Talk about a home run, Dodge clobbered it with the second iteration (’68-’70) of its famed Charger. They were popular when new, honored in movies (Bullitt) and are still very much a hot property among car collectors and enthusiasts. Found in Lancaster, Pennsylvania is an example from its third and final year, a ’70 R/T, available here on craigslist for $28,900. Thanks to Roger for this tip!
Chargers of this generation turn up pretty regularly as there were about 50,000 produced in ’70 and a little over 10,000 of those were R/Ts (Road and Track). The R/T was the performance variant possessing a 440 CI V8 engine good for 375 gross HP which is what sits under the hood of this example. Note the non-OEM Edelbrock carburetor, I have seen more of these lately or projects, drivers, restorations, etc. than I can count. There were more powerful engine options available but the standard 440 does pack a punch. The listing for this Charger is light on specifics and short on images but the seller has a four-minute walk-around video of this non-original engined Dodge running and he’ll make it available to an interested buyer. As is frequently found, this R/T has a TorqueFlite three-speed automatic transmission.
This ’70 Charger R/T version is very similar to the ’69, the biggest difference being the front loop bumper and the side, door-mounted faux scoops. The body of this Dodge is not without its issues, specifically rust and there appears to be a lot of it in the quarters and rocker panels – not unusual with this vintage Charger. The body looks pretty straight other than the wack in the rear bumper that was either received or self-inflicted. The finish is typically faded but that’s no surprise. The side-stripe and engine call-out look added, I don’t recall ever seeing one like this on a ’70 Charger but I would ask our R/T experts to weigh in on that item. Of final note is what appears to be a vinyl top covering, very common of this era Charger but you always want to know what’s going on underneath it – it’s a weigh-station for rust.
The interior looks reasonable in comparison to the exterior. The seats are showing some wear but the console, instrument panel, and carpet appear to be in good nick. The outliers are the missing radio and the cracked dash pad. There is an included image of the backseat too and is usually the case, it is showing very little evidence of use. I would be curious about the headliner in this Charger as Dodges of this era frequently give them up by the half-century mark but there are no visuals.
There is no mention of the floors and associated sheet metal though there is an image of the underside included. That said, it’s not possible to tell if the floors and understructure are sound or not. Based on the exterior body condition, it would be prudent for any potential buyer to give this Charger a close and thorough inspection. The seller provides most of the VIN and it checks out – the car is what it claims to be. There is a good dose of originality too except for the swapped motor and the Crager S/S wheels. On the surface, this R/T would seem to be a good project base from which to build a nice driver or even a candidate for full restoration. As is usually the case, the devil is in the details and this listing is way too lean on particulars, especially at the stated price. That being so, I would advise any potential purchaser to request the available video – it may shed a little more needed light on this very collectible Dodge Charger. So, I would be interested to know, does a slim listing like this make you want to pass on further consideration or would your decision be based on the subject car and that alone?
When considering a purchase, the more pictures and details given helped me to decide whether I really wanted it or not. Fewer meant walking (and in some cases RUNNING) away! This one is going to need some costly metal work, and without the original engine, I think the asking price is on the high side. The stripe/callout was not OEM.
Thanks for your expertise. Moparman! I’m thinking its overpriced, and yes the more pics the better. I’m thinking that whoever is considering buying would want the vinyl top removed to see what damage lurks underneath, and the carpets at least picked up to see how the floors are. Again, as you said, from what we see its got a lot of metalwork to be done. Anyhoo- for 28 large looker over good. Think the seller has the BJ syndrome. Good luck.
Cheers
GPC
Charger is on EBay
Jump in and see what happens
Once a car has reached this level of wear it basically needs almost everything completely re-done. Better to try and undo the silly stuff like big wheels, clean it up and use it in an arrested state of preservation, driving it til some fool makes a ridiculous high offer for it.
These days, I doubt there are many “fools” left to pay high car prices.
Car is currently posted on Ebay, 8,100 (5 days remaining) and climbing – there is a 4 minute video which can be sent to you – owner is actually a Vette Man, so 1968 – 1973 Vette trades definitely in play here –
But what ’bout dem Duke boys?!
A-gee,gee,gee..
Just slap some Orange on it, 01, and terrorize the county!
Wow, is your original style what your friends like most about you?
…ok? I am not sure if that was meant as a dig or you just have no sense of humor.
Many complaints about it being over priced, I meant leave as is and go have some fun driving the piss out of it. But now since I had to spell that out to you, it’s probably lost it’s punctuation. But I am sure you are a blast at parties!
Wrong year, besides that look was played out before the TV series ended.
Steve R
Technically, they used many years for the stunt shots, they ran out of ’69’s to trash, so they used 68 and 70’s done up to look like the hero car. It’s fun to rewatch the old series and just see how badly tweaked some of those chassis get when they “stick” the landing.
This thing would look just plain nasty in someone’s rear view mirror, particularly if one headlamp cover was down and the other up. I’d make it safe, stupidly fast, and leave the look as-is.
That’s the look – keep it just as it is, but safe and fast –
I could care less about matching numbers since that usually means you can get the car of your dreams cheaper. I’d definitely want to know more details about the 440; is it period correct or is it a later, lower compression 440. Too much rust for me on this one. My policy is don’t buy rust. Seems like it’s priced high for a car with a NOM that needs a total restoration.
The engine, under all of the grease, appears to be orange, which if original, would make it both period correct (mid-year ’69 or 1970), and a high output version, not a 440 pulled from Grandpa’s New Yorker. A later, low compression variant would have originally been Corporate Blue, even in a later Charger, R/T, or GTX.
Fordguy1972, that’s a great and simple policy, don’t buy rust. “fraid that here in the rust belt its a way of life!!!
Cheers
GPC
Well, Gaspumpchas, I live in Connecticut; definitely a rust-producing state but I’ve been able to find two rust-free cars that have lived in Connecticut ever since they were driven off the showroom floor. One is a ’72 Galaxie 500 that I’ve owned for 25 years and the other is a ’64 Fairlane 500 that was listed here on Barnfinds early last year. Both have nice original paint and have never seen a body shop. I store mine over the winter so they’ll probably stay rust free, at least for as long as I own them.
Rust-free vintage cars are scarce up here in New England but they do turn up once in awhile.
Forget the Duke Boys where is Catherine Bach?
You mean where is her granddaughter.
Steve R
So true Steve. Ole Daisy is showing her miles these days. 1981 was a long time ago!
I remember the ’69 Charger from “Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry” having a similar black stripe with an integrated “440” callout on the rear quarter like this one. Probably a popular addition to your hotrod Charger in the 70s. This car has such a great and nasty look. Shame about all that rust.
Crazy Larry Dirty Mary Susan George in a Charger, as a kid we knew she put out, as far as the car, it’s rusty, but so am I and Mary, so who’s to Judge
Looks like an R/T SE
Even though that stripe isn’t factory, it still looks cool. If the car were to be repainted, they should paint the stripe and engine numbers back. Someone commented about Corporation Blue 440’s being lower compression.
I used to own a 1972 Plymouth Fury, ex-Ohio State Patrol car, back in the mid to late-1980’s. I don’t know what the compression ratio was, but I took one of my high school friends for a ride in it. When I took off at the green light, I mashed the gas and as I shifted through the gears, it jerked his head back every time. He was my only Mopar buddy. His Dad has a ’70 ‘Cuda. Anyway, every time his head jerked back, he’d yell out a cuss word! I miss that car!