Waking up the 71SE

[archie360]

Finally out of the garage after a winter that just doesn't want to end. First time the gunmetal SE has the light of day since putting the car together last fall/winter.  Still has the original 383HP motor, column shift 727 w/3.55s gears. It's interesting to think how many donor parts were needed for this one. I used good original parts over repro's when I could. Just on the exterior there's parts from at least twenty different chargers. They nickel and dime you to death, but it's all worth it when it comes together. No show car mind you, just a driver with some show car details.

[1970Moparmann]

Congrats!  Looks nice!

[nvrbdn]

nice 

[RallyeMike]

Nice. Was the split upper/lower door panel color and option, or a personal touch? I am not familiar with SE car options.

[archie360]

Thanks folks!  Mike, it's the gunmetal gray two tone interior which was optional.  I was able to recondition the original leather seatcovers which were very dry but otherwise in good shape.  Saved me over $1,000 if I had to replace them.  They were just missing some button's which I purchased from Legendary last year for a buck a piece  

[Ghoste]

Sure looks good. 

[Pete in NH]

Beautiful car!   I've always liked that gunmetal color.

[XH29N0G]

It is a very nice car.  And nice that you drive and enjoy it.

[71 SE3834V]

Nice. Was the split upper/lower door panel color and option, or a personal touch? I am not familiar with SE car options.

I believe the gunmetal upper w/the black lower panel was the way it came as mine is the same. Also has black carpet with a gunmetal headliner. I've been told some had black seat backs although mine are gunmetal.

Steve, I see you've added the fender turn signal indicators since the last pics I seen. Nice touch. Make it your own! I keep telling myself "That's what mine would look like if I had the paint done!"
I still don't know how you did it working in the cold. Mine still sits the way I last left it in November with no master cylinder on it.
By the way, what size are those tires. That's the look I'm looking for.

[Charger-Bodie]

Looks like a beauty!

[archie360]

Thanks Jeff, the fenders were not original to the car so I don't know if it came with them originally, but it has them now.   I found some nice repoductions that set me back about $100 bucks.  From what research I've done the fender turn signals were not part of the A01 light package for 71 but were included in 72.  Both my cars have the A01 option and the 72 rallye does have them.  
The interior on mine was originally black.  I've seen several gunmetal SE's (yours included) with the matching interior and when I ran across one being parted out with the same interior I had to have it as you don't see them very often.  Haven't run across any with the black seat backs.  Here's a pic I stole off the net with the same color combo a little worse for wear:




Tires are 215/70's with 225/70 in the rear.  I would have got them all the same but the firehawks were going out of production so I got what I could.  If I had the extra money I think a set of reproduction goodyear polyglas would go really well with the period correct license plates.  

At least your motor is rebuilt.  Mechanically mine still needs some work and yes I'm tired of fighting the cold.  If it wasn't for the choke on my carter avs I wouldn't have been able to get it out of the garage.  It's gotta warm up sooner or later!

[1974dodgecharger]

wow its come a long way.....looks awesome 

[polywideblock]

beautiful car   

[71 SE3834V]

As far as the black seat backs I was just told that. Haven't seen any evidence of it although I don't see a lot of 3rd gens around here let alone gunmetal ones and have not done any internet searches.

I was thinking you added the fender t. sigs because in the pic you sent me last fall I don't see them or the holes for them. Could be just the glare. I assumed you cut the holes for them.

Once again I want to point out how impressive this car looks knowing you worked year round with no heat in the garage doing most, if not all the work yourself (not to take anything away from your wife who helped/installed the vinyl top  ). I would gladly help you restore your mechanicals in exchange for your experiance in body work. Too bad we're half a country apart.  

[archie360]

Thanks guys, I really appreciate your comments.  It's far from perfect but considering I'm not a professional, just a guy working out of his garage I'm pretty happy with the results.  Learned a lot along the way and would do some things differently if I was to do it again.  The paint job is not show quality, but on the flip side the paint and bodywork (complete color change) only cost me the price of materials so I didn't have to mortgage the house or wait to get it back from a body shop to get er done. And yes, the wife's help and understanding was a definite plus.  

Here's a pic when we brought it home in 2012.  Lots of bondo and three layers of paint over the original gunmetal gray.  It was so thick most of it was removed with razor blades.



Jeff, your too kind.  Thanks for the advice and answering my questions.  Maybe we should swap cars for the summer  

[71 SE3834V]

You know what would be cool Steve? Our 2 cars sitting side by side at a show. Look Basel, Twins! (A little Austin Powers there).

Maybe somewhere in Pennsylvania? Road trip!

[archie360]

Sounds great, Joel in PA has your car restored with a sunroof and pistol grip four speed.  He had it at carlisle the last two years.  If we could get the three cars together that would be one for the books. The way we are going we should start our own registry or maybe a support group  

[sdweatherman]

No show car mind you, just a driver with some show car details.

Very nice Charger - If my car looked that good - I would have it out to some shows once in a while! Happy motoring! Scott.

[VegasCharger]

Sounds great, Joel in PA has your car restored with a sunroof and pistol grip four speed.  He had it at carlisle the last two years.  If we could get the three cars together that would be one for the books. The way we are going we should start our own registry or maybe a support group  

Very nice car 

Joel in PA, is it the guy from Edinboro, PA? Which is near Erie, PA. If so I've dealt with that guy before and he was really nice to deal with. I used to live in Akron, OH and I went to the Erie, PA all Mopar show and swap and he had some parts there waiting for me from previous conversastions talking out some deals.

Thanks for sharing

[Fitz73Chrgr]

Very nice!  Is there a resto thread on this one?   

[archie360]

I'm not sure just where he lives, thought he was in southern PA.  I finally had the opportunity to meet him at carlisle last year after a few phone calls.  

Sorry I don't have a restoration thread on the car.  I didn't really consider it a restoration like much of the fine work folks have done here.  More like whatever needs to be done to bring it back and get her on the road

[1973rallye]

VERY nice car!

[CDN72SE]

Looking good, really like the colour. 

[tan top]

 awesome looking third generation      

[ralley72]

Great car. I think Gun Metal Grey goes really well with the 3rd gen body, it's my favorite color on a 71 Charger.

Mike