One-Owner Barn Find: 1966 Dodge Charger

We’ve recently seen a few promising First Generation Dodge Chargers cross our desks at Barn Finds, and this 1966 model stands out for several reasons. The first is that it is original and unmolested. The second is that it is a one-owner classic that is essentially sound and complete. However, it is also a genuine barn find, confirming desirable classics are lurking in dark corners, waiting to be liberated and returned to their former glory. If you harbor those desires, this Charger deserves a close look.

Dodge released its First Generation Charger in 1966, focusing on the high end of the performance market. Buyers could choose from a range of V8 engines, and the interior trim and equipment were a cut above the opposition. However, that proved to be a sticking point, because the features came at a cost. Dodge persisted with this philosophy for two years before replacing the First Generation with a more mainstream version. Our feature car emerged during the first production year and was located by the seller languishing in a barn in Mizpah, New Jersey. It is not known how long it occupied that spot, but the seller confirms it was parked by its first owner. Dragging it into the light of day revealed very tired original Dark Green Metallic paint, and a few rust issues requiring attention. The new owner will probably elect to perform a nut-and-bolt build to recapture the car’s lost youth, and that would be the best approach to guarantee it is rust-free when it returns to active service. The panels are straight, and exterior rust appears confined to small patchable areas in the passenger-side lower rear quarter panel and the hood. The floors are another matter, with the seller admitting that replacement is the only option. However, it appears that the trunk pan and rails are sound, limiting the amount of work facing the builder’s grinder and welder. Some trim pieces are damaged, but the glass might be okay.

This Charger can be considered a genuine muscle car, but it will head to its new owner with equal helpings of good and bad news. Lifting the hood reveals a 383ci V8, coupled with a four-speed manual transmission. The V8 produced 325hp and 425 ft/lbs of torque, with this combination launching the Dodge through the ¼-mile in 14.9 seconds. The seller confirms that this Charger’s transmission is original, but can’t categorically state the same about the engine. However, they confirm it is date-correct, which is not a bad starting point. Okay, now it is time for the bad news because the V8 is locked. This is one of those “chicken or the egg” situations, raising the question of whether the first owner parked the Charger due to an engine issue, or if it has locked due to years of inactivity. Only an in-person inspection would unearth the truth, but factoring a mechanical rebuild into the restoration budget would be wise.

The interior of the 1966 Charger was unlike any found in other muscle cars that year because it offered a fairly luxurious motoring experience. Standard equipment included a 2+2 seating configuration and a full-length console. The rear bucket seats can fold flat to improve load-carrying space, while the gauge cluster rates as one of my favorites from any production car…period. The gauges look magic in the light of day, but really pop at night, courtesy of Dodge abandoning bulbs in favor of electroluminescence. This was an expensive feature, and cost constraints motivated the company to abandon the system when it unveiled the Second Generation Charger. Potential buyers will welcome the news that not only is this interior complete but there are no visible aftermarket additions. However, it looks pretty tired and battered, meaning a total retrim will join the “to-do” list.

The seller listed this 1966 Dodge Charger here on eBay in Brooksville, Florida. The current high bid of $3,349 is below the reserve, although there is a BIN option of $11,250 for those wishing to bypass the auction process. Its restoration will undoubtedly consume time and money, but how much of the latter will depend on how hands-on the new owner is during the process. That brings us to the question of this car’s potential value if restored to a high standard, and finding consistency across various sources is challenging. Hagerty quotes a figure of around $61,000 for a #2 car with the same mechanical specifications as our feature Charger, but NADA quotes a high retail of $39,710. Recent successful sales have seen prices from $26,000 to $64,000. Crunching the data suggests that $40,000 might be a realistic expectation. It will be fascinating to gauge your feedback on that question and to learn whether we have any readers who might consider joining the bidding party. I wish you luck if you do.