When it comes to classic cars, engines and transmissions are key factors in establishing market value. Mopars from the golden muscle car era, for instance, will fetch six-figure sums at auction with a 426-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) HEMI under the hood. But many enthusiasts are also looking for seemingly less important features, many of which are rare. The sunroof is one of them.
The sunroof became a mainstream factory option in the 1960s, but it wasn’t exactly popular at the time. According to the Mopar Sunroof Registry, Chrysler sold around 13,000 automobiles with factory sunroofs from 1969 to 1974. That’s a tiny figure compared to millions of vehicles built. And it’s also split between numerous Dodge, Plymouth, and Chrysler nameplates.
What’s more, most of these sunroof options were ordered between 1972 and 1974, when high-compression Mopar muscle cars were a thing of the past. As a result, 1969-to-1971 sunroof rigs from the golden era are rare and, as a result, highly desirable. The 1970 Dodge Charger you see here is one of those cars.
Finished in HEMI Orange and sporting a contrasting white vinyl top, this Charger was born as a base-trim car. You can see the said badge on the front grille. However, the original owner specified the Special Edition (SE) package, which added a host of premium features. The list included leather and vinyl bucket seats, a woodgrain dashboard and steering wheel, shiny pedals, and a special lighting group.
He also went with a more potent V8 engine instead of the base 225-cubic-inch (3.7-liter) inline-six. The mill in question is a two-barrel 383-cubic-inch (6.3-liter) V8, which delivered 290 horsepower and 390 pound-feet (529 Nm) of torque. This powerplant slotted just under the four-barrel, 335-horsepower version, the most potent unit available with the base Charger. Both the 440-cubic-inch (7.2-liter) RB and 426 HEMI were reserved for the range-topping R/T model. The two-barrel 383 was only available with the three-speed automatic.
This setup already makes this seemingly mundane Charger rare. Of the 46,315 units shipped to US dealerships that year, only 9,345 rolled off the assembly line in base trim. Of those, just 1,434 got the two-barrel 383/auto combo. There are no records as to how many were equipped with the SE package, but Mopar experts agree that only 15% of the cars got it. All told, we’re probably looking at one of fewer than 250 examples built like this.
And then there’s the sunroof, a feature that was still relatively new on Chrysler products at the time. According to the Dodge Charger Registry, only 175 cars were ordered with the sliding roof lid. And most found their way on 500 and R/T models because only nine customers opted to have their base-trim Charger fitted with one. That’s super rare, no matter how you look at it.
And that’s not the only good news about this rig. The Charger still sports the original sheet metal and drivetrain components. It has A/C and power everything and comes with three broadcast sheets. Not to mention that it has a gorgeous tan interior. It’s far from perfect, but its condition is downright impressive for a 54-year-old classic.
Hailing from the Mopars 5150 collection, this rare Charger needs a new owner to parade it at classic car events. It will cross the block at Mecum’s Dallas 2024 auction on September 5, and I’m pretty sure it will fetch a six-figure sum despite not having a HEMI under the hood.