Rusty Running Project! 1969 Dodge Charger

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The second-generation Dodge Charger looks great from every vantage point. It’s too bad they aren’t more popular with enthusiasts or used in more movies and television shows. Ha! The exact opposite is true, and this 1969 Dodge Charger in Hatboro, Pennsylvania marks the middle of this iconic muscle car body style’s three-year run. This one began life with the mildest V8, the trusty 318 cid V8, and now sports a recently updated 340 of undetermined lineage. This ride answers the question many have asked on these pages: What if you just took a rusty old muscle car and went through the mechanical bits to get it safely back on the road?

Recovered seats keep those springs from auguring into your posterior. The center console adds some bling in the black plastic void. Weathered paint boasts the slipperiness of 120 grit sandpaper.

Let’s just get this rust-through picture out in the open. Bravo to the seller for not sugar-coating this car’s condition. That lends credit to other claims in the description. Years ago I spotted a friend in my home town and he jumped into my ’78 Buick to catch up and immediately put his boot heel through the floor board. Ouch. Metal fabrication and replacement merely takes some basic tools and skills and a trunkload of patience. I find it rather satisfying.

Onward and upward to the nicely done 340, Mopar’s hottest small block of the muscle car era including its choice for the Trans Am series (de-stroked to 304 cid to meet class requirements). Check out Allpar’s 340 page to learn why the 340 punches above its weight with advantages far beyond 22 cid more than the 318. Check out that serpentine belt system!

Rust holes show off the Charger’s rough history like a boxer’s missing teeth. Crager S/S wheels add some Day 2 cool. The healthy 340 and 3.23 gears with Sure-Grip will quickly leave any laughter or heckling back at the traffic light. Sure, your neighbor’s Hellcat has double the horsepower of this ’69, but pump that Hellcat money into this 1000 pound lighter 2nd-gen and we’ll see who gets the last laugh. Not every classic muscle car needs $35,000+ of receipts to be cool. Check out more pictures and details here on eBay where at least eight bidders have its market value over $18,000 already. Would you drive the tires off this rusty runner or make it perfect?

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Comments

  1. Nevadahalfrack NevadahalfrackMember

    It looks like a worthwhile project off to a good start, though the owner would need to be handy with sheetmetal amongst other things to bring it back to where IMHO it should be. It’s worth a basic renovation at the least especially with that sweet 340 tucked under the hood, based on the four photos you’ve got here, even with an auto transmission.
    Is it for sale somewhere? Didn’t see a link.

    Like 6
    • Todd FitchAuthor

      Thanks Nevadahalftrack. I added the link. 727 Auto

      Like 2
  2. Louie

    Don’t get it right, just get it running
    (David Frieburger)

    Like 7
  3. Car Nut Tacoma

    Are you sure about it not being popular among car enthusiasts? I think it depends on whom you ask. I’ve always loved the 1968-69 Dodge Charger. I remember the 68 Charger from the Steve McQueen movie “Bullitt”. I remember the 69 Charger from the TV series “Dukes of Hazzard”. This example looks like an awesome resto project. I hope whoever buys this can restore the car and maybe upgrade a few things in the process.

    Like 1
    • Philbo427

      I think there was some sarcasm followed by “the exact opposite is true” line.

      Like 2
  4. 2001LexusRX300

    Chargers were generally considered more personal luxury cars back in the day. The very early precursor of that genre. The real street racers would buy a Coronet R/T or Super Bee. Lighter, less expensive. So I think maybe that’s what they mean.

    Like 2
  5. george mattar

    It’s in far better shape than the rotting 68 Charger I discovered yesterday on a back road in Layton, NJ. I lived in Hatboro in the 1980s, great small town, but now very busy like any other suburban Philly town. This car will bring in the 20s, 68 to 70 Chargers are very popular. I want one, but I am too old to take on a project. Just sold an old Corvette and now cruise in my low mileage 2009 Lincoln Town Car.

    Like 1
  6. V12MECH

    Typical rotted out Mopar. To do this correctly you will be able to save the roof and firewall, we do mechanical for a shop that does these frequently, floors, doors, fenders, quarter panels and paint on a rotisserie, $40K or so later, add the interior and drive line and your ready to go.

    Like 1
    • bone

      No worse than any Mustang or Camaro thats lived the same life

      Like 0

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