After fifteen years hidden in a barn, this 1974 Challenger Rallye has emerged blinking into the light of day. This Dodge may be dusty, but it’s not particularly rusty. Any problems would appear superficial, allowing the buyer to commence the restoration process on a classic with strong bones. The owner would like to pass the Challenger on to someone willing to return it to its former glory. It is located in Fort Worth, Texas, and has been listed for sale here on eBay. An impressive twenty-one bids have pushed the price to $5,500 in this No Reserve auction.

With the dust sloshed away, we can get a closer look at this Challenger. Its Bright Red paint shows its age, and there’s evidence suggesting that a previous owner has treated the classic to at least a partial repaint. The buyer will need to repeat this process, but they will face some rust repairs first. However, it isn’t as bad as we have often seen with Chrysler E-Body vehicles. There is some present in the lower rear quarter panels and the bottom corner of the passenger door. Beyond that, areas like the rockers and lower fenders appear remarkably clean. The good news continues when we delve below the surface because the owner claims that the floors, trunk pan, and frame rails are all rock-solid. If this is accurate, that makes this Challenger a prime candidate for an easy project build. The buyer will probably decide to replace or restore some of the trim pieces, but the glass and wheels look surprisingly good. The first impressions that this Dodge makes seem to be nothing but positive.

The news isn’t quite as favorable when we turn our attention to this Challenger’s interior. It looks pretty trashed, and there’s evidence that there has been rodent infestation. If Stuart Little and his family have called this interior their home for an extended period, we probably should be glad that we can’t smell what we see. The interior already needs new upholstery, but every soft item like carpet and foam will need to go if the buyer wishes to eliminate the alluring aroma of mouse. Unfortunately, trim and upholstery for Mopars tend to be more expensive than for many other classics, but at least it should represent a one-off expense. The owner describes the interior as complete, but items like the radio are missing. However, the Rallye gauges, factory tach, and air conditioning systems seem to be intact.

Buyers faced a wide variety of drivetrain choices for their 1974 Challenger Rally, and the original owner of this car plumped for the 318ci V8, a three-speed TorqueFlite transmission, and power steering. The 318 would have produced 150hp, allowing the Challenger to cover the ¼ mile in 17.5 seconds. That makes it well short of the fastest Challenger on the planet, but considering how the American car industry was being hamstrung by tightening emission regulations, it was reasonably respectable when this car was shiny and new. This Dodge offers one of those classic “ran when parked” scenarios, although it is worth noting that fifteen years have come and gone since it last fired a shot in anger. The seller says that he hasn’t tried to fire up the motor and doesn’t intend to. I think that he is probably leaving that task for the buyer in case there are any deeper issues.

We’re pretty used to seeing Challenger project cars appear on our desks here at Barn Finds, and these are often vehicles riddled with rust. This 1974 Rallye makes a refreshing change, and the buyer won’t face the prospect of spending thousands on rust repairs. I’ve always liked the styling of these cars, and I can see why their popularity has grown enormously in recent years. It was dusty but not very rusty, and is that enough to make you consider pursuing this one further?