Stored 36 Years: 1966 Dodge Charger
I feel bad that I have had a motorcycle stored since 1986 but I’d feel much worse if I would have put a car like this 1966 Dodge Charger into storage in 1984 and left it there ever since. The seller has this great project car listed here on eBay in New London, Connecticut and there is an unmet opening bid price of $5,000 and no reserve after that.
Ok, so it’s not all as rosy as the first photo made you think it might be. I wonder if this accident is why this Charger went into storage and then as time went by, it just got forgotten about? That sounds like the story of my 1978 Yamaha XS750E. I’ve mentioned it before here on Barn Finds more than once. A left front fender could maybe be found in a junkyard or online and if this car was only driven for 18 years, I would have to believe that other than the crushed fender and other storage issues, it would tend to be in fairly solid condition.
The first-generation Dodge Charger looks almost like a clone of the Rambler Marlin which came out a year earlier, in 1965. The Dodge Charger debuted in 1966 and the first-generation Charger was only made for the 1966 and 1967 model years. I think it’s by far the most interesting version of the Charger and the interior is certainly the most interesting, and oddly Marlin-like, too.
The interior looks surprisingly good. The seats look perfect other than surface rust on the metal bits. I continue to be amazed by sellers who don’t spend an hour cleaning up a vehicle and taking good HORIZONTAL (sorry for shouting) photos before trying to sell a car for the most money possible. Could you imagine how nice this interior would look if at least the carpet would have been vacuumed and the rest of the surfaces were wiped down? I have to believe that it would bring a stronger price every time. Thoughts?
Did I mention that out of 18 all-vertical photos, there isn’t one photo of the engine?! Don’t make me use all-caps again, sellers! This one has Dodge’s classic 318 cubic-inch V8 which would have had 230 horsepower and 340 ft-lb of torque. The engine turns over but doesn’t run, unfortunately. I would bet that most Barn Finds readers could have it running in no time. This sure looks like a great project fastback. Have any of you owned a first-generation Charger?
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Comments
’66 Charger, check. Needs some love, I’m ready. Interior is pretty nice, couldn’t wait to clean it up. Lots of spare parts, great. No title? No deal here.
RK, I’ve gotten titles for oddball motorcycles in the past just by taking photos of the VIN on the frame and engine and taking photos of all sides and bringing those pics into the DMV, but I have never tried that with a car. It sure looks like a great car other than the missing title.
Connecticut does not issue titles for cars over 20 years of age.
Steve R
My first nightmare at the Bureau of Motor Vehices happened when I bought a car out of Connecticut. Ohio simply would not title the car without a Connecticut title. So the seller got one, and I got the car titled in Ohio. No more Connecticut cars for me, thanks.
How long ago was that? As more states adopt a policy of not issuing older cars titles the DMV’s from states that do will issue guidelines for dealing with them. A quick Google search is all it would take for the residence of any state to find out what their DMV requires and act accordingly. My guess is it would be a different story today.
There is a big difference between a car with no title that’s in California or another that that requires one versus this car. Serious buyers will do their research and act accordingly.
Steve R
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$5,000 plus $50,000 to restore it.
Our next door neighbor went to Florida for Christmas Vacation in 1965, They got home on New Years Eve. When I got up and looked out my bedroom window I saw sitting in his driveway a brand new 1966 Dodge Charger in white paint with a red interior. I could not believe he would show up with Charger since the only cars he would drive before were GM Products.
It is a shame that some one used this for a Demolition Derby Car or else they should not have been given a drivers license. Chrysler Corporation came out with the LA Version of the 318 Engine in 1967 which I thought was a better engine than the 1966 that it replaced.
For about $8,000 a person would have a nice presentable-dependable car. $50,000 ? Sounds like someone is trying to bring the price of the car way down. If I was interested. I,d check it out good and ask questions before I,d buy it.
Alway thought these had almost a concept car interior & gauges.
I guess when the hidden headlites fail on these cars, it’s best to leave them exposed all the time? That is, is it a pain to open & close them manually?
Not on a 1st gen camaro.