Dodge was the last major U.S. auto manufacturer to join the pony car party that began in the mid-1960s. From 1970 to 1974, only 165,000 Challenger were built before declining interest in these kinds of cars led Dodge and Plymouth (with the Barracuda) to exit the market. This ’73 Challenger is a well-maintained, but driver-quality edition that only has 54,000 miles after 50 years. This remarkable one-owner find is at a dealer in Pleasanton, California, and is available here on SpecialitySales (their website) for $39,990. Thanks to Barn Finder “jonny” for turning us on to this cool tip!
Plymouth’s Barracuda was treated to an all-new body in 1970, breaking from its original ties to the compact Valiant. The new Dodge Challenger got to share that E-body platform, but the cars had different wheelbases and no sheet metal in common. Demand for the Challenger was brisk to begin with (nearly 77,000 units) but dropped by two-thirds in 1971. As the Barracuda experienced a similar decline, one explanation might be that the pony car market was past the saturation point by then. Another theory might be that the machines were perceived as being muscle cars (even though “secretary” versions like this one were built) as rising insurance premiums for those types were squelching interest.
This Challenger was one of about 28,000 produced in 1973. It looks just about the way it did when it rolled off the assembly line, save a few little nicks and dings which 54,000 miles and five decades would account for. The only noticeable miss is the replacement gas cap which looks odd compared to the rest of the vehicle. It’s had the same owner since it was new and comes with all sorts of paperwork, including the build sheet. It’s hard to imagine someone deciding this auto was a keeper 50 years ago, and only consumables seem to have been replaced over the years (fluids, batteries, tires, etc.).
The Root Beer Brown beauty (aka Dark Gold Metallic) has a white vinyl roof and matching interior. The top and interior look flawless and we assume it runs as good as it looks. Pop the hood and you’ll find the basic 318 cubic inch V8 (the inline-6 had been dropped by then) paired with an automatic transmission, all original. Speed was not the goal with this car as the buyer preferred comfort over performance. So, it’s equipped with woodgrain trim, factory air conditioning, and power steering and brakes. It’s a car that you should be able to drive as-is for some time to come rather than investing in an expensive restoration right out of the gate. The seller includes a short video for your perusal.
The gas cap shows what many of us did in that period. We replaced the OEM with an aftermarket locking gas cap to reduce thefts of gasoline during shortages.
& sometimes to replace thefts of stylish non locking factory gas caps themselves – even on Gremlins!
I do remember aftmkt gas caps tho that were wider than this one & the same diameter of the factory cap.
Oddly, these later Challys are more likely to have body side molding compared to ’70-71s. Not sure why.
Odd a 318 would be used so little – i could see if it had a Hemi in it.
I find it hard to believe that the slant 6 was dropped for ’73(& on barracuda too?), especially with the gas crisis in play or coming soon. Was the slant 6 reinstated for ’74 models? Or maybe for smaller lighter base Barracudas?
Lot of Mopars had painted exposed gas caps and if it went missing you could only get a chrome one from Dodge. I worked with a guy that was with a Chrysler dealer in the 70’s and he had a few people mad they couldn’t get the colour match cap.
Nice car but IMO not original. Repaint, new vinyl top.
I have a chrome one in my garage leftover from my personal 73 challenger I added the pop up cover and had the keyed screw down underneath whomever buys this Ill gladly hand it over to you been holding for 40 years
The factory locking cap is worth a small fortune nowadays. I drove off and left mine sitting atop the gas pump, when I returned it was gone.
That 1st photo gave it a Matador look with those little wheels & sitting with its tail down! It could be the camera angle but I’m thinking I’m so used to challengers with Skyjacker air shocks a normal stance one threw me for a loop!
Many new cars back in the day were slightly higher in front than in back!
& for sure if you had people in the back seat – i remember base suspension 2nd gen firebirds would bottom out in back if you had people sitting back there.
I drove a 78 Camaro back in the early 90s that would bottom out if people were in the back seat! Also, if you made a left turn, the passenger door would fly open!
Neat car in nice, original shape. Not my favorite car, but still it’s neat. A 318 should be good enough, and factory A/C makes it a comfortable cruiser. I hope it finds a good home.
That looks like a perfect candidate for modern muscle
That’s a survivor car , Dude. You don’t mod one of those. Your entitled to your opinion but there’s plenty of other cars to make modern. These survivors are getting harder to find and are nice references for restorations as well.
This is exactly how my 74 Challenger looked (sans Magnum wheels) when I purchased it from the original owner in 1978 w/ 29K actual miles. Mine was honey gold w/ a deteriorating white top. I proceeded to change the color to one more to my liking, and to add every factory option that I didn’t have such as the Rally instrument cluster, the dome hood, dual exhaust w/ OEM valance and quad tips, “pop top’ gas cap cover, YearOne T/A spoiler, and of course, the Magnum wheels. 45 years later, it has 69,668 actual miles on the original 318/904 drivetrain. I wouldn’t mind having this one to park beside it! GLWTS!! :-)
That is one very nice Charger you had. Looks great in blue.
Ha! My first Year One ‘catalog’ was three Xeroxed sheets of paper stapled together. That would have been late 70s as well when I bought my first Challenger.
I prefer one-owner root beers because they tend to be flat after a previous owner has consumed part of it.
Given the condition of the paint on the inner fenders in the engine compartment, I question whether this one had a repaint. Inside the hood the paint should have held up at least as well as the exterior. There also appears some nasty corrosion on the firewall near the brake booster. May be a dressed up 154K miles? Needs higher res photos.
Back in 1980, my best pal’s Dad came home with this car (but black vinyl roof, black interior, and typical Cragar mag wheels). The car was in outstanding condition and drove like new. I was soooo jealous. The sons only got to drive the 6 cyl Camaro and the manual trans Mustang 2. I remember Brad starting the Mustang 2 up in 1st gear in the garage one afternoon (I guess it had no clutch interlock) and pinning his beauty RM 125 between his Dad’s XL 185 (?) and the kitchen wall so hard he drove the Honda’s shift lever thru the Suzuki’s side cover. Good times!!!!!
bt
Please whatever you do, do not drive this car during the cold salty winter. It has the disappearing Japaniee/Chinese metal.
Root Beer Brown, ha! I have a ‘73 Plymouth Satellite Sebring Plus in the same Dark Tahitian Gold (JY9 paint code), but black roof and interior. It sparkles in the sunshine, but looks like Baby Poop Brown indoors. A very ‘70s color!