Although I love classic cars regardless of brand and nameplate, barn finds make me a bit sad. And that's because I know most of them will never get the restoration they deserve. And needless to say, it's even more upsetting when the vehicle in question is a muscle car from the golden era.
With classic car prices going up like crazy nowadays, you'd have to be insane to keep a valuable pony locked up in a barn, right? Well, things are a bit more complicated than that because restoring a potentially expensive classic isn't exactly cheap. And that's why many beloved muscle cars, like this 1970 Dodge Charger R/T, are still waiting for a second chance at life at more than 50 years old.
Documented by YouTube's "Auto Archaeology," this somewhat rare Charger R/T is part of a larger collection of muscle cars stored in a massive and really old barn and in the yard behind it. What makes it special? Well, for starters, it's an R/T. Dodge's range-topping performance package at the time, the R/T is much rarer than the original Charger. Because while the latter saw daylight in 46,315 units in 1970, fewer than 10,000 of them were ordered with the bundle.
But this R/T is also an unrestored survivor. The red paint is all-original, while the 440-cubic-inch (7.2-liter) RB V8 under the hood is of the numbers-matching variety. That's something you don't see every day. Sure, the Mopar is in poor condition overall due to a damaged rear fender, a messy interior, and some rust issues, but it's definitely fixable.
As a brief reminder, the Charger R/T was available with either a 440 RB V8 or the mighty 426-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) HEMI V8. The former came standard with a four-barrel carburetor and 375 horsepower, but Dodge also offered a "Six Pack" version with 390 horses. The HEMI topped the range at 425 horsepower. There's no word on which 440 hides under the hood of this Charger R/T, but the entry-level four-barrel version is the most common. And it's no slouch either, as it enabled the Charger to cover the quarter-mile in less than 14.5 seconds.
The R/T is parked next to a couple of other Mopars that are highly desirable nowadays. One's a 1971 Charger SE in black while the other one is a 1969 Plymouth Road Runner. Both appear to be in solid condition, but they haven't been driven in more than 10 years. Finally, a 1969 Oldsmobile 442 is also hidden in there as a GM gem among Mopar muscle.
But will these cool muscle cars from the golden era make it back on the road? Well, the guy who owns them also runs a shop so chances are they will be brought back to life. And hopefully, it will happen sooner than later because I just hate seeing 1970 Chargers rotting away like that. This R/T needs to roam the streets and burn rubber at the drag strip ASAP!
Ask Ciprian about cars and he'll reveal an obsession with classics and an annoyance with modern design cues. Read his articles and you'll understand why his ideal SUV is the 1969 Chevrolet K5 Blazer. Full profile
Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?
Google News