Some paint shades are subtle and restrained, but I highly doubt anyone has used either of those terms to describe Plum Crazy. It is an in-your-face color that makes a bold statement and is the one gracing the panels of this 1970 Dodge Charger R/T tribute. It presents superbly, and its V8 means it has the muscle to back its good looks. The only thing it appears to need is a new owner, with the seller listing it here on eBay in Woodland Hills, California. The bidding currently sits short of the reserve at $32,100.
The seller purchased this Charger approximately sixteen years ago and has placed great effort in ensuring it remained preserved primarily as it was the day it came into their care. The Fender Tag confirms the Plum Crazy paint is the original shade, as is the Black vinyl top. The previous owner transformed a humble Charger into an R/T tribute, and the listing suggests they used many genuine parts in the process. It presents superbly, with no paint or panel issues and no evidence of rust. This last point is unsurprising since the car has spent its downtime in a dry garage under a high-quality cover for added protection. The trim is spotless, including the distinctive grille. The glass is free from visible defects, while the Magnum 500 wheels add a sense of purpose and an ideal finishing touch to the exterior.
In its original form, this Charger possessed enough power to satisfy most owners. Its original owner ordered it powered by a 318ci V8 producing 230hp. After many decades of involvement in the classic car scene, I don’t remember hearing an owner say, “I wish my car had less power.” Most crave more, and the previous owner delivered with this Charger. Its engine bay houses a 440ci V8 that the seller claims produces 390hp. That power feeds to the road via a three-speed TorqueFlite transmission, with power assistance for the steering making light work of twisting roads. The combination should allow this Charger to storm the ¼-mile in 14.2 seconds, while that V8 should eventually run out of breath with the needle nudging 132mph. The seller admits the car sees limited use and that it idles slightly high when cold. Otherwise, there are no mechanical issues, it is serviced regularly, and the Charger runs and drives well.
The Fender Tag confirms this Charger rolled off the showroom floor trimmed in Charcoal and Black vinyl, with front buckets, a center armrest, and air conditioning. The trim is now all Black courtesy of new seatcovers and a headliner fitted by the seller fifteen years ago. It is almost impossible to fault the presentation, and the only aftermarket addition is a gauge mounted below the dash. The car retains its air conditioning, with an AM radio relieving boredom on long journeys.
If this 1970 Charger were a genuine R/T, placing a value on it in its current state would be easy. The overall condition and desirable paint shade mean it would command a price of $60,000 without raising a sweat. However, as a tribute, albeit a high-grade one, this task becomes considerably more difficult. I still won’t be surprised if the bidding threatens $50,000, with the intense activity suggesting potential buyers like what they see. What do you think the price will be when the hammer falls?
I kn ow my eyes are not as good as they used to be, but try as I might, I cannot seem to see an air conditioning compressor on this car! In addition, by 1970 the Magnum 500 wheels had a painted rim w/ trim rings, these are the earlier versions, but they STILL look good! :-)
Dryer and lines are there and the large rubber one appears to head for the front left of the engine compartment. Don’t know where the compressor mounts on a 440 but I bet someone out there does. Beautiful car!
Right in the center, 383 and 440 mount the same way. Two belts drive the compressor (an early Mopar thing)
Moparman,
Actually, These are Magnum 500 wheels “full chrome”.
The wheels you are thinking of are called Mopar
“Road Wheels” chrome/black center with painted outer rim covered by trim rings.
The compressor would be to the right of the distributor. :-)
Pretty obvious. Not sure how the other guys missed it. On Mopars, look for twin belts..
Room for six in that charger. Nice car. Like the writer tells us, it will sell well.
Reding about this car, the seller states no reserve but clearly under the current bid it states reserve not met. Also it’s now trying to say it’s all original. What up?
Oops. Added later there’s a reserve but still trying to say it’s all original. Even the seats and headliner is supposed to be redone in original color and the car was purchased with the r/t upgrade. So is it or isn’t it?
They are only original one time. It came with a 318.
I like Chargers as well as anyone, but purple? Come on guys. What are we, children. Maybe it is Barneys car. Everyone did love him, right? Really, it is a Barney tribute. I love you! You love me! Were a gosh darn purple loving family!
Real men only drive Panther Pink Dodge cars.
That is not purple. It is Plum Crazy. Honestly I am not too sure how well the paint is matched to the original Plum Crazy from Dodge. This car pre-dates Barney.
Barney ruined a good color.
Has it been dropped or 440 too heavy for old suspension from the 318?
Not too heavy, but yes, a 440 would lower the front on a factory 318 car some, especially if the bushings are shot. The ride height could be adjusted up by wrenching the torsion bars, but it’s not going to handle very good with the little 318 bars. Fortunately changing torsion bars is not too tuff.
I’d give anything to have my ‘70 318 Charger back. It looked a lot better in dark green metallic than this purple does.
This ad does NOT pass the “smell” test. Too much swiss cheese with missing A/C, non-factory interior seats, and carpet (say it’s orig).
Biggest lie: It would have to be a 6-pack 440 to produce 390 bhp.
Question for the masses- aren’t these “ tribute “ cars going to cause problems later on down the road?
What is wrong with a nicely restored original ?
More absolutely crazy bidding on this B body. People must be forgetting this is a tribute car, recreation, clone, whatever you choose to call it. Who knows if the color is original to the car, (color change?) Anyway you look at it, this car was a factory 318 car with AC (no longer). Maybe a $30 K car, maybe!……
#s matching is rare. If this was a true R/T it’d probably be in the $75-100,000+ range. Rollers are going for > $30K. You don’t know the 2nd gen Charger market very well?
Agree to disagree, I’d never pay those bids for that car, no way in hell….
He knows it is not a real RT. Do you know the market?
well it’s not a real R/T, 318 car, but it is a factory FC7 plum crazy I can’t tell about if it has the right shade of purple and hard to tell if the interior is original but it does look like the carpet is and also the vinyl top is because you can see the top has cracks and is very dry, the thing is that it coast just about as much just about as much to restore a 318 car as it does a real R/T so why would anyone want to buy a clone, not a bad car but not for me!
I kinda doubt the person who installed the 440 was thinking “Oh my, what will Barn Find readers think of me for swapping in a big block”. Probably thinking (at least I would) how can I get this thing to go faster…way faster.
Correct me if I’m wrong, R/T had simulated wood grain dash accents and emblems, door panels also possibly? Thought, maybe a newer AC compressor mounted down low (not seen in pics) rather than the original heavy V-8 but, looks like all AC plumbing is not hooked up at firewall. Oh yeah….nobody noticed? Heater hoses at the firewall look to be one giant loop rather than connected to anything (heater core)!! Not sure at these insane prices why a seller doesn’t mention (or repair) some of these details, the hobby has sadly slipped to beings with very deep pockets.
You’re correct on the woodgrain dash, wood accents on doors were SE models with a map pocket below. Sharp eye to catch the heater core problem!
I agree, in the financials I keep hearing about the Greatest transfer of wealth. So there are some deep pockets full of cash with folks who didn’t work for it spending insane amounts on old vehicles.
I had the metallic green 318 version of this car and as I remember it handled like do do
When I see one of these ’70 Chargers, I think that it is 1978, in Rockbridge California and Dennis is picking up Arnie on his way to school.
His was a 68 in B-5 blue.
Gary Haas, thanks for the correction. I always thought it was a ’70. I knew it was B5 Blue.