The Challenger was in its sophomore year in 1971, coming off a solid launch the year before. As the last “pony car” to join the movement, it arrived just as sales of performance cars were beginning to decline. As such, demand for the Challenger dropped by two-thirds in 1971 and never recovered from there. From a wooded area in Leonardtown, Maryland, this second-year Challenger is pretty rough and likely would have gone to the crusher if this were 30 years ago. This project or donor Mopar is available here on eBay where the reserve is unmet, but the bid is only $1,125.
Challengers sold in 1970 and 1971 could go from mild to wild in terms of engine choices. You could start with a 225 cubic inch Slant-Six or leapfrog up to a 426 Hemi. But from 1972-74, the largest displacement engine was either a 340 or 360 V8, depending on model year. The seller’s ’71 edition has the pedestrian 318 V8 which was probably the most commonly ordered selection. It’s doubtful this engine has seen any action in many moons. You would assume the car stopped running, it was parked out back and has stayed there ever since.
The VIN suggests this Challenger may have had the SE option when new as the interior looks a bit nicer than standard. But the seats, carpeting, and everything else are pretty rough and there is very little there that can be salvaged. If this car were a Challenger 340 or had a 383, 440, or Hemi, a buyer would be more inclined to restore it. These muscle cars are known to fetch six figures and higher, but I doubt there are any $100,000 318s out there.
This vehicle has no title, and the seller says if you need one, the final price will go up. He/she’s moving, and the car has to go. Normally that would suggest that cash is king, and any reasonable offer takes it. But this car has a reserve and if it’s too high, he/she may have to move it, too!
People say lots more barn finds remain to be discovered, but it seems we are seeing more and more swamp finds. Cars that were just abused, abandoned, many stripped, and now the sellers think they have struck it rich. Incredible that seller in one breath says he’s moving and it must go and then says a title will cost you extra. –Move along. Nothing to see here.
I’m a Mopar fan and have owned many in my lifetime. When I was young, though, Chevys and Fords were king in many people’s eyes. Today, however, if you own a Mopar and are trying to sell it, the prices are usually $10,000+ too high. I’m kinda jealous of the GM and Ford boys, now, as those vehicles are relatively “affordable”.
Zero
Parts car junk. Keep dreaming. Many of the 318 cars do not even have the 8:3/4 rear in them. Not much here to pick at. Your at 1,200.00 now and you have to haul it to wherever and then try to sell this crap. I just tossed an entire interior to one I had kept for years for extra if needed on my convertible. If there was no interest in nice black pieces, there is no value in any of this things inside. Good luck, a do do will buy it, drag it wherever, dance around it for a while and then the shredder will get it.
There are several parts on this car of value (steering wheel, console, shifter, hood, bumpers, tailights, trim
etc just to name a few.) It depends on what the undercarriage looks like.
NOTE: What would be cool is to see this car donated and restored by donations to say a high school auto shop program, numerous charities etc. Raffle tickets are then sold to people with a chance of winning the car once restored to raise $$$$ Yes it could be done. Look up WCSX radio 94.7 in Detroit Stone Soup Projects (they did many restorations like this over the years.)
I’m originally from the Detroit area and used to go to the Prep center in Sterling Heights back in the 80s when I was in H.S. I took welding, but the auto shop was next door. They would do cars up for the autorama and we would get the weld jobs. Warren Mott’s auto shop would build cars too, I split 11th/12th grade between the 2 schools. But I’m in Arizona now and after building cars from both states, I don’t mess with rot anymore. Takes 1/3 of the time to restore a rust free car. But I do visit occasionally and know what your talking about on 94.7. Those kids would be further ahead if they got a rust free example to start with.
All of those parts you “tossed” had value to someone out there i.e. someone who is doing a budget build etc. Those parts could have been donated or offered for free (better than throwing them out.) We already have enough negative in the world, so go try to make it a better place.
Tried that with some almost mint condition 3rd generation Trans Am interior pieces. Ones that can be a B to find. First tried selling them on Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace. Zero bites. Finally offered them for free because I really wanted someone to have that could use them. It kinda made me sick but after 4 months I finally tossed them. Here in Arizona cars may not rust but heat destroys plastic interior parts. Damn shame the right person never saw my ad. It happens.
I agree some of the parts came be used on another car or two.
Up to 5k now. Who does that?
Mopars command a premium today over their rivals (depending on the model.) Mopar were better engineered and designed than a lot of the competition (just look under the hood at accessibility to the components vs the competition.) They were the only one to fully paint an engine compartment the same as the body color (the rivals painted their engine compartments black.) Mopar invented the alternator, electronic ignition, gear reduction starter and electronic voltage regulator just to name a few.
Sure. That’s why Chrysler’s gone under three times. They “over engineered” their way into the poor house.
What will arrive next? Possibly a a Swinger buried under a collapsed barn? A lost Daytona rotted on every panel , no title, trim tag, drive train, with a nice winged on the back for 35 grand.
Its fun to see Mecum eyes gazed over sellers dreaming.
Of course its fun to read about it…
The SE was available on the first-gen Challenger only in 1970. Bidding is up to $4600. Lotsa luck to the seller, I don’t think the reserve will be met on this one.
It’s so sad when people drag these classic cars out of the trees and think what they have is worth a pot of gold.but it’s even worse when they attached an adittude to the price. The reality is that the car needs a total restoration as stated in the listing. But adding insult to injury they have no title while expecting top dollar for what is left of the unit. A sad thing when they will never do anything with it except let it sit and rust away, even though they own it.