The Coke-bottle shaped 1971-74 Charger never did quite live up to the reputation that the 1968-70 version had. It had it’s fans, sure…Richard Petty seemed to love his cars…but between The Dukes of Hazzard, Bullitt and every kid who wanted a tough car, the earlier version was hands down the winner. Shame, too, because other than a slight size increase, the 1971-74 Chargers did their best to hold onto the legacy. Big block engines were available, and the interiors started to gain from the shift from all sport to sport/luxury. You could cruise all day long in one, but you could still mat the gas and make something entertaining still happen, too.
This particular 1974 Charger barn find seems to have had an interesting life early on. Custom paint and pure Seventies “wide and wider” Cragars would have given the big Dodge a tough look, and inside the black sheepskin seat covers, in-dash aftermarket tach, and bolted-in equalizer for the bitchin’ sound system show that at some point in time, this Mopar was somebody’s baby. But years have passed and time hasn’t been quite so kind. The quarters need help, the interior needs a massive cleaning and the paint has lost a lot of it’s lustre. But under hood, the .030 over 400ci big-block still sits, and bonus point: it still runs just as strong as it always has.
With a press time bid of $3,200, we’d jump on this Charger in half a second. The question comes into play: do we just clean it up and drive it as-is, patina and all, or do we use the other $1,800 of the Rough Start budget to fix stuff…and if so, what?
eBay Link: 1974 Dodge Charger SE 400
I think this one should be allowed to die in peace unfortunately. That body looks like a pale imitation of previous Chargers and the only thing that maybe has any value is the motor. Mind you some hideous mouth-breather might buy it and daub on a General Lee paint job with a blunt stick dipped in a pool of black mud from the nearest swamp…
Just to help you out;
The General Lee was based on the previous generation Charger. As your name suggests that you’re not a bow tie fan, and your comment gives the impression you’re not into Mopars, I guess you’re a blue oval fan. So tell us about all the good points of a 74 Mustang please.
I can wait.
I know full well that the General Lee was based on the previous generation Charger – that’s why I pictured some dumbo thinking that he could turn this thing into a hideous replica when he had the wrong year car.
I actually am a huge Mopar fan as well – On The Eighth Day The Lord Created The Hemi…. and long may it rip up blacktop with its thunderous power!
The good points of the 1974 Mustang – well they must have been able to earn a few cents when sold for scrap…
And so what if they do put a Confederate flag on it? It’s their car.
Quite right!
What right have those bastards in Washington got to take away the talisman of southern culture. Haven’t the cocktail sipping tea-drinking pantywaists got anything better to do?
The 3rd-gen B-bodies are actually my favorite Mopar design. This one is definitely in need of a resto and I’d ditch the old graphics and just shoot it in black. Maybe replicate Michael Westen’s ’73 Charger from Burn Notice.
lots of potential there….
Almost bought a ’73 back in the early 80’s. I would leave the graphics alone but get rid of that stupid rear shackle setup. That should have been left in the 70’s!
Ask king Richard what his winningest/favorite race car was, any guesses there geordee?
The car has a lot of potential. If I knew how close to home it is I might just take it off the boys hands.
Clean it, make it roadworthy and hit every cruise night within 50 miles. Day Two, 40 years later.
Stuff like this is getting harder to find.