Mopar Fans Only: 1970 Dodge Challenger

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This 1970 Dodge Challenger has a look about it which suggests that it has probably spent the vast majority of its life in a hot, dry climate. There is plenty of baked paint and dry surface corrosion, but actual rust looks to be quite limited. That isn’t to say that it represents a quick restoration project, but it does look like one that could probably be tackled in a home workshop. Located in Wylie, Texas, you will find the Challenger listed for sale here on eBay. The owner has set a BIN price of $6,800 for the Dodge, although the option is also available to make an offer. When these classics come along, I’m always interested to see how many people are watching the listing. With this car, there are 36 people, which is a fairly healthy number.

The worst of the rust is this section that you can see in the trunk. This is a pretty straightforward section to repair. It also looks like there might be some rust present in the very back of the rear frame rails, around the spring hangers. That’s something that I’d be checking, as repairing those properly is a bit more complicated. The rest of the floors, the frame, rockers, and lower quarters don’t look to be too bad. There’s a fair old dusting of surface corrosion, but this should be able to be addressed. The paint is also pretty toasted, and it would probably be an idea to take it back to bare metal and do a proper job of giving the car a repaint.

With the interior, it really is a case of “what you see is what you get.” There are a few sundry boxes of parts, but it’s hard to tell what’s in them. It looks like the only seat is the driver’s that you can see here. Some of the vinyl trim, along with the passenger side door trims is present, and some of it looks like it could be used again. The rest of it is going to need replacing, so this really is a blank canvas.

This is not only not a numbers-matching car, but it is also mechanically incomplete. The engine is a 360ci V8 that is believed to have originally been at home in the engine bay of a 1976 Cordoba. The owner doesn’t indicate whether the engine turns freely, but we do know that it doesn’t run. The Challenger would also have been fitted with a 3-speed TorqueFlite transmission, but this is also long gone. The rear end is present, but there doesn’t appear to be any sort of differential fitted. As with so much of this car, the Challenger is a mechanical blank canvas.

I always recommend a personal inspection when someone is considering purchasing a car, no matter how promising it might appear to be in the advertisement. I would be inclined to do that with this car, mainly to clarify the extent of rust in the rear frame rails. If they are okay, then this really is a car that looks capable of being restored in a home workshop. Maybe this is a car that would make a good father-and-son (or daughter) project. For any Mopar fanatic, it would be the chance to build the Challenger of your dreams without destroying an original classic.

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Comments

  1. Howard A. Howard AMember

    Looks like someone picked up Kowalski’s Challenger from the desert,,,nah, he hit those dozers pretty hard( did you know, it was a Camaro in that crash?)
    This car? Considering the hulks they rebuild on “TeeVee”, should be a piece of cake.

    Like 12
    • Sandy Claws

      Mr K’s car was a 1970, this is a 1971. I like ChallengerChick’s idea, demo derby it. Then send pictures, I would love to read the comments.

      Like 2
    • Steve R

      That someone is Dennis Collins from Fast and Loud.

      Steve R

      Like 1
      • PRA4SNW

        Someone here at Barn Finds must love that show – Dennis’ junk (I mean, cars) shows up here quite a bit.

        Like 0
    • Bill

      Crush it folks

      Like 0
  2. CapNemo

    Definitely important to do a proper job when repainting this car.

    Like 3
  3. Gaspumpchas

    Nah can’t be Kowalski’s, his was a pistol grip 4 speed. Posibly this has a rich Corinthian leather gut that came with the Cordoba engine. The Ghost of Kowalski haunts big Thompson Canyon where much of the filming took place.
    Its all good.Cheers!

    GPC

    Like 4
  4. Srt8

    He’s about $6600 too high with his BIN price. I’m a lifelong Mopar guy and this thing is scrap.

    Like 9
  5. Mark

    Body looks like it is made up from multiple cars..

    Like 9
  6. Lydel N

    Looks like a 71 grill.

    Like 7
  7. Rabbit

    Definitely a put-together. That’s a 71 front end.

    Like 8
    • bigblocksrock396

      Must be a typo.
      (1 too many zeros)

      Like 0
  8. Superdessucke

    This is what we used to call a roach. Now we call it a bargain!

    Like 7
  9. James

    Does the back end look like it’s drooping? Also, both fenders do not line up with the body line on the doors (or is that an illusion because of the mismatched paint, etc.)?

    Like 1
  10. ChallengerChick

    I am Mopar for life, ESPECIALLY if it’s a 1970 Challenger, but this thing is just a nasty old Frankencar. It’s better suited to a demolition derby than a roadworthy restoration.

    Like 4
  11. Mountainwoodie

    Drag it out of the back forty, after the flood, find a door , slap it on Fleabay

    Like 0
  12. Ted

    Mark nailed it. Some Mopar guy found the shell sitting after it was picked clean and put fenders/doors/wheels on it. Like the ragtop shell that is up for sale right now when these cars were worthless people bought them to cannibalize and now the market is so strong we’re seeing 5 digits for vehicles we scrapped as kids after the engines and trans were pulled or rusty planters that have been picked clean by hobbyists/restorers and laid in a yard for decades. If only Dynacorn expanded their line of bodies………….http://dynacornbodies.com/

    Like 1
  13. Del

    This is SCRAP

    Like 2
  14. Woody

    It makes me cringe when thinking about my Mopars in early 90’s that I sold for less than the Bin price of a stripped down parts car like this Challenger,im still looking for a project,maybe the Wagoneer behind it!

    Like 2
  15. the one

    This one belongs in Dr, Frankenstein’s laboratory cause it’s gonna take a lot of parts from other bodies to put this one back together again. If and when the job is completed the builder, upon firing it up the first time can stand back and exclaim, “It’s alive!”!!!!!!!!!!!! Fun!

    Like 2
  16. Bodyman68

    Replacing the rear rails are easily done but this car is more of a project then a restoration as finding all the parts will cost more then buying one more complete . Back half it big block it and drag race it !

    Like 1
  17. Steve H.

    WTF. Seller states, “Solid Texas car,” but then provides only photographic evidence to the contrary.

    Like 0
  18. Jimmy T

    I’ve been a tech for 50 years when I started I was using lead for body filler so I’ve restored a lot worse than that car i’d take that on in a second , it would take me probably about a year between locating parts and the actual work it’s self but I guarantee it would be a show winner in the end , I’m not saying it would be easy because no Chrysler is nice and easy but I have my technique , anyone want to go partners ?

    Like 0
  19. Bruce Fischer

    I had a 73 dodge challenger with no rust.It just hard to believe they rusted out so fast. Bruce.

    Like 0
  20. Woody

    Nice Challenger,the vinyl roof is classic!

    Like 1
  21. Ted cain

    Trunks panels aren’t to bad to replace. The problem I see is where vinyl top was A pillars and Window sills to much . my opinion of course. Anything can be repaired if you want it bad enough. Just not seeing it here good luck to new owner

    Like 0

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