Sometimes unfinished projects can make people swallow pretty hard, but this 1971 Dodge Challenger R/T looks like it is a really good one. It currently wears a coat of primer, but under that, it is said to be completely rust-free. While there is some cosmetic work remaining, the next owner shouldn’t need to spend a penny under the hood. Making the deal even more tempting is the fact that the Challenger is being offered for sale in a No Reserve auction. The Dodge is located in Stillman Valley, Illinois, and has been listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding has reached $11,100, and remember, this is a case of “winner takes all.”
It isn’t completely clear, but I believe that the Challenger might have started its life finished in a color called Dark Burnt Orange. I can certainly see some untouched original paint in the trunk that looks very much like that color. The person undertaking the restoration doesn’t look like they were a fan of that shade, and it appears that their intention was to refinish the Challenger in Hemi Orange. There is plenty of evidence to support my theory, as you will see shortly. The body of the Dodge looks really good, and although grey primer can hide a multitude of sins in photos, it looks like the panels are very straight. It is also claimed that all of the usually rust-prone areas such as the floors, rockers, lower quarter panels, etc. are clean and solid. This gives the impression that all that the exterior of the car needs is some basic preparation and it will be ready to receive a fresh coat of paint. If I’m brutally honest here, I have to say that I’m no fan of the existing wheels and the black bumpers. I would reinstate the exterior trim to its usual bright-and-shiny appearance, and find something slightly better in the wheels department.
Okay, so now you can see why I believe that this Challenger was destined to be finished in Hemi Orange. Beyond the color, let’s take a look at what occupies the engine bay. What we have is a 383ci V8, a 4-speed manual transmission, along with power steering. The owner states that this is an original “N-Code” car, and this is verified by the VIN. What he doesn’t clearly say is whether the vehicle is numbers-matching. In original form, the 383 would have pumped out 300hp and was potent enough to launch the Challenger down the ¼ mile in 15.3 seconds. Even if this is the original engine, it would appear that it has received a few upgrades along the way. It is also freshly rebuilt and has only covered around 50 miles since that work was completed. The motor is said to run nicely, while the transmission shifts smoothly. I can imagine that the 383 probably sounds extremely nice through the aftermarket headers and the new dual exhaust.
The owner states that the interior of the Dodge is original, with the exception of the front seats. He says that it does have a rear seat and a headliner, but it isn’t clear what sort of condition these components are in. Having said that, if the door trims and the dash are any guide, then they could be looking alright. The dash itself looks like it is in pretty nice condition, although there have been some aftermarket gauges added to monitor life under the hood. There are certainly a few pieces missing inside the Dodge, including the original radio and the kick panels. The Challenger also originally featured air conditioning, but a good look around the engine bay reveals that none of the system hardware remains in place. Whether the next owner decides to pursue reinstating the system will come down to a matter of personal preference. It looks to me like the interior isn’t going to require any major work, just a lot of those fiddly little details that can make the difference between a car that looks nice, and one that is exceptional.
If the owner of this 1971 Challenger R/T had undertaken a faithful and high-quality restoration to original specifications, and if the vehicle could also be confirmed to be numbers-matching, then there is little doubt that the finished product would be a car that would potentially be worth a figure well in excess of $50,000. However, for the sake of accuracy, I would be more inclined to label this car as a refurbishment rather than a restoration. When you start messing about with a classic like this by changing its color, or by adding aftermarket components, that really does muddy the water enormously. Then it becomes a case of a car being worth what an individual is willing to pay for it. That’s why I’m going to be watching this one closely because I’m really interested to see what the final sale price will be.
Guess we will let the sale price set the market. Worried about the underbelly, the trunk lid doesn’t fit right and if its so close to being ready for paint, why not paint it. The seller seems to be a purveyor of cool old cars, some neat stuff in the back ground, especially the Cameo pickup. Looker over good. Primer on a car for sale scares me to death. Like the mill and the 4 speed!
Stay safe and wash your hands, Kowalski
Cheers
GPC
How come everbody wants to drive one of these into a bulldozer blade at maximum warp? How about a nice drive to Beartooth Pass?
Kowalski was the loved anti-hero, the loner who had failed at every single thing in his life,, makin’ it through those two dozer’s he believed he could do as he grinned, of course not. He’s nuts on speed, facing jail time if caught, cornered by the law…he gave it his best shot without hesitation..
The ending startled me, left me speechless for a few and along with all the great chase scenes the ending had me watching over and over,. I never get tired of it. Everytime I see a white Dodge Challenger whether new or old I can’t help but call it Kowalski last ride. Sorry to bore evryone.
Not Bored at all, Troy! One of the great things about BF is everyone’s stories and adventures. My then girlfriend and I saw Vanishing point six times at the drive in. Married her 43 years ago. Wish I still had my 63 1/2 galaxie!!!
Stay safe
Cheers
GPC
I don’t think he was thinking about making it through the dozers.
Tough call, but I think I would look for a 2nd Generation Challenger.
The one made by Mitsubishi? I think we’ve finally found the only person on earth who likes those.
Steve R
Did you ever drive one? They were really nice. Much more like a modern car, where these were already old tech when new. The Mitsu was a great looking car, comfortable, efficient, reliable. It was a car for its time. I wish people didn’t make fun of them. There is a car seat for every butt. What my butt wants, may not be yours. Oh gosh, that didn’t come out right, did it?
Naw, nothing to get excited about after ’71.
Got a Corona virus boredom story: my sister dated a guy that sold used cars. The lot also had a paint shop as well.Anyway, short story long this guy came in w a trade…..a 1979 trans am anniversary addition .But…. it had a balanced and blueprinted 455 under the hood that was totally mechanically sound…it was a monster. But on the outside it was primer grey..kinda an ugly duckling..the guy was desperate to get rid of it….I think it was baby on the way. The shop painted it a beautiful red.I couldn’t believe it’s just what topped off the car! Man the fastest car I’ve ever been in! And heavy,close to the ground, and perfect car for modification. Going down memory lane I guess! Stay well stay home car peolple!!
Chrome bumpers are almost always painted to save dollars, not because it looks better. The buyer will probably also want to find a pair of factory bucket seats, I don’t know what these ones came out of, but they really don’t fit the vibe of the car.
Yeah, but those buckets do look comfortable. Are they from a modern Challenger? I think the 1971s were the best looking of the breed.
The owner probably got tired of the original flat bottom seats.
Driving my Barracuda around a sharp corner one time, I slid out of the seat. Lucky I didn’t wreck.
No seat belt on?
Yep, that’s the first thing us, gonna live forever, kids in the late 70’s did, we fastened our seat belts. Can’t remember a single one that did.
In fact, that car probably lost it’s seat belts at the same time that it lost it’s mandated seat belt buzzer.
I’m no Mopar Expert but the rivets on that dash VIN are incorrect. That would have me take a closer look and would concern me if I could not see it in person.
Just my 2 cents
Wasn’t the 440 was standard in the R/T wth the 426 optional? Am I remembering incorrectly? It HAS been awhile…
No, you could get any of these engines 340, 383, 440 Magnum, 440 six pack and 426 Hemi.
Steve R
Right front fender does not fit correctly, fender to hood, fender to door, look at the gaps. Same condition exists for the deck lid. What happened to the original front seats? The replacements this guy used are totally out of character for this vehicle.
Good call on the VIN tag rivets. 100% wrong. Red flags certainly in order.
That Burnt Orange color is very hard and very expensive to get right. Since it was born only with a 383 i would say this is a good deal if the price remains low. Not very rare and the originality of the block makes it even less desireable.
I threw up when I saw the front buckets…..
Front buckets, wheels/tires & painted bumpers have to GO !!!
This primer look was what most of these cars looked like in the late 70’s when they were in the hands of us high school kids.
To: Mark Houseman: Was that like in the movie Caddyshack where Judge Smells grand son threw up in the Porsche? to PRA4SNW: That is why they put seat belts in cars!!!!!!
Yep, that’s the first thing us, gonna live forever, kids in the late 70’s did, we fastened our seat belts. Can’t remember a single one that did.
In fact, that car probably lost it’s seat belts at the same time that it lost it’s mandated seat belt buzzer.
I still refuse to wear set belts. I’ll take the ticket instead of risking being strapped into the car if things go wrong.
I have only been pulled over for that once, but that was the officers cover for why he really pulled me over. Long story there lol.
I learned that day that the Greendale Wisconsin police department doesn’t accept pennies for ticket payment. They must have abused someone else in the past before me lol.
Nazi bastards!
all 71 r/ts were 383 cars. you couldn’t get one with a 440 unless it was a 6 barrel or a hemi.most r/t were 3 spd. straight drivesthe body lines weren’t worth a dam on these challs. the trunls looked like they’d been in a wreck and hood lines did too.
When I first saw this car in my e-mail, I thought it was white instead of primer. Automatically it popped in my head- “KOWALSKI, K-O-W-A-L-S-K-I, first name unknown.”
I know it’s the wrong year of car, but I still thought it!
The picture of the block matches the VIN. So there’s that. Whether it belongs with this car is still a question, because rivets. It’s also got 666, so probably should have been assigned to a Demon, not a Challenger.
Re: Seatbelts, if they’re good enough for Jet Fighter pilots, astronauts and Race Car drivers, I’ll wear them. It’s being in control of the craft at high G’s.