How many Classic Chargers are left out there?

[stripedelete]

My guess is about 25%

2nd gen Chargers are not THAT rare(see 5%) above.

I hear what you're saying.  I had a stochastics prof in college who used to ask us if our answer to the problem passed the "smell test".  So Let's give it a shot. 

2k (5%) breaks down to 40/state.  Of course, distribution would skewed on population.  You're right that estimate is a bit low.  On the other hand,  25% would be 1k/state.  In Ohio, that would be an average of about 11/per county.  Which, in my opinion, is  a little high.  Especially, when you take into consideration it is a state that would probably have more rather than less in the per state distribution. 

With that said, maybe 15% was a little closer.       

[Ghoste]

Thats an interesting way of looking at it when you break it down that way.

[Cooter]

Plenty left. Pop up on Evil Bay and CL all the time. Happy hunting.

[lloyd3]

Balance the number left with actual condition and that number goes down fairly fast.  The eBay cars range from the occasional very-nice examples, to the far-more common project cars, to the absolute basket cases.  The last two examples are argueably circling the drain and will not be viable in many more years.  So the range we've stated is between 5% to 25%.  I could be convinced that 10% remain in good condition, but not much more than that.

[Ghoste]

I understand what you`re saying but I don`t know that I`d use e-bay as an indicator personally.  More of the circle the drain cars are on there because its the easiest and cheapest way to get rid of them.  It makes it look like there aren`t a lot of good cars left when imo, those cars are going to rarely be offered by the typical e-bay seller.  You bring up an excellent point on a big pool of cars appearing there that are about to exit the scene.

[Mytur Binsdirti]

There were about 221,000 chargers made between 68-70, give or take. My guess is closer to 20% survived after this long, which puts the total at 40,000 or so. Of course 10,000 of those 40,000 seem to have gone overseas now.    

Keep in mind that the Dukes wrecked 17,533 Chargers, but unfortunately, another 10,000 or so have been resurected from the grave to become zombie GL clones. Check out the reaction of one zombie GL clone builder here after firing it up for the first time.......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xos2MnVxe-c

[Troy]

My guess is about 25%

2nd gen Chargers are not THAT rare(see 5%) above.

I hear what you're saying.  I had a stochastics prof in college who used to ask us if our answer to the problem passed the "smell test".  So Let's give it a shot. 

2k (5%) breaks down to 40/state.  Of course, distribution would skewed on population.  You're right that estimate is a bit low.  On the other hand,  25% would be 1k/state.  In Ohio, that would be an average of about 11/per county.  Which, in my opinion, is  a little high.  Especially, when you take into consideration it is a state that would probably have more rather than less in the per state distribution. 

With that said, maybe 15% was a little closer.       

I'm going to throw a wrench into your calculations...

A few years back when I first got involved in this site I was (seemingly) on a mission to "save" the Chargers. I eventually owned five 68 Chargers so, by your calculation, I owned nearly half of the allotment for my county (also Ohio). Now, I looked at over 300 cars during that time. Most of these were known cars that were available for sale but a few were ones that I *found* while cruising back roads. Some were in northern Kentucky and eastern Indiana but most were in Ohio (but none of the ones I bought were Ohio cars). Having said that, there do seem to be more of these musclecars per capita floating around in the midwest (near the production facilities).

I know of at least 14 drivable, semi-show worthy to "restored" cars in the Cincinnati area. I know of probably 25-30 more projects and "beaters" (counting my two).

Troy

[skip68]

My figure is cars total.  All cars restored and ones that can be saved and haven't been found yet and anything in between.  

[Lennard]

Keep in mind that the Dukes wrecked 17,533 Chargers, but unfortunately, another 10,000 or so have been resurected from the grave to become zombie GL clones. Check out the reaction of one zombie GL clone builder here after firing it up for the first time.......
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xos2MnVxe-c

[lloyd3]

Staying with the 220,100 figure for 1968-70 cars, 10% would be roughly 22K restored or original decent, driveable cars. That is still a large number of cars spread out over the landscape, compared to how many say-Delorians were built.  I still see them here too (Denver Metroplex), but with nowhere the frequency I was seeing them even 10-years ago.  The midwest may have a larger cluster (due to proximity to original production? and perhaps demographics?). 

[Dino]

Funny you mention the Delorean.  I saw one the other day which makes number 3 in my immediate area and there's a club in Detroit that has quite a few, yet they only build something like 6500 total.  I don't think many of the 'new' cars have sold so far. 

There's apparently more Deloreans here than Chargers...that's weird.

[ACUDANUT]

Quote: "The midwest may have a larger cluster (due to proximity to original production? and perhaps demographics".
Might be true, after all there are alot of barns out here. 

[lloyd3]

My point exactly.  I'm seeing equal numbers of 2nd Gen cars to Deloriens here these days.  Denver might not be as good a model as say Indy or Chicago, but I think it's representative.  The DOH situation did bring more cars back from the grave and may act to keep more borderline cars alive, but for how long?  That fan base is thinning and our current economic malaise won't help things.  Unless a car is already fairly healthy, it's long term prognosis isn't good. IMHO, in a very few short years, 10% will seem like a high number of surviving examples.

[AKcharger]

There are exactly 23,237  Chargers (68-70) left in existance.

[Ghoste]

Finally, a definitive answer. 

[Dino]

There are exactly 23,237  Chargers (68-70) left in existance.

And all this time you keep us guessing, tsss...   

[ACUDANUT]

 Hmmm After contacting all the DVM's, they only have 11,318 on file.

[Dino]

Hmmm After contacting all the DVM's, they only have 11,318 on file.

At least, thanks to you, they now know to find and register the other 11,919.  If that doesn't get you a discount on road tax, I don't know what will!

[jar1292]

I have 1....

[Ghoste]

One of the 11 or one of the 23?

[JB400]

I can definitely, positively, prove there is at least one left.   I look at it regularly.

[Dino]

I can definitely, positively, prove there is at least one left.   I look at it regularly.

Got any pics of that thing?  I don't recall seeing any.

[JB400]

I can definitely, positively, prove there is at least one left.   I look at it regularly.

Got any pics of that thing?  I don't recall seeing any.

I'll dig them out and resize them.

[Ghoste]

Yeah, now that you mention it I don't recall it either.  Have you posted any Stroker?

[skip68]

No kidding.  Show some pictures stroker....