Jun 6, 2018  •  Uncategorized  •  30 Comments

Mississippi Mopar: Hemi Orange 1971 Challenger R/T

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In the Parade of Rusty Mopars, this 1971 Dodge Challenger R/T stands out for its host of tasty options including the E65 300 HP four-barrel 383 cid V8, EV2 Hemi Orange paint, and N96 Fresh Air (shaker) hood. Freshly power-washed and awaiting a new owner here on eBay, this Oxford, Mississippi Mopar can be yours with the high bid.

The Body Tag decoder at mymopar.com discloses a number of desirable parts including the now-missing J81 “Rear Spoiler – Wing Type.” The original trunk shows the mounting holes for the wing. Kudos to the seller who includes a focused picture of the body tag and a number of under car shots. What appears to be a recent pressure-washing exposes original orange paint beneath the factory undercoating, showing a sound structure where many similar cars have nothing left but rust and memories. The black vinyl top trapped water next to the metal which has completely rotted out in places. At least the M21 roof drip railings survived.

The C16 “Console with Woodgrain Panel” may be salvageable, and the seat covers are readily available. Interior options include (at least) three-speed wipers, remote-control driver’s mirror, and Tachometer. The dashboard and instruments have certainly seen better days. Check out the excellent articles at horton.com and hotrod.com for more background on these ground-pounding Challengers.

The missing drive train at least gives us a better view of the engine compartment, and again things could be much worse. Even the battery tray, usually the first thing under the hood to disintegrate, has some structure left. This particular Shaker Hood did not come with the car, but it’s reportedly correct. The market may have softened some in recent years, but Mopar’s Pony Car, the E-Body, appeals to a broad cross-section of buyers including some who weren’t yet born when this black-and-orange beauty hit the streets. What’s your top bid for this restoration challenge?

Comments

  1. papa bear
    Jun 6, 2018 at 1:59pm

    That is not a shaker hood on this car…

    Like 2
    • ric
      Dec 9, 2018 at 5:07pm

      i just finished restoring this proud beauty!

      Like 2
      • Todd FitchAuthor
        Dec 10, 2018 at 6:27am

        Nice ride, Ric. You should be proud. Thanks for the update!

        Like 1
  2. PRA4SNW
    Jun 6, 2018 at 2:08pm

    Almost every item that made this car unique are gone, but that won’t stop someone from buying it and returning it to it’s Trim Tag glory.

    Like 11
  3. Billy 007
    Jun 6, 2018 at 2:09pm

    A slant six ( 2bbl of course, this is a performance car after all), yank the 727 and pop in a nice 3 speed…done! Okay, maybe some body work and paint, then show off to those who don’t have one. Pure bliss!

    Like 3
  4. Derek
    Jun 6, 2018 at 3:37pm

    Stick a Ford engine in it to wind up the obsessives…

    Like 9
    • nrg8
      Jun 6, 2018 at 10:29pm

      Hmmm. Old smoking tired vega auto with lots of popcorn welds and angle iron sticking it to the frame outta do it

      Like 0
  5. Jimmy
    Jun 6, 2018 at 3:42pm

    If this car doesn’t go much higher I think it’s a steal for a Mopar. Do some bodywork / Paint / Interior / then drop in a 340 crate motor with a 5 speed.

    Like 5
  6. TCOPPS TCOPPSMember
    Jun 6, 2018 at 3:44pm

    Strong Potential

    Like 16
  7. johnfromsc
    Jun 6, 2018 at 4:54pm

    Not sure where the data is to substantiate declining values. Hagerty shows slightly rising vales over last 3 years. Proof of demand is that this one is almost $20K already. No way to be above water on a true restoration, vs a modernization.

    Like 3
    • Rspcharger Rspcharger
      Jun 7, 2018 at 10:07am

      What auction are you looking at, I see it at $9380?

      Like 2
  8. PRA4SNW
    Jun 6, 2018 at 5:04pm

    Is anyone else not receiving comment emails?
    I haven’t gotten one in awhile.

    Like 2
    • Jimmy
      Jun 6, 2018 at 6:50pm

      I haven’t had any problems getting comment emails. You are checking the box to be notified right ?

      Like 0
    • leiniedude leiniedudeMember
      Jun 7, 2018 at 8:13am

      ‘Notify me of new comments via email.’ Hi PRA4SNW, I have not gotten new comments for over a year. I put the BF email address on my safe inbox thing with no luck. I just got a membership hoping that would help. No dice. Best of luck, Mike.

      Like 0
      • Jesse Mortensen Jesse MortensenStaff
        Jun 7, 2018 at 8:19am

        Try adding [email protected] to your safe list. You probably just added our main address. Let me know if that fixes it.

        Like 1
      • leiniedude leiniedudeMember
        Jun 8, 2018 at 7:30am

        Hi Jesse, I added [email protected] to my safe list yesterday and subcribed to three articles. No new comments this morning, I did check the articles and did see new comments added. Thanks, Mike.

        Like 0
    • On and On On and OnMember
      Jun 7, 2018 at 6:28pm

      Me too. tried to become a member during the Memorial day member deal, kept getting bipped off into cyberspace.

      Like 1
      • leiniedude leiniedudeMember
        Jun 7, 2018 at 7:54pm

        Hey Greg, Great to see you back! Miss your comments. Please tell me Sweety Pie is doing well. Take care, thirsty? Mike.

        Like 1
  9. stillrunners
    Jun 6, 2018 at 6:36pm

    PRA4SNW…..no comment….

    Like 0
    • PRA4SNW
      Jun 7, 2018 at 11:48am

      LOL! Thanks for helping out. Still didn’t receive the email.

      Not sure what is going on. I’ve always received them, and now, nothing at all.
      I will try adding it to my Comcast antispam list.

      Jess: Could it be the number of posts that I am subscribed too? I’m sure that it has to be hundreds and hundreds by now.
      I know that I’ve seen a list somewhere but forget how to get to it now. Maybe if I unsubscribe from some of the older ones, it will help.

      Like 0
      • PRA4SNW
        Jun 7, 2018 at 11:55am

        Okay, I checked my Spam folder via Comcast on-line (instead of my PC email client). In that folder, was one comment email dated 5/31, and that sounds like the date when I stopped receiving comment emails.

        I marked it as safe, so we’ll see what happens now.

        Like 1
      • Rspcharger Rspcharger
        Jun 7, 2018 at 3:06pm

        On the 5/31 email, click on the Manage Notifications to see what you are subscribed to. I just got 2 notifications from your last 2 replies.

        Like 0
      • PRA4SNW
        Jun 8, 2018 at 7:20am

        Still not receiving comments – bummer.

        Rspcharger: I did do that, and I’m subscribed to hundreds on hundreds of posts going back for many years. I’ve never had this problem.

        I’ll keep working on it, I really like this feature.

        Like 1
  10. Bill Shields
    Jun 6, 2018 at 6:59pm

    An original barn find without the original barn find dirt!!
    Cudos to this guy for actually washing it!

    Like 9
    • ric
      Dec 9, 2018 at 5:05pm

      i just finished restoring this proud beauty!

      Like 3
  11. Keith
    Jun 7, 2018 at 5:17am

    Oh H*LL NAW! Don’t waste your money on one of these crappy Mopars, Junk I Say!!!!!

    Like 0
    • crazyhawk
      Jun 7, 2018 at 6:46am

      lol keith!

      Like 0
  12. CCFisher
    Jun 7, 2018 at 6:21am

    Is that a Mustang GT Turbo convertible in the background? Those are among the rarest of the fox-bodied Mustangs.

    Like 1
  13. Troy s
    Jun 7, 2018 at 7:02pm

    Looked like one of the better e-bodies to come through here in a while, but then no engine under the hood, figured as much the way the car sits all high up front. How about a 360 that’ll run just fine on today’s unleaded gas, nothing overkill, just a good solid street engine. I’m not even looking at the price, but it’s probably up there.

    Like 1
  14. ric
    Dec 9, 2018 at 5:11pm

    im glad i found this since i lost the before pics…heres what it looks like now…

    Like 1

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