Junkyard Rescue: 1967 Dodge Charger
The original Dodge Charger was a concept car that turned into a production vehicle in 1966. It might be thought of as something of a large “pony car” that was built on the mid-size B-body with a fastback roofline. And seating for four with a console in the middle of the back seat as well as the front. This 1967 Charger was once a junkyard car, so some of its parts have been picked over. Yet it’s said to run well but needs cosmetic and (maybe) electrical work. Located alongside a house in Denver, Colorado, this Mopar project is available here on eBay for $2,200 unless the bidding goes higher.
It was not a huge success in its short two-year first generation. After an encouraging start in 1966 at 37,000 units, Charger production dropped by 58% to under 16,000 in 1967. But Dodge kept it on the books going into a complete redesign in 1968, and that’s when the magic took place. More than 92,000 Chargers were delivered that year, with a similarly impressive number in 1969. After a couple of changes in concept over the years, the Charger nameplate is still around, though as a 4-door muscle car today.
Time, Mother Nature, and former owners have not been kind to this second-year Charger. Originally painted gold, it now wears some old blue/green color although the black interior was retained. Having spent some time in a graveyard where it was apparently rescued, the car no longer has a VIN, which will likely keep the bidding down. Stuff is missing from the Dodge, especially in the passenger compartment where the rear seats look okay, but the front buckets are protected by some dirty, ugly fuzzy seat covers.
The fender script says this car left the factory with a 383 cubic inch V8 and the seller says a good-running one is there now, but is it original? It has a 4-barrel carburetor which could have been rated at 330 hp when new. While it’s said to run, we don’t know that the car stops as the brake pedal looks awfully close to the floorboard, under the dash where wires are hanging down. Rust is not mentioned, but there’s a big crease in the passenger side quarter panel. This looks like a challenging project, where getting a VIN and a title might be the most difficult.
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Comments
Car has a state issued VIN and title so it is legal to drive and sell on. This will never be a show car with the original VIN missing. Maybe it was a theft recovery that was written off and sent to scrap. Either way this is a great platform to do whatever you want to do with it. I like the looks of the early Charger and if it was close I would be tempted. Looks like the eBay seller has poor feedback so I would definitely want to deal in person rather than on an auction site.
A friend of mine here in Australia got a replacement Vin Tag from somewhere in the U.S. as in a reproduction item for one of his cars he rebuilt. I am wondering if you could get one of those. Unfortunately he is touring in the U.S for 6 months so can’t just ask him where he got that.
No vin I’m not in unless it’s cheap I wouldn’t dump big $ into a car with no vin imo.If you ever have to or want to sell it it’s always going to be a negative.To get it on the cheap and enjoy it put a few $ into her to make it dependable and beat it up and have a little fun is cool.Always liked this body style.And I’m not a Mopar guy.Glwts.
Be cool 😎 done up flat black, steel wheeled, no hub caps, cruiser, w the Torq-flite and 4-383. Rear gear of your choice.⚙️
Like you say Maggy if possible it’s done ✔️ for the lo dollar 💵 could be alot of fun.
What a shame this was in the junkyard. Looks like the original 383-4 set up. Fender tag says 383 four barrel. That’s a good motor. To find parts for this won’t be easy. Especially the tail light lens. This has to be brought at a low price to save this Mopar. Good luck to the next owner.. 🇺🇸🐻
It is tough to make that first decision, prices are up now on many classics, you must do the work yourself to make it worthwhile, labor rate is $70 ph and it is easy to hit 100 hrs. and not be halfway done. Definately not easy.
I own one of these, it has been 39 years now. Parts are getting hard to get and expensive, but if you are determined to restore this car, you can. The 383 is a nice motor, I have an A-833 behind mine and disk brakes. The pedal is in its normal, low position, because it has power brakes, which reduces the pedal travel by half. Without a VIN I would be concerned about spending a lot on this car, although with a state issued VIN I guess you could get a title and at least be able to sell it. These are fun cars and unusual – beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
salvage titles don’t bother me in the least. she is definitely a good starter car for a project. lord knows i don’t need another one just yet even at that price point though
With this sellers LOW rating I’d be very skeptical and recommend who every buys do their due diligence!
2 out of 5 rates both by the same buyer on the same date and both make the same complaint… poor communication.
i’d take that “low” rating with a grain of salt. but then i would also never buy a car that i never laid eyes and hands on.
Good $500 Roadkill car! Donate it to Motor Trend and let Frieburger and Dolsech tear into it. Then you can watch it come back to life on their show.
Could be problematic with no VIN tag. Not sure about Mopars. but don’t most vehicles from that era have stamped numbers on the frame or parts of the chassis? Couldn’t you get a good tag from that?
I can not be the only one that saw STATE ISSUED VIN. The car has a title, just not the original vin, all on the up and up. Car may have been abandoned, by the looks of the dash. Mr C, you are a idiot. Why destroy a nice builder like that? Those two morons shouldn’t be anywhere near a car unless it is to clean it and they sure as hell don’t need to be on TV doing it. As much as I dislike the whale body Charger, this one shoud be saved. If it has all four Ralley wheels thats $700.00 right there. It would be a nice daily driver and if it were closer i’d buy it.