Second Generation Project: 1969 Dodge Charger

It takes years of experience to master the restoration skills required to turn out some of the museum-quality B-Body show pieces running around nowadays, and I totally get that being able to turn a vehicle into a rolling work of art is a gift that many enthusiasts never quite master.  However, even if it’s your first project, understanding that paint goes on last is a pretty important part of the bodywork hierarchy.  This 1969 Dodge Charger here on eBay seems to have gotten the buggy in front of the horse, so if you’re up for a redo, this one might be worth considering taking over.  This desirable Mopar is located in Benton, Kentucky, with the current high bid sitting at $10,100.

Near the top of the listing, the seller writes “Dukes Of Hazzard General Lee”, and with the lack of prep before the orange was sprayed on, I hope this doesn’t suggest that this Charger was originally destined to have the number 01 put on the doors, leap over something, then come crashing down.  This one’s undoubtedly better than to deserve meeting that fate, but there’s still a lot of repairs and massaging needed before the sheet metal is ready for a properly applied coat of paint.  If you look closely, you can see the holes for the trim that once surrounded a vinyl top, and the rear window opening has suffered as a result of that material once having been there.

There’s no mention of a fender tag or build sheet present here, but the seller does provide a VIN, which is helpful in determining the born-with engine size.  Letter “F” indicates this one was originally equipped with a 318, but the seller reports that there’s now a 383 in the bay, which also looks like it’s got some fresh paint on the outside.  The big block is said to turn over, but the owner hasn’t heard it run, so its internal condition remains a mystery.  A 4-speed manual transmission with a pistol-grip shifter comes with the sale, but it’s not installed, with no word on whether a rebuild will be required before it’s capable of changing gears.

The seller points out that the dashboard looks really nice, but a considerable amount of attention will be required to get the interior back to driver-quality.  Fortunately, the frame rails are believed to be in good condition, and a tarp is shown with several parts that are included, so perhaps some of these will be useful.  However, this one’s got a long way to go before it’ll be ready to cruise again.  Does this 1969 Dodge Charger have the right stuff to consider taking on as a project?