If you have a 1969 Dodge Charger 500, you have something special as only 500 were built for street use but inspired by NASCAR. Those cars were more aerodynamic than the standard Chargers. But in 1970, it became more ordinary and the 500 was just a trim level between the base Charger and the Charger R/T (nearly 2/3 of all Charger production in ‘70 carried 500 badging). This running ’70 Charger 500 is a rusty project, but like any second-generation Charger, it’s likely to fetch a good price. Located in Springfield, Oregon, this Mopar is available here on eBay where the reserve is unmet at $19,550.
Ford created the Torino Talladega for NASCAR to have a slipperier product on the track, especially superspeedways. Dodge would quickly follow with the Charger 500 that had exposed headlights on a flat grille and the roof “tunnel” eliminated like on the Coronet. Not as successful as the Ford, the Charger 500 would be replaced the next year by the Daytona with its wild spoiler. But Dodge would use the 500 moniker for two more years on a car that had the same sheet metal as the regular Charger. It was popular enough to capture 60% of Charger sales in 1970 and 20% in 1971 before going away altogether.
The seller’s ’70 Charger came equipped like so many others did. It has a 318 cubic inch V8, TorqueFlite automatic transmission, power steering and brakes, and factory air conditioning. it also has a center console. We’re told it runs and drives just fine, so the major work will be cosmetic, fixing rust, reapplying Burnt Orange paint, and redoing the interior. We’re told the Mopar is complete. Many of the external sheet metal panels will need patching or replacing, and parts of the frame have corrosion, as well.
We don’t know the history of this car but it’s possible the nearly 73,000 miles on the odometer are correct. The seller says you can take the car home and have it yourself or let them do the work for you (they refer to Graveyard Carz, so could this be them?). The ’70 Charger sold in smaller numbers like the 1968 or 1969s (by nearly half), so finding a restored one of these may take a bit more effort.
I forget the TV show but isn’t that Mopar guru in Springfield Oregon?
EEE GADDS! I recall eons ago a fella driving a not as rusty but rusty one of these but an RT into the junkyard one summers day long ago. The car a triple black 440 six pack. I gave him 75.00 bucks, pried the rusted tag off. He gave me the title from 1973 when he bought it and I promptly picked it up with my Case 20 and set it atop another car for destruction. My how times have changed, no regrets though. It was business and it like thousands of others were just old cars at the end of the road. I took lots of off the wall photos of day to day life then. Folks would go into cardiac arrest if they saw some of the cars. Reserve not met at 20k. I will go as far as to say it is better than a few loads that have limped across this site.
I know the feeling there, I saw so many cars go to the shredder back in the late 70’s and early 80’s. Kinda rough thinking about what they are worth now but back in the day they were worth about 30 a ton on a good day.
Imagine sitting in a loader and feeding an Al’jon 20 car after car. Many left only their gas tanks, tires, and whatever core I forked from the unit before it was pressed into an 18″ high pancake.
I cringe to think what went to scrap yards back in the day. Around here, a customer recalls how in about 1981 they pulled a 426 hemi out of a black 1970 Challenger and sent the rusty body to the shedder.
In those days the hemis were popular in drag boats. No one wanted them in cars as gas had just hit a buck a gallon and it hurt pretty bad. I know, I crushed a 70 Plymouth 2 door HT in pretty nice condition and bought a new Dodge Omni. I thought I was pretty smart. I quintupled my MPG and rid myself of a valueless car.
It looks like the Mopar Guru is selling off a lot of his spare parts cars lately.
didn’t barn finds list this already for these dealers ?
I’ve sold plenty of good runners myself 25-30+ year’s ago for less than $800. Just times were different then and the worth of these cars along with the vast information available today was non existent. Fun times though…fun times.
Gravyard Carz I believe
Graveyard carz I believe
There was an amusing connection between the 1969 & 1970 Charger 500s. By the time it was obvious the aero tricks on the 1969 car didn’t work, Dodge hadn’t built the 500 required for homologation (392 the commonly quoted number) so the matter was transferred to some engineers recently made redundant when Chrysler closed its missile division (Nixon era détente and arms reduction had just begun) and they came up with the Daytona. However, as a fudge to avoid any problems with NASCAR’s auditors asking about the missing cars, the 500 name was re-purposed as a regular production model.
From the rust elsewhere, once you took the vinyl top off, what’s left of the roof will come off with the vinyl.
Instant convertible.
This might be rare after 50 plus years, but it is rough and not worth restoring, no wonder Mark Worman wants to sell, restoration costs FAR exceed what the value would be when finished, Graveyard Carz has to make money somehow, it’s better to sell and let someone else pay for it.
I love the trailer hitch! Hillbilly heaven!
This car will be purchased regardless of the condition! You do not have to like it, nor do you have to respect it! The market will dictate the final oucome. I restore these cars everyday, and all panels and hardware are very accessible aka replacement. Shake your heads now, I come out of the Bank shaking my head also, with green in my hands and counting bills!
$20,490.00 of reserve searching and not met yet. I’d seriously doubt if anyone really wants this hulk. Surely there is more rot than meets the eye, I can see some of it inside the rails. The trunk rot is severe, probably been wet for the last 20 years. From the evidence of engine and transmission leaks, almost certainly both need overhaul. Interior is rough, and the body rot will invariable extent well past what is see. Great deal for a seller, but a buyer – not much. If it sells for 21k, the restoration will be equal to that, or more.
I would say that even if you do the work yourself the cost will be more than what you pay for it.if you get someone else to do it it is going to be a lot more than that. I would say to let it rest in pieces in the grave yard. only my oppinion.
The images used in the story appear to be a 1970 Charger — not a 1969 Charger 500. No flush rear window and the front car photo clearly shows the chrome wrap-a-round bumper pf a ‘70 instead of the quad headlights that were flush with ‘69 Charger 500 grill. Also, no way the Charger 500 came with an anemic 318 c.i. motor. They were only available with 440 or 426 hemi motors. Geeeez…..
The car for sale is a ’70. It is clearly stated in the BF article and in the BF auction.
The author states that only that the ’69 500 was a special car where the ’70 was a trim level for the regular Charger and nothing special. Maybe that’s where you got confused.
There were *supposed* to be 500 1969 Charger 500s built, but once Dodge realized NASCAR wasn’t paying attention, they stopped at 392.
Exactly, 392 of the 1969 Charger 500’s made, and I had the privilege of having 3, and one was the Public Relations Hemi 500.
Is this Joe Machado?
Not again is correct, but like him, the buyer will be a shop or self sufficient to do all the work, these can hit $100k , so market is still alive for now, the well off buyer will look for a better level car, or complete one. This is not for “The I’m gonna make a killen” amateurs.
The pessimist writes “Running but rusty.” The optimist writes “Rusty but running.”
If you could put a price on oxidation,say, $2.21 per sq foot, price is correct.
Unibody Dodge with serious rust. The trunk won’t even hold a spare. Plenty of spare parts, I mean, a 318 is only 22 shy of a 340 and working Torque-flights are rare, but there’s certainly not $20,490 worth of parts here.
We had to restore from an older backup so we lost a day’s worth of comments.
Glad you got it back on track, Jesse.
As an I.T. guy I was curious as to what happened.
Trust me, if you lost only a day’s worth of data, you are ahead of the game.
Production numbers:
1969 Charger 500 = 580 total
1969 Charger Daytona = 503 total