The number of reasons why a restoration project can stall would seem to be infinite. This one would rate amongst the worst because the owner passed away before he could start work on this classic. It is a complete classic with an excellent drivetrain combination, and it now needs the right person to return it to its former glory. I have to say a big thank you to Barn Finder Ikey H for spotting the Charger for us. It is located in Irvington, Alabama, and has been listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding sits at $3,600, but the reserve isn’t met.

It would seem that the Charger has led quite a life because there is evidence visible to suggest that it has undergone at least two color changes at different times. The fender tag indicates that it rolled off the line wearing Medium Blue Poly. This is probably the least of the buyer’s concerns because they will be facing some work before they even consider laying on some fresh paint. The good news is that they won’t be faced with the prospect of significant rust repairs. The original owner made the wise decision to have the car undercoated, and this move is paying dividends today. We’ve all seen these early Chargers riddled with rust, but not this one. The seller doesn’t supply any photos of the vehicle’s underside, but he claims that it is completely clean and rust-free. The exterior wears some large areas of surface corrosion, but once again, there is no penetrating rust. That doesn’t mean that this will be a case of giving it a quick rub down and throwing on a coat of paint because this classic deserves better than that. I believe that it will only be done justice if the existing paint is stripped, and the next owner undertakes a bare metal respray. There are a few minor dings and dents to be addressed, but none of these would seem to justify replacing panels. The fiddly part here is going to be sourcing some of the missing or damaged trim pieces. There is a new front bumper, but the back one is gone. The tail-light lenses are sporting some damage and will probably need to be replaced. A buyer might source a NOS set, but a high-quality reproduction might be the only option available. These sell for about $570, and are impossible to distinguish from the genuine item. There will still be plenty of existing pieces that can be salvaged, and the original tinted glass looks like it could be okay.

Dodge only offered a V8 in the 1966 Charger, but there was a choice of capacities to work through. The original owner slapped down the cash for the 383ci version, which would have pumped out a healthy 325hp. Backing this is a 3-speed TorqueFlite transmission, while the car also comes equipped with power steering. That output figure is very respectable, but it needed to be. The Charger was not a light car, and with the 383 onboard, it tipped the scales at 3,810lbs. With that in mind, the fact that it could demolish the ¼ mile in 15.3 seconds is nothing to sneeze at. If you wanted to top that figure, your only choice was to hand over your “hard-earned” for something like the 426 Hemi. Very few people chose that option because while Dodge sold 37,344 Chargers in that year, a mere 468 buyers ticked the Hemi box on the order sheet. The seller believes that the Charger is a numbers-matching vehicle, and he does say that it is complete. It isn’t clear when it last fired a shot in anger, so it will need some work before it is roadworthy again. The engine will need to be pulled if the engine bay is going to be cleaned and painted in its original color. This will provide an opportunity to inspect the engine thoroughly. It will allow the new owner to determine whether a rebuild will be required or whether it should simply be detailed within an inch of its life. That way, it will appear as-new whenever the hood is lifted.

The Charger’s interior is complete, but it will need to be totally restored. There isn’t a single piece of upholstery that could be salvaged, and the dash will need a new pad. If classic Mopar vehicles have a single weakness when being considered as project cars, it is the cost of interior trim pieces. They tend to be more expensive than you would find if you chose to tackle a GM or a Ford classic. However, this does need to be qualified. The reality is that it doesn’t matter what you are restoring, refurbishing an interior will almost certainly be a one-off expense. If a restored interior is treated with care and respect, it shouldn’t need to be touched again for at least 30-years. That means that by that point in time, the vehicle would more than likely not figure prominently in that person’s life anymore. I’m glad to see that the gauge cluster is intact. I rate this as one of the best of the era. While they look impressive in the light of day, when the electroluminescent lighting is doing its thing, the cluster looks jaw-dropping. The buyer of this car will also benefit from the fact that the original owner chose to order it with air conditioning. The system does look to be complete, although there will almost certainly be some refurbishment required.

Here at Barn Finds, we have become used to the fact that a high percentage of these early Charger project cars that come across our desks will require major rust repairs. That makes this one quite refreshing. It will certainly need some work before a fresh coat of paint is to be applied, but at least this work isn’t going to involve the expense of undertaking wholesale rust repairs. The reality is that many of the tasks that would be required to return the Charger to its former glory could be tackled in a home workshop by a competent person. It’s winter, with long days and even longer nights. A person needs to find something to do when the great outdoors doesn’t look that, er, great. Maybe some time spent in the workshop whipping this 1966 Charger into shape would be a way of beating those winter blues. I can think of worse things to be doing. Plenty of them.