Original 383: 1971 Dodge Challenger

While some enthusiasts will accept nothing less than spotless originality, others will compromise if the classic in question ticks enough of the “right” boxes. Therefore, I suspect plenty of Barn Finds readers will find this 1971 Dodge Challenger pretty attractive. It recently emerged from a two-year refurbishment, with the seller’s attention to detail evident in every aspect of the vehicle. It has generated plenty of interest since they listed it here on eBay in Brick, New Jersey, with a BIN of $31,995 OBO.

Launched in 1970, the Dodge Challenger was one of two cousins released on Chrysler’s E-Body platform. I’ve always believed that the Plymouth Barracuda possessed a slight styling edge, but I wouldn’t mind having either a Challenger or a Barracuda parked in my garage. The seller is only the second owner of this 1971 Challenger, and they say it recently emerged from a two-year restoration. However, since they made changes during the build, I view it as refurbished. The most striking change is the color, because it started life finished in Code F3 Medium Green. The seller stripped every square inch to bare metal, and since the first owner didn’t select a vinyl top, it avoided the typical rust beneath the vinyl or around the windows. After massaging the panels, they applied Plum Crazy paint in a high-end, two-stage process using acrylic urethane paint. The results justified the effort, because there is little to criticize about its appearance. The photos are slightly grainy, but the paint shines nicely, and the Black stripes look crisp. The seller provides several underside shots showing no signs of rust and that everything is treated to prevent future problems. The trim has been replaced or refurbished, the windshield is new, and the remaining glass is in good condition. The original Rallye wheels and new tires round out the exterior.

The seller invested heavily in this Challenger’s interior. The door trims are original and restored, but the remaining Black vinyl upholstery, carpet, headliner, and dash are new. The seatcovers on both front seats have a slightly odd fit, but they may improve with use. The dash and pad are excellent, and the refurbished gauges look perfect. The seller says that the radio is inoperative, and they haven’t traced why. They say it hasn’t worried them because they prefer the sound coming from under the hood to anything that might come from a speaker.

Dodge offered 1971 Challenger buyers a reasonable assortment of motors to power their new purchase, with this car’s first owner teaming an L-Code 383ci V8 with a three-speed A-727 automatic transmission, a 3.55 Sure Grip rear end, and power steering. The motor produced 275hp and 375 ft/lbs of torque when the car was shiny and new, but it might now put a few additional ponies beneath the driver’s right foot. The Challenger retains its original engine and transmission, both stripped, checked, and resealed during the build. The seller ditched the original two-barrel carburetor and intake, fitting an Edelbrock Streetmaster intake and matching carburetor that will improve breathing. They didn’t stop there, replacing the entire fuel system, every brake component, adding an oil cooler, and installing a custom dual exhaust. It’s all good news for potential buyers, because the Challenger runs and drives perfectly. It is ready for action with its new owner behind the wheel.

I look at some classic listings, and I wish the seller’s images were of better quality. The ones of this 1971 Challenger aren’t the worst that I’ve seen, but their slight graininess doesn’t do the car justice. That said, it has attracted over 230 views in the last day, and 103 people have added it to their Watch List. Do you think the seller will achieve their BIN, or will they need to compromise to send the Dodge to a new home?