Newer Engine: Snowy 1975 Dodge Charger SE

The fourth generation of the Dodge Charger (1975 to 1978) was nothing like the muscle car version of the late 1960s that you could order. It was a full-blown luxury boat and shared its body with the new Chrysler Cordoba. The seller rescued this 1975 Charger out of a snowbank and has brought it back to life thanks to an engine transplant. Located now in Winneconne, Wisconsin, this Mopar will need some bodywork in order to be more than a daily driver. It’s available here on Facebook Marketplace for $2,500.

Gone were the days of a 440 cubic inch V8 or 426 Hemi. The standard Charger engine was a 360 2-barrel V8, though you could opt for the lesser 318 or stretch to 400 CI. With the effects of detuning for alleged lower emissions, the power of any of these engines was quite restricted. The seller’s Charger appears to have a leather interior, which could mirror the “Rich Corinthian Leathers” of its sister, the Cordoba. Sales were down to 30,800 units from 74,300 copies in 1974, probably because Chrysler was still building thirsty cars and buyers were anxious for better MPG (remember the OPEC oil embargo of ’73?).

The seller found this Charger covered with snow and beset with a seized engine. So, he hauled it home and replaced the original 360 V8 with one from 1990 with fewer miles. But that one needed a timing chain and new gaskets, which the seller took care of. A bunch of work was done by the prior owner, and receipts for this work were provided, but does that matter a lot if the automatic transmission was redone in 1999? Newer stuff includes brake and exhaust work, suspension parts, and a tune-up.

We’re told that the seller would not hesitate to drive the Dodge anywhere. The matching interior looks quite good and comfortable. The body has dents and dings, and some rust has invaded the sheet metal, though not the chassis. The Landau roof is toast as all sorts of bubbles are seen, which has to make the metal in the roof potentially suspect. But for $2,500, can you do better? BTW, thanks for the tip “Lothar… of the Hill People”!