruise in. I believe Paul still has itched 10 years or so ago he had it storied in a garage. He , like most of us swore to never let it go. I would love to find him again.

    Like 0
  17. Avatar skibum2

    I feel sorry for the people who actually believe the mileage claim ..No real motor head would even consider this claim..

    Like 0

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