1973 Charger SE Stolen!

[C.duck]

Whelp, after restoring the car for the past 5 years it was stolen out of my driveway. These forums have always been good to me so I figured I would use as much of my network as possible in hopes that somebody might see it driving around or on the back of a trailer. If the plates are still on it they read 154HYZ, stolen from Portland, Oregon. The car was 95% completed, just needed carpet/headliner/paint. (Further along than seen in the pics as they were dated)

1973 Dodge Charger SE

A couple of identifying factors:

Custom center console (pics)
R/T tail lights
Glowshift gauges mounted on the middle of the dash - not seen in pics
Flat Black
Cragars
Chromed out engine bay - 440 with a dual snorkel air cleaner
Tuff steering wheel
Rallye dash
Bucket seats
flat black on black

My guess is its already in a million pieces but I have a lot of sentimental value built up in it (father & son project).

Thanks for the posting space as always!

[C.duck]

[tan top]

  oh no ,  not good , sorry to hear this         hope it turns up ...

[lukedukem]

Hate this crap... 
good luck

whats the VIN, in case someone comes across it

Luke

[C.duck]

Good call -

VIN: WP29G3A113837

[JR]

Dude I'm sorry to hear that.

Hopefully it will be found intact. Did you have insurance on it?

[C.duck]

Can't begin to explain the disappointment and gut wrenching feeling... :/ I do have insurance on it, and though it pays well, I would rather have the car back any day of the week. Money can't replace this one.

[TheBipolarRoller]

Can't begin to explain the disappointment and gut wrenching feeling... :/ I do have insurance on it, and though it pays well, I would rather have the car back any day of the week. Money can't replace this one.

Prayers for the safe return of your father/son bonding project.

[JB400]

Sad to hear this junk is still happening in our online community.

[C.duck]

I appreciate the support, love the DC community!

[Baldwinvette77]

Awww man... not another 

[Dino]

This makes me sick. I can only imagine how you feel. I'd post this on any and every car forum you can find. No matter what brand. Us car guys will stick together and keep an eye open no matter what car it is. At least that's how it should be.

[Lennard]

Damn, that's a nightmare!  I'll keep an eye out.

[polywideblock]

well that sux , hope you find the dirtbag  that did it ( and your ride as well )

[C.duck]

Well good news and bad news. They found the car, and arrested the guy who stole it. However the engine was brand new, not broken in, and was overheating a bit. They clearly drove the crap out of it. I had it towed home and will find out whether its toast or not but from a quick glance it looks like they ran the radiator out of water so its looking dim. ignition is popped of course and they popped the trunk lock - not that I had anything in it. The rest of the car is pretty sound minus the horrendous cigarette smell.

[Lennard]

The damage sucks but that can all be fixed.  I'm glad you have your car back again.

[Kern Dog]

Wow, that was a fast recovery.

[polywideblock]

Well good news and bad news. They found the car, and arrested the guy who stole it. However the engine was brand new, not broken in, and was overheating a bit. They clearly drove the crap out of it. I had it towed home and will find out whether its toast or not but from a quick glance it looks like they ran the radiator out of water so its looking dim. ignition is popped of course and they popped the trunk lock - not that I had anything in it. The rest of the car is pretty sound minus the horrendous cigarette smell.

    glad you got her back , make sure they throw the book at the scumbag that did it

[TheBipolarRoller]

Well good news and bad news. They found the car, and arrested the guy who stole it. However the engine was brand new, not broken in, and was overheating a bit. They clearly drove the crap out of it. I had it towed home and will find out whether its toast or not but from a quick glance it looks like they ran the radiator out of water so its looking dim. ignition is popped of course and they popped the trunk lock - not that I had anything in it. The rest of the car is pretty sound minus the horrendous cigarette smell.

Thank God. He really does answer prayer.

[Dino]

Well good news and bad news. They found the car, and arrested the guy who stole it. However the engine was brand new, not broken in, and was overheating a bit. They clearly drove the crap out of it. I had it towed home and will find out whether its toast or not but from a quick glance it looks like they ran the radiator out of water so its looking dim. ignition is popped of course and they popped the trunk lock - not that I had anything in it. The rest of the car is pretty sound minus the horrendous cigarette smell.

Thank God. He really does answer prayer.

Or thank the guys who found it.

Sorry about the damage OP but damn at least it's back home! Here's hoping for a speedy insurance payment.

[TruckDriver]

Congrats on getting it back. 

It's better then getting it back completely destroyed. 

[white]

Is there a link to the arrest online or a news paper article so we know who this person is.

[Bob]

That's great they found it in a couple days. Cracker Jack Police department.

[CDN72SE]

Glad you got it back, I can't imagine the feeling of coming outside and seeing it gone. Had mine since 1992, would be lost without it.

[C.duck]

No information yet on the person, however I have a case number and requested the police report. They assured me I will know everything. Started the car up this morning and it sounds as good as ever, no billowing smoke so the head gaskets seem okay. Still extremely concerned about the overheating, not sure what I can really do about that though. I'll keep everyone updated as I get more info

[JR]

I would definitely wire in one or two hidden kill switches after this close call.

Glad to hear you have it back safe now.

[TheBipolarRoller]

No information yet on the person, however I have a case number and requested the police report. They assured me I will know everything. Started the car up this morning and it sounds as good as ever, no billowing smoke so the head gaskets seem okay. Still extremely concerned about the overheating, not sure what I can really do about that though. I'll keep everyone updated as I get more info

It's definitely time to pull that motor apart in my opinion.
A buddy of mine back in the day had me go on a test drive of his Chebbie Caprice. He had just put in a rebuilt 350. So we are driving along a she gets "a bit" hot. I said it's time to pull over and walk home and I can tow your car back and we need to pull the motor apart and find out why she's gettin' hot. His "reply" was to drop it in low and stomp the pedal. Needless to say it was not very long before the car couldn't take another "step". He sold the motor to someone and the guy pulled it apart.... a few of the pistons were literally melted. Turns out he had put on the wrong piston rings combined with a half-bad oil pump. Not proper lubrication and the wrong piston rings grenaded his engine.

I would for sure pull that motor apart and go through the whole thing.

It wouldn't hurt to have the gas tank cleaned too. You never know when someone will put sugar or something into it. Maybe these kids did, who knows?

[Baldwinvette77]

Awesome!   Glad its back, hopefully the insurance money will cover the repairs.... and then some  

[BDF]

I was sickened to hear it of it stolen!
Very glad for you to have it back in whatever condition it is.

[JB400]

Well good news and bad news. They found the car, and arrested the guy who stole it. However the engine was brand new, not broken in, and was overheating a bit. They clearly drove the crap out of it. I had it towed home and will find out whether its toast or not but from a quick glance it looks like they ran the radiator out of water so its looking dim. ignition is popped of course and they popped the trunk lock - not that I had anything in it. The rest of the car is pretty sound minus the horrendous cigarette smell.

Thank God. He really does answer prayer.

Yes, he does.  Glad to hear you got your car back.  Might I suggest putting it in the garage now?

[XH29N0G]

Wow, A roller coaster read and I am sure even worse to experience.  Good luck with the continuation. 

[C.duck]

I would definitely wire in one or two hidden kill switches after this close call.

Glad to hear you have it back safe now.

Very good point, Sadly we were talking about doing this not even 2 weeks prior to everything happening. So yes, definitely going to happen ASAP. I have locking lugs on the wheels and we are going to add boots to them too. Figure enough deterrents might do the trick.

Yes, he does.  Glad to hear you got your car back.  Might I suggest putting it in the garage now?

Well I'm only 22 and between my old mans '59 cadi and 67 continental I don't get any garage space haha. However, I just got preapproved for a home loan so hopefully this charger will have its own little nook sooner than later.

[odcics2]

Well good news and bad news. They found the car, and arrested the guy who stole it. However the engine was brand new, not broken in, and was overheating a bit. They clearly drove the crap out of it. I had it towed home and will find out whether its toast or not but from a quick glance it looks like they ran the radiator out of water so its looking dim. ignition is popped of course and they popped the trunk lock - not that I had anything in it. The rest of the car is pretty sound minus the horrendous cigarette smell.

Thank God. He really does answer prayer.

But I guess he was sleeping when they stole it? 
Can't have it both ways, right?

[XH29N0G]

This sounds like a passion you inherited from your dad, and this makes this sort of thing all the worse. 

Please keep us posted on the progress from here. 

I have my son's car out front, too - not a charger, but a 35 year old BMW.  It is always a treat when he works on it, or now returns from college to do some work.

[tan top]

Well good news and bad news. They found the car, and arrested the guy who stole it. However the engine was brand new, not broken in, and was overheating a bit. They clearly drove the crap out of it. I had it towed home and will find out whether its toast or not but from a quick glance it looks like they ran the radiator out of water so its looking dim. ignition is popped of course and they popped the trunk lock - not that I had anything in it. The rest of the car is pretty sound minus the horrendous cigarette smell.

  good to hear , you got it back in one piece ,

[TheBipolarRoller]

Well good news and bad news. They found the car, and arrested the guy who stole it. However the engine was brand new, not broken in, and was overheating a bit. They clearly drove the crap out of it. I had it towed home and will find out whether its toast or not but from a quick glance it looks like they ran the radiator out of water so its looking dim. ignition is popped of course and they popped the trunk lock - not that I had anything in it. The rest of the car is pretty sound minus the horrendous cigarette smell.

Thank God. He really does answer prayer.

But I guess he was sleeping when they stole it? 
Can't have it both ways, right?

One cannot blame God for the free-will actions of a person... That person made the decision to steal dude's car. Yet his neighbors walk by it every day and say "No" to the same scenario.