Restoration of my rare JB9 blue 1973 Charger SE 440

[KillerBee1972]

Some might remember me from quite a few years back. I have a special ordered 1973 charger SE. With a 440, sunroof, towing package, power windows, special order paint in JB9 dark metallic blue. As of now this is 1 of only 2 known to exist in this color from the factory. The other car has a white top and white interior. My dad bought it back in 1985. And parked it in late 1988. He got it off of the original salesman that sold the car new. Now to back track, In February 1973 the original owners put the order in checking a lot of the boxes. The total came out to be just shy of $5,100. With a total of $5,091.00. The chargers scheduled build date was April 9, 1973. They ordered the car with 3.23 rear gears and showed up to the dealership with 3.55s in it. The dealership offered to swap out the gears if they didn't want the 3.55s. The original owners said no, leave the 3.55s in. The original owners also used the car on many of their vacations to Colorado, and to Florida while pulling a little trailer. They also had ordered the car with painted sport mirrors but came from the factory with chrome, being a special order paint car, they did not have JB9 blue mirrors already painted waiting on a shelf on the assembly line. They ended up selling the car to the original salesman that helped them, in winter 1983. His wife mainly drove the car until my dad got it in 1985. My dad drove the piss out of it. The 3 years he drove it he put almost 40k miles on it. He parked it in 88 when he was shipped out to Germany in the Army. My mom did drive it for a couple months she said in 89 but after that it sat in the garage. Now skip ahead to 2005ish. The car was given to my brother, he and I got it running again and I drove it around the backyard at my parents. Drove it back into the garage. That's when my brother tore it apart to a bare shell.    (he wanted to build a pro street car). Long story short with that. He got married had kids lost Interest, I finally convinced him to sell it to me in 2012. I slowly put the car back together to find all the parts. Life happened with me also, got married, got a house etc. So working on the charger slowed down. March 2020 my buddy started talking with me and he knew how much this car meant to me. He said why don't we start the restoration on this. I looked at the car and said yea let's do it. It's time. Thus began my 2.5 year restoration on this rare charger. The only "aftermarket" metal in the car is the floor patch in the drivers floor and the passenger trunk extension, outer wheel housing and lower quarter. The rest is either made from 1973 charger metal and the one quarter panel was replaced with a real 73 quarter that was cut from another charger. Every square inch of the car was touched. Never thought it was going to be this involved. My buddy at Tosti's Speed Shop did one hell of a job with this car (website coming soon). The paint is an exact match to the original JB9. And looks beautiful. Original numbers matching engine. And trans. In the car. Engine had to go .030 over. I increased the compression picked out a nice comp cam. Sounds amazing. The vinyl top is the original vinyl top. I cannot believe we saved the top. The Interior is still original along with the carpet. My dad did a awesome job and the car was very well preserved. I'm sure I am forgetting more things I'll add it to the story as I remember but enjoy the pics of the crazy journey of this car. I will be attending Carlisle and MCACN this year hopefully more shows as well.

[KillerBee1972]

more

[KillerBee1972]

more

[KillerBee1972]

more

[KillerBee1972]

some more

[KillerBee1972]

mmmore

[KillerBee1972]

morerer

[KillerBee1972]

more

[KillerBee1972]

m o r e

[KillerBee1972]

 

[KillerBee1972]

 

[KillerBee1972]

 

[KillerBee1972]

 

[KillerBee1972]

 

[KillerBee1972]

 

[KillerBee1972]

 

[KillerBee1972]

 

[KillerBee1972]

 

[KillerBee1972]

 

the one picture is my dad seeing the car back together for the first time in years!

[kent]

Looking Great! Great story. Love family restos! Had a 74 back when I was young and dumb. 318 in mine. 

[Fitz73Chrgr]

I love seeing late 3rd gens being restored.  What a beautiful color, and with a sunroof!  Thanks for sharing, awesome job!

[RallyeMike]

  Super cool  Nice job.

[tan top]

     looks good ! nice work 

[CDN72SE]

I like it, nice work.

[KillerBee1972]

Here are a few updated photos of the charger