1974 Dodge Challenger CHALLENGER

This is for our fellow Mopar hobbyists who feel like they've been priced out of worthwhile restoration opportunities. We have! You go to a show or swap and the song is often the same: big bank account buyers seeking completed projects are outnumbering hobbyists looking to take on the restorations.

Buyers who can afford fender tag-cars and finished trailer queens are edging out young people looking to get their start in the hobby too. not just us older folks who are eager to help ‘em learn. The result is a lopsided market and precious few remaining collectible Mopars to restore.  

Barn finds? Yeah. right.

On occasion. though. you come across something like this. This '74 Dodge Challenger has been driven daily since the year it rolled off the dealer lot. We're told it did sit for a while in the 1980s after its original owner. a Los Angeles Chrysler plant line worker. rear-ended someone. but it's been on the road again since at least the mid 90s.

Warts 'n all. this lowly '74 2bbl has been nothing but fun for us for 11 years. We can't be alone in that kind of appreciation.

Does it need a few things to keep being a reliable driver? Naturally - don't we all? And while the car is being auctioned as is. we're proud members of the Chrysler Performance West Mopar club and so we wouldn't sell a window crank. let alone a vehicle. without representing our fellow members and the Mopar hobby with integrity.  

Here's an action video link (Think Dirty Mary Crazy Larry)  https://youtu. be/YsfQAq-YIqs 

And here's the deal: 

The original owner pulled a 318 from a ‘72 Barracuda making this a non-numbers matching car.

The trunk pan needs replacing. but Mopars aren't meant to be load-bearing vehicles anyway. so we just drive it real fast and hum along with the whistle.  

The paint was a poor attempt to match the original T5 Sienna Metallic. We were tempted to primer the thing. but tripping people out started to grow on us.  

It's daily driver reliable. yes. but bondo can be found in several spots (lower quarters. c-pillar. fenders).

It has only a two-barrel carb. but why not enjoy it while you're deciding on which 4-barrel to replace it with. And that's if you don't drop in a 383.

Its air conditioner condenser is functioning but needs recharging and new vent hoses.  

Door locks and trunk lock function just fine. The whip antenna is missing.  

Wipers work great. but sometimes the hood latch sticks and you have to reach up behind the grille to tug the cable.  

We don't know when the odometer stopped working. Come to think of it. that's been true for almost every Mopar we've owned. Never stopped us from enjoying ‘em on a club cruise or while running errands!

The front buckets and the the back bench will require replacement reproduction vinyl kits. but all the hardware is accounted for. The frames and hinges have held up just fine.  Throw some new seat covers on ‘em for now. and call Legendary for the right kit. Take your time.

The steering wheel has a slight warp to it. A correct replacement will accompany the sale of the car.  

All of the glass is original but could use new sets of cat whiskers.

The main dash light flickers and intermittently decides not to come on.

The car has spent the last two weeks at a trusted local ASC-certified shop. in order for us to list it here as a safe and reliable entry level Mopar that the winning bidder will be able to drive to 'n from the body or upholstery shops.

It has new front brake pads. engine mounts and transmission mounts.

There's a slight rear brake leak. but the rear brakes are new.  

Our pride in keeping this Challenger on the road can be found in an accompanying stack of maintenance and repair receipts dating back to the week we bought it – in May of 2005.

We're directing this listing at buyers experienced enough to understand the pros and cons. Again. this Mopar is being sold entirely as is. It'll be up to the new owner to decide where to target their restoration dollars.

We're selling because we have other Mopars to attend to. but we will be sorry to see this E-body go. Even with the bondo. we can't go to the corner dry cleaner without being complimented or pressured to sell.  

The winning bidder will understand and be able get over the fact that this will never be a 1970 R/T Challenger. But it's still a Challenger. not an Aspen or whatever the heck is left out there (sorry Aspen drivers).

But the new owner won't be handcuffed to originality either. and will be free get creative.

We kind of hope it'll be a first time Mopar buyer who'd rather be in the game than looking at it from the outside.  

That could be someone you know. or maybe even you.

Happy Bidding.

Mopar or No car.

On May-16-17 at 12:20:52 PDT. seller added the following information:

This is not a local pick-up only car. Car shippers are welcome. It's been our experience that price is no guarantee of quality or attention to detail. Some of the best shippers we've dealt with are independent contractors. Just saying.

No. sorry. the cracks in the dash pad aren't repairable. (The trophy kings are the ones who most frequently urge us to "get it fixed. as if it's offensive to them its personally. )  The pad itself needs to be replaced. depending on how far the winning bidder wishes to take his or her restoration.

I entered the VIN. but for some reason it doesn't appear where it should in the listing. but as stated above. the 318 came from a '72 Barracuda –––– JH23G4B136293

Also published at eBay.com

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