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Solid Survivor: 1970 Dodge Charger

If I had a buck for every Second Generation Charger that I had seen with horrifying rust issues, I won’t say that I’d be rich, but I’d be a long way from being broke. That’s what makes this 1970 Charger a breath of fresh air. It has some rust, but it’s so minor that it wouldn’t demand immediate attention. Adding to its attraction is the healthy V8 under the hood and the fact that its mechanical health means that the buyer can drive and enjoy this classic immediately. If you love your Mopar products and find this too tempting to resist, you will find the Charger located in Granite Falls, Washington, and listed for sale here on eBay. While spirited bidding has pushed the price to $20,325, this figure remains short of the reserve.

When it was new, this Charger would’ve been a striking vehicle. It rolled off the line, resplendent in Dark Green Metallic paint with a matching Green vinyl top. Those days are well behind it, but this classic is a long way from being considered a lost cause. The panels wear their share of minor dings and dents, with the worst of these being the one in this shot in the rear quarter panel. It would take an in-person inspection to determine whether this is repairable, but I think that the buyer will need to brace themselves and spend $550 on a new quarter panel. Observant readers will note that while the exterior of this Dodge wears some significant surface corrosion, there is no evidence of substantial penetrating rust. A close inspection might reveal some pinholes, but there’s nothing that will cause nightmares. However, that is merely the entree because the news under this classic is equally positive. There are some small holes in the trunk pan, and while the buyer could probably patch these without drama, if I were to buy this beast, I would be tempted to spend $370 on a new trunk pan to consign the rust to the pages of history. It appears that the vehicle may have been undercoated at some stage because while there is the occasional dusting of surface corrosion in a few spots, the floors and frame rails look as solid today as they would have when this classic was new. Some of the trim seems okay, but other pieces, like the rear bumper, have seen better days. The car rolls on what appears to be a relatively new set of American Racing Torq Thrust wheels. Whether they stay or go will be a matter of personal taste.

When the buyer reaches the point of tackling this Charger’s interior, their shopping list will be relatively long. It will include new covers for both front seats, a new headliner, carpet set, dash pad, wheel, and door trims. They will also need to decide what they would like to slot into the hole where the radio used to be. The Charger rolled out of the factory with air conditioning, but the engine bay hardware has gone. That will be something else to add to the shopping list. Before I spent any money on the console, I would treat it to a clean. There’s a chance that the faux-woodgrain may revive with a spot of TLC. The last item to consider is that this Charger has some electrical issues. The owner believes that these could be nothing more than “ground” issues, so it might take more time than money to sort these problems. That sounds like a rewarding way to pass some time during the long winter months.

If the lack of rust problems has seemed too good to be true, the Charger’s mechanical health is further cause for celebration. The engine bay houses a 318ci V8 that would be producing 230hp. Those ponies find their way to the rear wheels via a three-speed TorqueFlite transmission, giving the Charger the ability to cover the ¼ mile in 17.2 seconds. A peek under the car’s rear reveals a new fuel tank, and that’s just the beginning of the positive news. The owner indicates that the TorqueFlite has recently been serviced and that it shifts perfectly. Combine this with a V8 that runs extremely well and brakes that feel strong, and this baby is ready to hit the road for a spot of classic motoring fun. It seems that all the buyer will need to do is detail everything so that it presents nicely.

There’s no denying the popularity of the Dodge Charger, and this 1970 model looks like a beauty. Its rust issues are insignificant, and it represents the type of project that a competent person could tackle in a home workshop. If the new owner performs the restoration work to a high standard and leaves the car mechanically stock, they should find themselves the proud owner of a classic that should easily command a value of around $35,000. If they achieve perfection, $40,000 would be well within reach. The current bidding trends may not leave a lot of room to move for it to remain financially viable, but the lack of specialist rust repairs will carve a fair chunk off the cost of this project. It might be worth watching this listing to see how it pans out.

Comments

  1. Avatar Mark

    Spruce it up (no pun intended) by making it safe and drive it.

    Like 2
  2. Avatar jimbunte Member

    This is a G0G car, so it’s originally 318. Probably drums all around, as well. But console, so it had some good options on it! I’d fix as is and enjoy! Great find if it sells for under $25K. (LOL I know)

    Like 1
  3. Avatar DavidL Member

    Bought one of these new; loved it when I bought it but grew to loath it. It was amazing all the things wrong w/ it. Carburetor (4-barrel Holly) had to be replaced, dipstick tube rested on the exhaust manifold and eventually broke off, burned a quart of oil every 500 miles (Dealer said that was w/in normal limits, mileage was off the charts (as in bad). One of the happiest days of my life was when I got rid of the POS. Still like the design, had some good times w/ it.

    Like 1
    • Avatar Gary

      4bbl, must not have been the great 318. That was your first mistake, buying a performance car. They are fun to abuse, but when you do, there is a price to pay. Also, why do we keep having to talk about value? I wish these were still fairly priced so they would be used and loved by a bigger cross section of the populous.

      Like 6
      • Avatar Brewmenn

        It’s an auction, the fair price is what someone is willing to pay.

        Like 0
  4. Avatar AMISHTRUCKER

    I’d leave the exterior as is, throw a couple Mexican blankets over the seats, and find a girl named Dirty Mary.

    Like 9
    • Avatar Doug from MD.

      I’d leave it on eBay and let somebody else throw their money at it. I already had a girl named dirty Mary and she wasn’t fun.

      Like 5

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