As was the case with most muscle cars, sales of the 1971 Dodge Charger R/T went into freefall due to various factors. Those that remain have either been restored or are begging for such attention. Our feature car is a different proposition. It is a genuinely original and unmolested survivor that could be preserved in its current form. It would also represent a straightforward restoration candidate for those seeking perfection. The seller has listed the R/T here on eBay in Point Roberts, Washington. They set their BIN at $79,900 with the option to make an offer.
Dodge released its Third Generation Charger range for the 1971 model year. It was dramatically restyled and bore little resemblance to its predecessor. Gone was the “Coke-bottle” look, with the company adopting what is described as “fuselage” styling. The R/T remained the high-performance model, although sales tumbled for various reasons. These included rising fuel and insurance costs, while there is little doubt that the Challenger also dragged sales away. The result was that while the company sold 20,100 Charger R/Ts in 1969 and 10,337 in 1970, the 1971 tally was a mere 3,118 cars. This one is a survivor that wears its original Code Y8 Gold Metallic paint. The first owner teamed that shade with a matching Gold vinyl top. It isn’t a trailer queen, with the paint faded and showing a range of imperfections. However, it retains all of the original and distinctive R/T features and is said to be rust-free. There is visible deterioration to some plated trim pieces, although the headlamp doors work as they should. Returning this classic to its former glory would not be difficult, and it will be fascinating to discover how many of our Barn Finds readers would choose that path over preservation.
Buyers could choose from three engines to power their new 1971 Charger R/T. The 440ci “Magnum” V8 was the most affordable and is what we find hiding under the hood of this survivor. The first owner teamed the Magnum with a three-speed A-727 automatic transmission, and the popularity of this combination is demonstrated by a sales tally of 2,172. The 440 generates a very respectable 370hp and 480 ft/lbs of torque. Although the curb weight had climbed slightly compared to its predecessor, this R/T should still storm the ¼-mile in 14.5 seconds. The seller confirms that this Charger is numbers-matching, and is in excellent mechanical health. Its carburetor is freshly rebuilt, and it appears the alternator might be new. Otherwise, this Dodge runs and drives perfectly, ready to provide a new owner with immediate classic motoring enjoyment.
The seller includes an enormous collection of documentation that confirms this Charger’s history and specifications. The Fender Tag reveals the first owner continued the “Gold” theme set by the exterior when they selected the interior Luxury trim. The car features air conditioning, bucket seats, a console, a factory radio, and a remote driver’s mirror. This aspect of the Charger is as original as the rest of the vehicle, with the lack of physical damage to the upholstered surfaces seeming to confirm that the car has always been treated respectfully. The seller admits that there are dash cracks that are difficult to spot in the supplied photos. However, these could probably be addressed without seriously compromising the survivor status.
Although this 1971 Dodge Charger R/T would look stunning following a faithful restoration, there is something undeniably attractive about slipping behind the wheel of a genuine survivor. It proudly carries the marks and imperfections that prove that it has been driven and enjoyed as its creators intended, not squirreled away in a garage only to see the light of day on rare occasions. I would love to think that someone will preserve this classic, but I suspect that if it finds a new home, someone will return it to a pristine state. It might be a relatively rare beast, but I believe the biggest hurdle facing this Charger could be the BIN figure. It isn’t pocket change, and some might view it as optimistic. Do you think it will find a new home fairly quickly, or will the seller need to compromise to achieve a successful sale?
Big starting cost; this would have to be someone’s passion project.
It’s nice but it’s not THAT nice. At $80k for a project car, someone would need to be absolutely infatuated with it.
Then again, it seems like everything is crazy expensive on the west coast of Washington.
Clarkey, is the dealer in Port Coquitlam 🤔 if so, is this 80k Canadian bucks? Pretty steep discount for our US 🇺🇸 friends right now…💰
That’d be a little more reasonable:$$79,900 CAN=$55,600 US
The ad states it’s $US 80k. In my opinion, way overpriced for a 440 Magnum which is not the next best thing to a Hemi. That would be a 440 Six Pack equipped one that I can buy restored for $US 60k.
Not worth it to me, it may be to someone else. And as an owner he’s free to ask whatever he wants. I do agree with keeping it as is.
Good time to take a vacation up North Nevadahalfrack 😌💁♂️😃
If it is original it would be ideal to leave it alone to preserve any factory marks during the build. Like most sellers they hope they can get a sucker to pay that price, maybe they will, there’s lots of people with money and little sense willing to pay outrageous mark ups just because they have the money.
Why restore it? If you do it becomes just another over polished car at a coffee and cars. It’s more interesting in its current condition, imperfections and all.
The price seems too high, I don’t trust anyone that shows a valuation guide in their ad, it’s self serving, a serious buyer will do their own research. Like someone once said, you can’t go up in price, but you can go down, he already states he’s open to offers. The question is,, how much would he take.
Steve R
I’ll echo what Steve R. stated, this Charger absolutely does not need restoration. These cars are only original once. I doubt anyone considering buying this Mopar would be thinking of restoring, they’re buying it because of its originality. Which to some, is more sought after than just another over-restored flawless car.
I agree as well – leave this one the way it is. The reason this is priced the way it is is due to its survivor status.
The only flaw in the seller’s thinking is pricing it based on the result of a single high-end auction. But, it is just a starting point – who knows where it will end up if/when it eventually sells, maybe months and months from now.
Since it isn’t an over restored/flawless car, its asking price shouldn’t exceed the price of one. It were a perfect time capsule it might hit that mark, but based on condition, I think it is worth half the asking price’
too much $ for what it looks like.
They don’t get much worse for being WAY over priced than this one! $40K tops!
I’m one of the few people who like this style better than the 2nd generation. I understand all the reasons why I shouldn’t and didn’t say that I don’t like the other ones. This is a nice car that fits right in with the early 70s vibe.
I agree. Personally I prefer this style. Anything after 1970 was overshadowed at the by govt. and insurance campaigns against the factory hp wars of the 60’s. Prices up, public opinion down with available cash killed the muscle car Era.
1970 had maybe the best power numbers. But lumping all 70s together meant a disdain for all the changes. Gems like this never got their due by most.
What the heck happened to the air cleaner? And the horn? I have mopars older than that with original air cleaners, paint is a little faded but the one on this car looks like it sat out in the weather for years. Just a little odd. The rest of the car looks great, albeit a little overpriced…
That’s not going to happen pricewise……a Dreamer at Best
I’m suprised the hood vents let air in/out of eng compartment, tho i would order the so much cooler air grabber hood b4 i ordered/instead of vinyl roof, console, racing stripes.
I’ve posted this before, but after my father passed away, my mother enjoyed the companionship of a gentleman who was in his 80s. One day, he suffered a medical emergency and she called 911. When the paramedics arrived, they were highly distracted by his one owner immaculate condition Dodge Charger parked in the carport (“Hello? The patient is in here!”). He survived, but we joked afterwards that they may have considered withholding treatment in order to provide them with an opportunity to buy it…😉.
To say that the asking price is “optimistic” is a gross understatement.
For Pete’s sake people, either MAKE AN OFFER or shut up. It has become so tiring to keep seeing blah blah blah about a price on something you can’t afford or won’t buy.
Well Ron, apparently you haven’t noticed, but this site is not only a forum to advertise cars for sale, but also a place for fellow automobile enthusiasts to chat about our likes, dislikes, and cars in general.
Correct.
Right about being a forum for sharing experiences and adding to what the author has contributed. Carrying on about price or disdain for something trivial becomes exhausting.
Nelson C: I disagree about the “carrying on about price or something trivial” statement. Price and condition are probably the two most relevant topics to discuss when looking at a car for sale and on a rare or “original” car, small items can sometimes make a significant difference.
I agree wholeheartedly. People are clued into the frenzy of old cars and often ask far more than the vehicle’s true worth. What I’m referring to is that when the obvious has already been stated and a contributor has nothing else to offer it becomes tedious.
On that we agree.