This 1971 Charger SE has been parked in a garage since 1981 and was last registered in 1983. It looks like the original owner has commenced a restoration on the car at some point, and this has stalled. They have now decided that the Charger really needs to have a second owner, so the time has come for the Charger to move on from its current home in Whittier, California. This could be an opportunity to secure a nicely equipped project car. If this sounds like the right option for you, then you will find the Charger listed for sale here on eBay, where the bidding has reached $3,050, and the reserve has been met. I need to really thank Barn Finder Patrick S for referring the Charger through to us.
At first glance, I initially thought that the Charger started life finished in Burgundy, with a vinyl canopy top. However, I then realized that this was primer and a guide coat, and a peek under the hood indicates that the Charger rolled off the line finished in the awesome Plum Crazy, which is a terrific color. It isn’t clear what color the top would have been, but a quick check of the tags should answer that question. Given the interior trim color, I wouldn’t be surprised if it was a black top. The information and photos are a bit inconclusive, but what can be seen tends to indicate that rust issues may be negligible. The car looks to also be complete, and external items such as the bumpers, trim, and grille look like they are also in good condition.
Once again, we are a bit hobbled by the photos when it comes to assessing the condition of the interior, but what we can see looks quite encouraging. The dash, pad, and rear seat look like they are in good condition. The same can be said of the center console, which features the slap-stick selector. The Charger is also fitted with factory air conditioning, although there is probably a fair chance that this will need some work before it blows cold again. It doesn’t appear as though the interior contains any nasty surprises, so hopefully, it will simply be a case of giving it a good clean, and she’ll be good to go.
Powering the Charger is the venerable 383ci Magnum V8, which is hooked to a Torqueflite transmission. It is also fitted with power steering and power brakes. Getting a car up and roadworthy again after it has been sitting idle for nearly four decades is going to take some work, but it appears that the owner has given you a head start. In one of the photos, the air cleaner is removed, and this shows a carburetor that looks to be clean and freshly rebuilt. A closer look shows that the engine is running, which is a good sign. The owner does say that it runs well and that it has just been serviced, so that’s all pretty encouraging.
To see this Charger SE returned to its former glory would be quite a treat. All of the signs seem to point towards a car that would make a great restoration project. If bidding stays around its current level, then the car could represent a fairly affordable project that would produce a great end result.