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Running 383: 1970 Dodge Charger

This 1970 Dodge Charger has undergone many changes throughout its life. However, it remains a complete classic that should make a satisfying restoration project. The owner is candid about its overall condition and needs, making it a refreshing approach for potential buyers to consider. Located in Lowell, Massachusetts, you will find the Charger listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding has raced past reserve and currently sits at $25,100 with plenty of time left on the listing. That means that if you want to stake your claim on this classic, there is still a chance to do so.

The owner includes a photo of this Charger’s Fender Tag in his listing, indicating that the car rolled off the production line wearing attractive Cream paint. Somebody has performed a color change at some point, which is not uncommon in vehicles of this type. The paint shows its age, and a refresh will undoubtedly form part of this restoration. That leaves the buyer with the choice to retain the current Black or apply a fresh coat of Cream. They may also choose to follow a different path and lay on another color altogether. The supplied photos make it difficult to be sure, but it is hard to spot any significant rust on the exterior. The often prone regions like the lower rear quarter panels, rockers, and the area around the back window all look clean. The owner doesn’t mention any issues on the vehicle’s underside, but he is candid that there is Bondo in this classic. Some is visible on the rear pillars, but it isn’t clear where other areas might be. For potential buyers, it is worth noting that anywhere the steel has deteriorated beyond help can be easily addressed because high-quality replacement parts are readily available. The exterior trim appears to be generally in respectable condition, while there are no apparent issues with the glass.

It seems that this Charger is not a numbers-matching classic. Decoding the VIN reveals that it rolled off the production line equipped with a 318ci V8. The owner says that a 383ci unit now occupies the engine bay, and depending on which version it is, the buyer will have 290hp or 330hp available under their right foot. The original owner also ordered this classic with power steering and power brakes, while those Mopar horses find their way to the rear wheels via a three-speed TorqueFlite transmission. If this is the less powerful engine, it will allow the Charger to scamper through the ¼ mile in 16.4 seconds. If there is 330hp on tap, that figure would be slashed to a neat 15 seconds. The owner says that the Charger runs and yard drives, but it appears that it is not roadworthy. It isn’t clear when it last terrorized the tarmac, but returning it to that point may not be a complex undertaking. If the car proves to be structurally sound, this could afford the new owner the opportunity to enjoy this classic pretty quickly.

While the panels and paint may occupy much of the next owner’s attention, they will be unable to avoid the interior. It is largely complete, but it needs a total restoration. The seats are badly ripped and torn, while the dash pad is cracked. The door trims are missing, and the carpet looks tired. The buyer will almost certainly choose to invest around $2,200 on an interior trim kit. That will address the issues with the upholstered surfaces, headliner, and carpet, but won’t include a dash pad. A reproduction pad will add a further $500 to the tally, and there will undoubtedly be a few small items that will go on the shopping list. As I’ve said in previous articles, restoring a classic interior is never a cheap undertaking, but it represents a one-off expense. Treated with care and respect, a new interior can still present exceptionally well many decades after it is installed. That is one crumb of comfort to consider in a project like this.

If you ever harbored doubts about the desirability or potential locked away in any project car, sometimes you only need to look at the bidding history to get a clear picture. That is the case with this 1970 Dodge Charger. It has already received an impressive forty-two bids at the time of writing, and there’s plenty of time left yet. Given its overall promising nature, it will be interesting to see where the price reaches when the hammer falls.

Comments

  1. Sam Shive

    Blue Carpet, Red Seats, Blue Paint around the VIN tag and the right rear roof pillar has at least a 1/4″ bondo on it and cracked, The left side looks like it’s cracked also. Most likely had a vinyl top removed. The front bumper don’t fit at all, Doors don’t fit fenders don’t line up. NO rear side windows. This thing might have been painted Orange with a 01 on the door and did a few stunts back in the day. BUYER BEWARE

    Like 10
  2. Joe Machado

    Painted chrome is a sign of needing rechrome. Rust belt part of the country.
    Because of what we have here in the desert, this is a pass.
    Nothing to see here.
    Ad does not list serial number, but pictures of build plate and dash vin exposed. Duh!
    318 built car. It is a G code engine with a B, 383?

    Like 1
  3. Nolan Brandsma

    Good article, but please try using another analogy instead of “this power finds its way to the rear wheels via a…”. It’s getting tiresome. Otherwise, those these articles. Always learn a ton!

    Like 2
    • Josue C Rodriguez

      Nolan. I read most of the comments, because the people that write in are very observant. Above all I read Barn Find because of its writers. I enjoy their anologies. English is my second language so, if there is a word I can’t understand I look it up in the dictionary. Barn Find welcomes new writers so instead of you writing in to request that the writers change their writing styles. I suggest that you become a writer yourself so that you can enlightened me with your writing skills. Thanks and I am not criticizing you. Again I am just pointing out that Barn Finds is always looking for new writers.

      Like 1
  4. rustyvet

    “interior complete” Complete disaster. :)

    Like 0

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