Driving Project: 1970 Dodge Charger
Finding a project candidate that provides immediate classic motoring pleasure can be challenging, but that is what this 1970 Dodge Charger offers. It runs and drives perfectly, and it seems a new owner with reasonable welding skills might be able to address its visible minor rust issues at their leisure. Its healthy V8 promises a rewarding motoring experience with enough power on tap to satisfy most enthusiasts. The Charger is listed here on eBay in Monroeville, New Jersey. The seller set a BIN of $55,000 but left the option to make an offer.
Some paint and trim combinations work better than others on particular classics, and teaming Dark Burnt Orange with a Beige vinyl top produces a stunning result on this Charger. This car would turn as many heads today as it undoubtedly did the day it rolled off the showroom floor. There’s a lot to like here, with the paint retaining a deep shine and the trim looking excellent. Rust issues initially seem confined to the lower rear quarter panels on either side, but patch panels to address the problems are readily available. The underside shots reveal that prone areas like the floors and rails are rock-solid. The seller indicates minor issues with the trunk pan but nothing demanding a frame-off approach. So far, the news seems optimistic. One question mark hangs over this Charger, and it revolves around the vinyl top. It appears in reasonable condition, but I noticed it is lifting around some edges on the rear pillars. The last photo in this article shows what seems to be bubbling on the driver’s side back pillar around the area where the welded seam is. It could be a trick of the light, but it might also indicate deeper repairs required than first meets the eye. It would be worth investigating further because it could add considerably to the repair cost and time. If there are no issues, returning this classic to a high-end driver quality standard shouldn’t take much time or money.
The Charger’s interior appears to hold no nasty surprises. It presents acceptably for a driver-quality vehicle, with no torn or abused upholstery. The carpet is in good order, as are the dash and pad. There might be an aftermarket radio in the dash, but I can’t spot any further modifications. The original owner ordered this Charger with air conditioning, and the seller indicates the system is intact. It also features the Rally gauge cluster and optional sports wheel.
Enthusiasts craving the throb of a V8 will find this Charger extremely attractive. Its mechanical configuration includes a 383ci V8, an A-727 automatic transmission, and power steering. The 383 should produce 290hp and 390 ft/lbs of torque. That is enough to launch the car through the ¼-mile in 16.3 seconds. If the driver keeps their foot down, that fantastic V8 would run out of breath with the needle threatening 128mph. The seller claims they are this classic’s second owner and that it runs and drives perfectly. They replaced the carburetor and intake but include the original items in the deal. The list of replaced components is quite extensive, with this Charger receiving a new radiator, power steering pump, brake lines, and other non-specified items. It is a turnkey classic where the new owner could fly in and drive it home.
On the surface, this 1970 Dodge Charger shows promise, and its visible rust issues should represent straightforward repairs. I worry about the lifting vinyl and apparent bubbles on the rear pillars, and this is a case where an in-person inspection could be justified. There may be no issues to cause concern, but if problems are lurking below the surface, they could add considerably to the repair costs. However, we’ve seen some pretty ugly issues repaired on other Chargers from this era, so the lack of floor or rail problems suggests this classic is far from a lost cause. What is your take on the vinyl? Do you believe rust is present, or is it merely a trick of the light?
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Comments
This is a gem compared to the blue rolling Rustoleum ad we saw earlier. Good looking ride, not a bargain but a keeper for the right driver.
RE: your rust question, Adam, it’s tough to tell from the photos on my screen but if it was there it might make for a bargaining point-after I wiped off the drool marks😜
Thank you so much for the feedback, Nevadahalfrack. I agree with you that the Charger looks like a gem, and it has plenty of potential. I agonized over the photos for a considerable period before writing what I did. I hope it is just an optical illusion due to low-res photos, but I couldn’t be sure either way. My computer has an HD monitor and graphics card, but even those didn’t reveal anything definitive. I always recommend in-person inspections where possible to save future grief.
I hope you continue enjoying our articles, and we always value the input from our readers.
Rare L code 383 car. All the spunk of a 318 without the decent fuel economy.
This Charger was not meant to be a muscle since L code 383-2 single exhaust and regular exhaust manifolds. Also 9.5 compression. It had the large Holley 2bbl the torque help more it along. This same setup also came in a 318. So if the customer didn’t want a small block but didn’t want loud and crazy the 383-2 was perfect. Now the rust under the vinyl top. Sometimes you can peel it back and fix the problem and put the vinyl back. The rust on the quarter. You can metal patch it if you know how. Or treat it with chemical stop from rusting. Since the next owner will be the 3rd leave it as a survivor. As for intake and 4bbl carb. You put back to stock. Or paint the new intake mint green and get a Chrysler unsilence air filter setup. Detail the Charger and go to shows. The price is high because of the rust issues. Good luck to the next owner. 🐻🇺🇸
Nice Charger, but priced as if it were an R/T.
But, they are one of the hot cars this decade, so who knows what might happen.
R/T would easily add $20,000.
What am I missing that makes this $12-13000 car worth $55k
About 25 years.
They need to get in touch with Mark Worman of Graveyard Carz,pretty much the twin to his first Charger,same color,same engine,carb etc.
Mark Worman would be all over this. Hope someone else gets it before he does! LOL
Nice I was about to leave a similar comment it is very close to the exact car he blows about .
This is Dodge’s first attempt at de-contenting the Charger with a “Coronet 440-ish” trim level to lower the entry level price. Bucket seats and blacked out tail panel trim was a step up to the “Charger 500” trim level (itself a devaluation of the earlier aero wars “Charger 500”). When 16 year old me saw one of these in the neighborhood dealership I somehow knew the trajectory was going to be downward.
No way on God’s earth would I spent $50 large for this car….rust issues, total new paint & vinyl roof plus who knows what it needs mechanically……that’s an outrageous, crazy price figure……
Get off my lawn…………….
Bench seat, automatic on the column. Those two things ruin a good or great car everytime.
Those two features made for an awesome make out car back in the day, if I recall correctly. Although I do remember making things work in bucket seats if the occasion called for it.
My friend had a 70 Charger SE with the 383 2bbl. That was back in 1973. It was much nicer with the bucket seats and console. He installed a 440 and went full race car. Last I heard it was running 10.90s. This Charger has some serious rust problems and needs extensive repair to make it a keeper. Being a base model I wouldn’t give more than $20K. Base model cars never command big dollars.