Noob looking to buy a Charger

[REED]

Hey Guys...

I am a big time car lover, however in no way am I a motorhead, and I am looking at a beater Charger and just wanted some opinions on if this is a good deal or not.

I am not looking for a show car or anything, just something solid I can cruise around in for a few grand.... The Charger is my favorite car of all time, and Id like to finally join the family.

Here's the craigslist ad, and Ill post some pics... if you let me know what you think for the price if it's worth it, Id greatly appreciate it!




1971 Dodge Charger SE for sale. 383 motor, automatic. Runs and drives fine.Clean title. Any questions, call (NO texts, please) Shane @ show contact info $7,000 OBO CASH ONLY (Got them down to 5k)









Said the tranny runs smooth, runs and drives fine, rails are solid, trunk is solid, around 78k miles. Said they believe motor is original but they never checked the numbers but that this model came with a 383 so theyre under the assumption it is (doesnt mean much), Car is inspected til 6/15.

Im looking for something that I can begin to work on and restore... but I just DONT know much about the model differences, from what I understand the R/T is more sought after, but is this a car I can restore and it could be respectable?

Said they'd take 5 grand.

ThANKS FOR any and all feedback!

[REED]

This motor pic scares me haha... Im used to seeing these 75k restored Chargers with gorgeous engine bays.... is this standard for what Im buying? Or does this scream stay away!!!!?

[Stegs]

i like it, 5k seems like a good price....rust is your enemy 

interior stuff is easy to fix, motor stuff is fairly easy to fix....its body work that can add up really fast (rust issues)

look it over good, underneath, pull the carpet back and check the floors!

[Homerr]

Looks like from the engine bay that the car was originally gold.

$5k for a 3rd gen SE with hidden headlights, driver, and if there is no rust then it looks like a solid deal.

Here is some info on 1971 Chargers:  
http://www.hamtramck-historical.com/dealerships/1971DealershipDataBook-03.shtml

Check the VIN, to for the motor:

1971:
Fifth digit:

318 V-8: G
383 2bbl V-8 290hp: L
383 4bbl V-8 300hp: N
340 4bbl V-8 275hp: H
440 4bbl V-8 370hp: U
440 3x2bbl V-8 385hp: V
426 Hemi 425hp: R

http://www.71superbee.com/VINBreakdown/

And look over this page to get familiar with fender tag stuff:
http://www.mymopar.com/6971opcodes.htm

[REED]

Im asking for the vin now.... the car is 3 hours from me, so Im trying to gather as much info as possible.

-Is this an engine I can work on? Or will I most likely need to replace it if I want anything worthwhile?

-is this car fast at all? Sounds like such a noob question, because well it is... I dont expect it to be blowing anyones doors off and I wont be racing it or anything, just curious what kind of get up and go they have?

5th letter on VIN is an L

[EccentricMagpies]

Im asking for the vin now.... the car is 3 hours from me, so Im trying to gather as much info as possible.

-Is this an engine I can work on? Or will I most likely need to replace it if I want anything worthwhile?

-is this car fast at all? Sounds like such a noob question, because well it is... I dont expect it to be blowing anyones doors off and I wont be racing it or anything, just curious what kind of get up and go they have?

5th letter on VIN is an L

Yeah.  "L" code is 383 for that year

It can be as fast as you want.   


Has 150 rallye gauge and the seats overall are in good shape too. I think from the photos it's worth taking a serious look at. 

[JB400]

Welcome to the forum

The 383 is a big block, and a really great and reliable engine that has plenty of get up and go with just a few simple bolt ons.  Best of all, if you ever do decide to drop in a 440, most of your engine brackets and accessories are reusable, same goes for the transmission as well.  With a 318, it'd cost you more to swap over to a 440.

[1974dodgecharger]

I would say 4k heck 3k, but not 7k.  At that price it will sit awhile....JMO.

[cazz]

BUY HAVE FUN RAT BAG THE SHIT OUT OF THAT THING!!!!!!

[72Charger-SE]

It looks nice from the outside.  I would be a bit concerned that is has what appears to be a new paint job.  Also, they dropped $2k over the phone without you looking at it which is a red flag in my opinion.  I bought a 'rust free' or to be exact I was told it had 'very minimal rust' 72 Charger from Southern Missouri and three years later I have replaced the doors, driver's side quarter, deck lid, and both fenders because of rust.  Go look at it during the day.  If you can get it on a hoist I would do that as well.  Lots of 'issues' can be hidden and you'll be where I was a couple years ago... saving $ to repair the rust on your 'rust free' Charger...

If it checks out $5k is a very good price for that car IMO.   Again, they dropped it $2k with a phone call...  RED FLAG...!

[REED]

It looks nice from the outside.  I would be a bit concerned that is has what appears to be a new paint job.  Also, they dropped $2k over the phone without you looking at it which is a red flag in my opinion.  I bought a 'rust free' or to be exact I was told it had 'very minimal rust' 72 Charger from Southern Missouri and three years later I have replaced the doors, driver's side quarter, deck lid, and both fenders because of rust.  Go look at it during the day.  If you can get it on a hoist I would do that as well.  Lots of 'issues' can be hidden and you'll be where I was a couple years ago... saving $ to repair the rust on your 'rust free' Charger...

If it checks out $5k is a very good price for that car IMO.   Again, they dropped it $2k with a phone call...  RED FLAG...!

Well I sent them an email out of interest... It's been for sale for a month, I emailed and asked ... "Whats your rock bottom price you'd take"

She replied back with we wont go lower than 5k.

[REED]

Whats your guys opinion of the engine bay?

It looks sloppy as hell to me... can a lot of that be cleaned up easily or this normal outside of dropping a new engine in?

Thanks for all the feedback everyone!

[72Charger-SE]

It looks nice from the outside.  I would be a bit concerned that is has what appears to be a new paint job.  Also, they dropped $2k over the phone without you looking at it which is a red flag in my opinion.  I bought a 'rust free' or to be exact I was told it had 'very minimal rust' 72 Charger from Southern Missouri and three years later I have replaced the doors, driver's side quarter, deck lid, and both fenders because of rust.  Go look at it during the day.  If you can get it on a hoist I would do that as well.  Lots of 'issues' can be hidden and you'll be where I was a couple years ago... saving $ to repair the rust on your 'rust free' Charger...

If it checks out $5k is a very good price for that car IMO.   Again, they dropped it $2k with a phone call...  RED FLAG...!

Well I sent them an email out of interest... It's been for sale for a month, I emailed and asked ... "Whats your rock bottom price you'd take"

She replied back with we wont go lower than 5k.

That being said...   It is in 1000% better condition than what I bought in 2010!   Being a '71 with a complete interior, slap stick, and 150mph speedometer makes a big difference over what I bought...   Good choice, just be wary of surprises... 

GOD Bless & Welcome to the Board!

[1974dodgecharger]

They will go lower they just won't go lower right now.....like i said not for 5k.  U can find better for 5k....i saw plenty with rebuilt 440 and new paint jobs and some with classic air go for 5k alone...and everything worked in the car...they were driver cars...equivalent to my 68.

[EccentricMagpies]

They will go lower they just won't go lower right now.....like i said not for 5k.  U can find better for 5k....i saw plenty with rebuilt 440 and new paint jobs and some with classic air go for 5k alone...and everything worked in the car...they were driver cars...equivalent to my 68.

I'd like to see more of these 5K, rebuilt 440, fresh paint, 71 chargers! 

[REED]

They will go lower they just won't go lower right now.....like i said not for 5k.  U can find better for 5k....i saw plenty with rebuilt 440 and new paint jobs and some with classic air go for 5k alone...and everything worked in the car...they were driver cars...equivalent to my 68.

I'd like to see more of these 5K, rebuilt 440, fresh paint, 71 chargers! 

lol, I gotta agree.... this is th ebest condition Ive found for the price, the rest are rollers or absolute bombs.

[1974dodgecharger]

They will go lower they just won't go lower right now.....like i said not for 5k.  U can find better for 5k....i saw plenty with rebuilt 440 and new paint jobs and some with classic air go for 5k alone...and everything worked in the car...they were driver cars...equivalent to my 68.

I'd like to see more of these 5K, rebuilt 440, fresh paint, 71 chargers! 

Dont have to craigslist it for YOU, but when i was casually looking for a 3rd gen i found plenty of em.  Some here in AZ, some I'm NV, some in CA.


My point for him is its expensive this car for 5k......i say keep looking.  No one is knocking down doors for this specific car and its obvious....they dropped the number down 2k alone after a chat.  Sellers always aim high on selling we all know that except for me......my dumbass almost sold my 68 for 10k until the buyer tried to lowball me to 5k.....think i needed the money at the time.

[1974dodgecharger]

If u think its fair then i say get it.....not trying to persuade u out of it......



I like discussing our old crap cars that we enjoy.....

[REED]

Another stupid question.

Will thing thing have any kind of growl to it?

They said it didnt have aftermarket exhaust, and it appears to be a 2 barrel...

Is there a big diff in sound between the 2 barrel and 4 barrel.? And can I upgrade to a 4? Whats that involve and is it worth it?

Thanks

[JamieZ]

As other's have said, rust is the enemy.  Check behind the wheels in the front, the frame rails tend to rust there.  Also around all the windows.  That is where the more serious rust is likely to be found, you'll probably also find it behind the wheels, bottom of the door, trunk pan but those are more cosmetic.

Engine doesn't look bad....some plug wire holders (and properly sized wires) would go a long way to cleaning that up.   It should be pretty easy to work on as the electronic ignition system and maybe the choke are the only things in the whole engine bay that are not purely mechanical.

A two barrel to 4 barrel swap should just be removing the intake and carb and swapping in a new one.  On a big block you don't even have to drain the radiator.  You'll have to hook up the fuel line, choke, coil, and throttle cable....should be it.   4 barrel will be more performance (probably less fuel efficient).   But I'd bet the 383 would light up the tires even with a 2 barrel.

[REED]

Thanks!

Really appreciate everyone giving me feedback on here.

Thinking of offering $4500 and let them sleep on it.

They said all the frame rails are nice and said trunk is nice, no holes.

Theres some small rust around passenger window and behind passenger door.

I doubt Im getting one for this price with no rust on it.

[1974dodgecharger]

Good deal......

[REED]

Another pic

[CDN72SE]

Just be careful someone may offer $5000 when you are letting them sleep on it.

[skip68]

As said LOOK FOR RUST.   Jack it up and look under it at floors, rails/frame and inside wheel wells.   If you can pull up some carpet looking for rust.   It's bound to have some rust because of its age and don't let that bother you as long as it's minor.   Remember, it's a $5k driver not a $20k+ restored car.   I think it's right where it should be at $5k.