For a number of years, South Dakota was viewed as the place to go to buy a classic car. Due to their relatively low humidity, cars residing there are viewed as typically being more solid than cars from neighboring states. Whether that’s really the case can be debated, but this 1969 Dodge Charger R/T appears to be fairly solid car, at least comparative to lots of other Mopars. Unfortunately, this one is missing its original drivetrain, but that might not be the end of the world if you want to build the car of your dreams. You can find it here on eBay in Viborg, South Dakota with a current bid of $23,000.
It’s amazing just how much money people are willing to spend on a rusty project car, but I can see the appeal of restoring a Mopar. Finished examples are big money and you never know the quality of the work. Since they are so desirable, parts are easy to find and fairly affordable. This one might be missing lots of parts, but you can buy every nut and bolt to make it right. And since you aren’t beholden to originality, you can build it how ever you want it. Want a modern engine, drop it in and go. Want a higher trim level interior, buy it, install it, and enjoy! The skies the limits with a project like this, well as long as you have a deep wallet that is.
Saying this car is completely rust free would be a stretch, as their is lots of surface rust and some holes showing in the trunk. We’ve reviewed lots Mopars from this era that are completely missing their floors, so you are further ahead here than one of those finds. Most areas look like some POR would get it on the road and the worst of the holes could be patched without too much work. The real issues will be the holes by the rear window, a common problem area for these cars.
If you’ve been on the hunt for a genuine Charger R/T project, this one might be the car for you! Given that the value is in the fact that it’s an R/T will possibly make it hard for some to modify it, but personally, I’d drop a modern Hemi crate engine in it. Treat the rust, patch any holes, install a new interior and hit the street. Of course, to fetch it’s top value, you’ll want to give it a proper restoration. So, which would it be for you?
Like the color. If the price wasn’t so crazy, would make a nice 318 car for adult driving and enjoyment.
The seller needs to provide more information as to what comes with the car. There are no front seats, steering column, brake master cylinder and more, nor are they mentioned. It was a 4spd, does it come with a Dana 60? Where is the trim tag, what options did it come with? By composing such a bad ad, the seller leaves potential buyers with a lot of questions and is costing himself a significant amount of money.
Steve R
Or maybe it is a scam. I wish it was a 318 car, then the price would be a least a little more reasonable.
UNBELIEVABLE what people are asking for something that si worth no more than $1500.00 at best. No engine, a trashed interior that is inferior! Rust repairs required. paint needed. COME ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think Barn finds can find better vehicles to feature and I do like 1969 Chargers as they were the prettiest of the lot.
George—take a breath……
This car is a good base for a really nice hot rod. Don’t read anything else into it. It’s day as a numbers matched collector care are over. The price is also over.
One bid! $23,000. Need to rethink this and his buddy who made that ‘one’ bid. Too much for a normal find and a general older guy daily driver when finished.
Gee, only 50 miles away but way overpriced to begin with. I’ll pass.
There are 0 bids on this car right now.
The seller has set the opening price at $23K.
In other words, no one is going home with this one, ’69 Charger or not.
Another Barrett Jackson dreamer. 50 plus year pile of crap. Best looking Dodge ever, but built like garbage new.
And ’69 Mustangs and Camaros were built better ? They all were built the same basic way , and all rusted badly, unless you were in a dry state. None of these cars were supposed to last more than 10 years , if they did, the car companies couldn’t sell as many cars as they did . The reason you still see rusty Chargers is because they were and are popular – most cars from 1969 never saw the end of the 1980s
True, karl – Why should the manufacturer care about longevity when their goal was for the consumer to buy new every few years?
That’s also why they changed the look every year – to entice you to trade your year or two old vehicle for the sharp looking new one in the showroom,
Compare that to my 2013 Charger that I’ve owned since new. 155K miles and looks pretty much like it did when I picked it up, minus a bit of wear and tear. And that is driving it in the N.E. salt every winter,
No, they were not built like garbage, it is just people do not know how to take care of them or maintain them with at least some minimal care.
No! They were built like garbage, especially the Mopars. And, for the most part, unless you took extraordinary care of them they often rusted badly in maybe 3-4 years and again, the Mopars were the worst.
After living in “East River” (that’s the Missouri River that divides the state) South Dakota for over 50 years not far from Viborg, it is as humid there as it gets and cars do rust badly there. Not as badly as Minnesota, where they use tons of salt, because South Dakota uses “God’s ice and snow removal”, otherwise known as wait until it melts! If this car came from “West River”, it would be in a lot better and dryer climate and a lot less rusty. This Charger is a testament to that.
Auction closed due to an error in the listing. Maybe the error was the price.
More likely us that someone made an offer and bought it before the auction ended.
Steve R
No dispute here on way overpriced, but this one is much more solid than the average charger barn find, I personally would like to see it all original again, with maybe some cragars instead of the usual rally’s, just my opinion.
This guy has a ton of Mopars and is known throughout the region for his knowledge and contacts. I went there a few years ago and was amazed at some of the stuff he has! If anyone knows (and drives) the market, it’s Brad Harms.