1971 Dodge Charger SE
"Stop wishing and start driving. Charger has the kind of low price tag you didn't think you could get on a car this good looking. Charger's price says "standard intermediate." Charger's looks say "limited edition personal car." Put them together and they make Charger your kind of car. Whatever you want. End the spend trend. Get with a 1971 Dodge Charger." From a 1971 Charger print ad.
For consignment, a 1971 Dodge Charger SE showing 26,476 miles which are not actual. This nicely optioned car houses a 383ci V8 under the hood and would benefit from some paint and restoration. Need some inspiration? Check out Miss Mopar's 1972 black beauty she restored from barn find condition. This is a diamond in the rough with some fine lines ready to serve as the canvas for your imagination.
Exterior
Hidden headlights highlight the front end giving the car a somewhat sinister look across a finely grated grille. The hood is long and flat and like the rest of the car, showing quite a bit of patina. From the side, that long hood defines the car and creates a unique profile that doesn't look like many others and of course, a drastic departure from the previous gen B-bodies. The rear fascia is period classic with three sectioned tail lights and canted lenses in black plastic casing surrounded by a corral of chrome bumper, sleek and muscular at the same time. 14-inch Mopar Rally wheels look pretty good and wear 205/70R14 tires. As noted, the paint will need restoration as there is cracking, surface rust, filler and paint chips, and blemishes throughout. And yes, there are some panel rust issues as well.
Interior
Three colors decorate the door panels which are also a mix of materials and design, with a lower panel of taupe plastic holding the door hardware and an upper panel once deemed "light gold". A split bench seat replaces the original bench in this car, constructed of black vinyl and torn in several places on the driver's side. Remnants of the original interior can be seen in the back bench which is tired but generally intact with white vinyl panels with vertical stitch patterns on the walls. A simple 3 spoke steering wheel fronts a faux woodgrain dash with four gauges in place but a number of blank spaces and broken trim where other components would go. The ill fitting dash pad in light gold is cracked but the passenger has a nicely preserved dash plate to look at. A pistol grip Hurst shifter rises from the floor and is bootless over a barren floor with no carpet, just bare metal. The perforated headliner is torn, tired, and just plain old and would make the list of interior upgrades to be performed. Like any good restoration candidate, the barren trunk is full of boxes of parts.
Drivetrain
Under the hood is a driver quality and date correct 383ci V8 with a 4-barrel carburetor and an A833 4-speed manual transmission sending power to the 8 rear with 3.23 gears. Power brakes are supplied with front disc and rear drum. The orange power plant has headers attached to start the exhaust process.
Undercarriage
A good amount of surface rust covers the underside and some of it is pitted. But overall, the bottom side is dry with only residual oil on the pans. The headers are colored by rust and lead to Cherrybomb mufflers and that's where the exhaust ends as there are some rough cuts just after the mufflers. Suspension consists of Dodge's touted torsion bars up front and leaf springs in the back.
Drive-Ability
We figured we'd find some things not working but were pleased that the engine does and propels this project around the test loop with adequate acceleration, good braking, and fine handling despite some creaky bushings. Things that don't work include the head and tail lights, the turn signals, the reverse lights, the horn, and the wipers. All other functions, in this case mostly gauges, worked as they should. While Classic Auto Mall represents that these functions were working at the time of our test drive, we cannot guarantee these functions will be working at the time of your purchase.
As we said, a diamond in the rough that could serve as a restoration project. Their unique shape and relative rareness make this Gen 3 charger something to consider if you're planning something big. There are decent bones here and with some elbow grease on arms with rolled up sleeves, we can almost imagine a sleek street cruiser coming to life in a few years. The Mopar crowd is obliged to help fellow enthusiasts "save another one" and there's aftermarket support as well.
WP29N1A142492
W-Dodge Charger
P-Premium Price Class
29-2 Door Sports Hardtop
N-383ci 4bbl V8
1-1971
A-Lynch Rd, MI Assy Plant
142492-Sequential Unit Number
FENDER TAG
WP29:Dodge Coronet,Charger
Premium
2 Door Sports Hardtop
N1A: 383 300HP 1-4BBL 8 CYL
1971
Lynch Road, MI, USA
142492:Sequence number
E65:383ci 4 barrel V8 300hp
D21:4 Speed Manual Transmission
TX9:Black Exterior Color
D3Y3:Trim - Luxury, Cloth/Vinyl Bench Seat, Gold
GY4:Light Gold Int. Door Frames
C17:Build Date: December 17
171578:Order number
V4X:Vinyl Canopy Roof, Black
U:USA Specifications
V68:Longitudinal Stripes, Deleted
M21:Roof drip rail moldings
26:26in Radiator
L37:Concealed Headlamps
Classic Auto Mall is home to more than 1,000 classic and collectible vehicles for sale via consignment in a climate controlled 336,000-square foot showroom (that's more than 8 acres!). The largest single location consignment dealer of classic and collectible vehicles in the country is located in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, just 1-hour west of Philadelphia off Exit 298 of the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. For more information visit www.classicautomall.com or call us at (888) 227-0914. Contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person. There is no guarantee of mileage. A $299 Dealer Administrative fee is not included in the advertised price.
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