Forgotten 1973 Dodge Charger Comes out of Storage, It's a Rare Mr. Norm's Car

But that didn't stop them from flocking into dealerships. Even though the muscle car era was coming to an end and most nameplates were going into the history books, the Charger moved 75,600 units in 1972. Sales soared to a whopping 119,318 examples in 1973 before dropping to 74,376 cars the following year.

The high production numbers and lack of high-compression V8 engines prevented the post-1971 Charger from becoming a desirable classic. But that's not to say that some 1972-1974 Chargers can't become great collectibles. The weathered 1973 example you see here has such potential.

Unearthed by the folks at YouTube's "BackWood Performance," this Mopar isn't the finest-looking 1973 Charger out there. But that's because it's been off the road for some time. Our host didn't mention when it was parked, but based on the way it looks, the car was probably retired at least 20 years ago.

But even though it sat for so long, it's still in relatively good shape. While the paint is weathered and the interior shows significant wear and tear, the body isn't as rusty as you'd expect. And apart from the big dent in the passenger-side door, the body panels are still straight. Needless to say, this Charger likely had a solid roof over its head.

Our host doesn't discuss the condition of the engine, but he does mention a 400-cubic-inch (6.6-liter) V8 mated to a four-speed manual transmission. A mid-range option, the 400 V8 was available in two- and four-barrel carburetor setups at the time. The former came with 170 horsepower on tap, while the latter was rated at 260 horses. The range-topping 440-cubic-inch (7.2-liter) V8 delivered only 20 additional horsepower.

So what makes this Charger special? Well, even though it rolled off the assembly line during the nameplate's most popular model year (Dodge sold 119,318 Chargers in 1973), this car is one of only a few hundred units fitted with this powerplant combo. According to Mopar expert Galen V. Govier, this Charger is one of 396 vehicles ordered with the 400 V8 and four-speed manual.

But that's not all. This Mopar is also a Mr. Norm's rig. This means it was sold through Grand Spaulding Dodge of Chicago, one of the company's biggest showrooms at the time. Co-founded by Norm Kraus, Grand Spaulding became famous for its focus on high performance, with many cars fitted with aftermarket upgrades.

This one doesn't have the iconic Mr. Norm's sticker on the trunk lid or the quarter window, but the vehicle was sold with a lot of paperwork that should get the record straight. Needless to say, it's one of those post-1971 Chargers that's definitely worth restoring, but it's unclear if the folks at "BackWood Performance" intend to give it a makeover. Hopefully, this car finds its way to a good home. Meanwhile, you can check it out in the video below.