When it comes to E-Bodies, the ’70 and ’71s seem to be the cars many buyers are chomping at the bit to put in their garage, and that’s understandable as both the Dodge Challenger and Plymouth Barracuda were fine choices during these couple of years. By the time 1972 hit, just about everything that could go wrong for the muscle car market was here, with the Challenger being no exception. Gone were the big blocks and R/T model, but an offering called the Rallye became available and soldiered through until the first-generation cars met their demise at the end of ’74. Located in Carrollton, Georgia, one such offering is this 1973 Dodge Challenger Rallye here on Craigslist, which can be yours for $14,500.
Many thanks go out to Barn Finds tipster arkie for making us aware of this one! Fortunately, the Challenger retained its good looks through 1974 with no major body changes, and adding the Rallye package got you some vents on the front fenders although they didn’t do anything but look cool, as did the tape stripes that were also included. The seller doesn’t give us a whole lot of information about his car other than it’s been sitting for the past 20 years, but I can think of far worse climates than The Peach State for a car to remain idle this long and the body doesn’t really seem all that bad overall, though there is some hopefully not-too-serious rust showing near the front rocker areas plus that vinyl top is toast.
This one’s got a 318 under the hood with no details provided other than it will start and drive around the yard, which obviously indicates that the automatic transmission at minimum is functioning. There’s no word on whether or not either is a born-with component and nothing further about the drivetrain or car in general, other than the seller telling us it needs work.
It’s nowhere close to perfect, but I’ve seen considerably worse interiors on seventies Challengers and it does seem pretty much complete in there, with what appears to be the factory radio still in the dash and that cool Slap Stik console shifter. The dash pad and driver’s side bucket are going to need attention if the next owner is going for anything beyond a driver, but based on the car as a whole I’m at least tempted by the under 15 grand price tag. How about you?
Should be gone now…..for that kinda money.
Yep, this is the Mopar bargain of 2023. That is, if it is as non-rusty as it looks.
Let’s see, 14,500.00 for this or 18k for a 4 door 307 Nova. HMMMMMMM!
Although this won’t be the most popular comment, your comment is very well said. This is why I have a C3 for cars n coffee and a C8 for taking to the mountains or beach. It also has a track mode for when you get the urge to go racing!
A CIVIC !!! You really didn’t compare a fart can car to real American muscle , comon man !!
Agree with you regarding the positives of a new Civic, but they are all over the place and blend-in to the surroundings. This car (and others like it) get noticed, which is a large part of the fun of a vintage car. Like you I have a modern car for travel, etc., but it, too, “blends in”. When I drive my ’87 Chrysler Fifth Avenue I get waves from people and favorable comments wherever I go. That’s the fun.
lmao!
Purple’s dream come true: A Civic with a slant 6 transplant.
But consider this almost as a piece of fine art. One of the US car industry’s finest examples of design from a specific period that will never happen again. And this one appears to be in really decent shape. Even being a less desirable, later model with a 318, it’s still a lovely car in an appealing color combination. When they were cheap, they were rare in good shape and always just out of my reach.
Yeah, I have Toyota as a daily driver. It’s fine but it really is merely an appliance.
Looks like a solid car for the money, I’d be tempted to drive it like it is after any necessary mechanical repairs. I do wonder what became of the rally hood and why no mention of it.
the ballest resistor went on these cars as for the age look under the car especiailty the frame rails they rotted out bad and the front panels,i had a 73 rallye challenger i had from 1980- 1985 ,it rusted so bad the floors on drivers side rotted bad and front panels and underneath frame rails cracked
Hmm… “real American muscle”? 0 – 60 in 8.6 seconds isn’t very muscular. A lot of guys on here can’t be courteous to others giving their opinions but expect courtesy from everyone. Geez!!
Yes, maybe older cars are not all the hyped up missiles many portray then as. Many could be ordered various ways, engine choices, trannys, rear end gearing. Some were quite fast for there size and time and unlike todays cookie cutter, everything is the same units. No two were the same and many are wonderful to drive. You drive them, they did not drive you. The big difference for me is ALL of these cars from then are very simple to maintain and repair. I still use 40 to 60 year old cars daily. The simplicity and low costs are a no Brainer today. These cars had style, comfort and class. Keep your over engineered, airbag laden electronic junk. When the fuel ends we will all be in Teslas and these will be in museums and 95 % of anything built in the last 20 years will be in the shredder.
Hi Chris. I agree with you. Maybe you didn’t see all of the comments but I brought that up because someone didn’t like Ms. Purple’s take on over priced classic cars. Not all classic cars were muscle cars. My first car was a 65 Mustang, Springtime Yellow, 4 speed ten bolt top loader with factory air. After a .30 over bore, balance, Competition cam, edlebrock intake, holly 4 barrel, larger valves (intake and exhaust), ported and polished heads, hooked headers, 9″ posi rear with 4:11 zoom gears, my Mustang was a runner. Faster than 8.6 0 to 60 times. A new Mazda Miata with a 2.0 liter engine (121 cubic inches) with 181 horsepower is faster than a 1967/68 Ford Mustang GT S code with a 320 hp 390 big block in both 0-60 and 1/4 mile times. Did you know that Ford had an RHS 302 in 1967/68 that produced 375hp but no one wanted it because everyone wanted a big block (me included)? They finally used that technology in the Boss 302 that was advertised as having 290 hp but really had between 375 & 406 hp? If someone wants to yell at someone because of their comments then we will respond. Mike Stephans, don’t delete this response, I am only telling the truth.
Springtime yellow 65 Mustang. I bought one in 1993 for 300.00. The car was the barn storming 6 cylinder with a 3 speed manual, bench seat with power steering, factory air and tinted glass. I drove it 200 miles a day for a job for three years and did nothing to it. rust took it out of service but I still have squirreled away. Love Mustangs.
Absolutely agree!
This is NOT a rallye package car. The flat hood is wrong, there are no cutouts in the rear valence for the square exhaust tips, it should have the 340 not a 318, the tape stripes aren’t right, the grill is the wrong color, and so on. The only thing that says rallye is the gauge cluster, which is an easy swap (I swapped them into my ‘73), and the fender vents, which are a simple bolt on. Nice car, but it ain’t what he says it is. It’s just a basic Challenger.
You’re correct. E44 on the data plate indicates the car has a 318 2 barrel.
Hi guys. I do believe it’s a rare 318 Rallye Challenger.
1972 was the only year where the Rally model was a separate model vs an option package. I have a ‘72 Challenger Rallye. The VIN designation would start with “JS” where as the base Challengers (non-Rallye and non R/T cars for 1970 and 1971) began with the “JH” designation. Even the 1970 Challenger T/A cars I believe were “JH” VINs.
For the 1973 and 1974 models all Challenger VINs started with the “JH” designation and the “Rallye” was no longer a separate model but became and option package using the fender tag code A57 if I’m not mistaken.
Looking at the fender tag, in the middle is the A57 code and the bottom left is the code E44 which is for a 318ci engine. (E55 is for 340ci engine). So this I feel is a 318ci Rallye which is more rare than a 340 Rallye.
Because it has a 318, it will not come with the dual scoop hood, dual exhaust rear valence cut outs nor the chrome quad exhaust tips. Those were only if you had a 340 engine, Rallye or not. The grill and tail panel color I’m not as familiar with but yes, on the 1972 Rallye cars they were a flat black color or whatever color they called it back then.
Good eye on the A57.
Just noticed it’s been lowered a thousand bucks, now $13,500
Welcome to censorship. It’s been a thing lately.
I do agree with you btw …
Hi Ms. Purple. I also have a Honda and a Toyota Tundra. My first car was a 65 Mustang and first truck was a 1967 C10 that was ordered with the 375hp 396 and 3:90 rear end to pull a 25 footer camper (I bought it from the owner with only 11,000 miles on it). He didn’t drive it because it only got 9 miles to the gallon. I was young and this was a party truck down on the levee of the Rio Grande….
lol, I have an 84 Corolla we used daily and a 95 Integra, they look out of place next to my old 70s Chevies and other ancient junk I drive and play with. Nothing looks stranger than a Hyabusa parked next to a 58 Buick station wagon. Car variety is a must. Yes to me prices are insane but I am older and change is sometimes tough when you look at this car and then look at a 70 convertible version that was bought for 300.00 and driven away and is in the same condition. Ride on car people…..
Hi Purple defender! Sorry, didn’t get to see your comments! I like Hondas, have a couple and like muscle cars, have one. But yes, some of these cars have gone up crazy prices but in a sense all things have too. Just look what a house cost now compared to 1972.
I remember the days if you had $500 in your pocket you could buy an old car but those days are long gone. That’s why I can really appreciate this website because these aren’t waxed up trailer queens but they’re just regular every day cars at attainable prices that you could imagine that you saw like 40-50 years ago out on the street. But that’s what drives up these prices too. It only takes two people to drive up a bid on a 1971 hemi Cuda convertible to $2.5 million. But like everything now is expensive or “collectible”.
But very true, you could buy a new car today that outperforms the old cars in almost every single way but that’s not all it’s about. It’s about nostalgia, style, and the old memories of cruising around in an old car that maybe you used to have. Even regular grocery getter cars like a Honda Accord will run circles around some old muscle cars. And then there are the electric cars which can be much faster. But they have no soul to them like old cars do. Old cars are just cool! But for sure I would own more or a nicer old car if prices were lower.
I know prices are nuts. Think about this. At one time these were towed away as junk.They were stacked as high as a two story building. Things were cut from them and then by the hundreds they pressed loaded onto a truck and taken to the shredder. I ran such an operation for most of the 80s and took dozens of photos. Guys would go into cardiac arrest if they saw them, but that was the time. To me even today when I walk through a wrecking yard, I still think automobiles are the biggest waste of resources for all that goes into them and how little most people think of them. Then and now.