One of the smartest ideas we've heard in a long time is using a vintage car as a daily driver. Take something like this 1974 Dodge Charger SE: it's still fast, fun, and well-equipped, and even at its current price, it's cheaper than almost any new car you'll find. Best of all, you can drive it without losing money, because unlike a new car, it'll still be worth about this much five years from now. How can you lose? It's a good-looking car, no doubt about that. Chrysler's fuselage styling has aged well and the classic Sherwood Green and white color combination defies the period in which it was born and will look great for years to come. Proportions are classic muscle car, with a long hood and short deck, and it looks fast even sitting still. While it's got some of signs of age and use that come from 40+ years of fun, it also means that you won't mind subjecting it to the rigors of the daily grind and it would make a great candidate for an all-out restoration. The paint has a great gloss and just a hint of metallic in it, so you'll get admiring glances at any traffic light and the chrome details make it look unlike anything else on the road today. Both bumpers are neat designs that were some of the first to be integrated into the body's shape rather than tacked on, and combined with the unique padded roof treatment, the sucker looks long, low, and sleek. The unique vinyl top is the original and showing its age, so it'll be up to you to decide whether to live with it or get it replaced. The wild green fabric interior is what makes this car especially cool. Sure, it's a little 1970s funky, but isn't that the whole point? It has to be original, strongly suggesting a very well-maintained car and once you're situated behind the wheel, you'll find that this car feels more modern than its age would suggest. The split bench does a decent impersonation of bucket seats and there's enough room in back for passengers who won't complain about the accommodations. It's got a complete Rallye gauge cluster and it still has its factory-issued AM/FM stereo in the original slot, complete with both knobs on the left side. How cool is that? This car also features factory A/C (needs to be serviced), and a factory Tuff Wheel that is still one of the best designs of the era. There's also a good-sized trunk with what might just be the original spare tire, plus a jack assembly and original mat. The relatively potent 360 cubic inch V8 is a great choice if you're going to drive the car regularly (or even just on weekends, for that matter). Torquey and smooth, it remains unobtrusive in traffic but makes great V8 sounds when you open it up. It was the top engine in 1974, and with a 4-barrel carburetor, it's plenty punchy. It's pretty stock, including the air cleaner assembly and corporate turquoise engine enamel, although it looks like the alternator is recent. The 737 TorqueFlite 3-speed automatic powers a set of tall highway gears which mean that this car cruises effortlessly at any speed. A burbling dual exhaust system makes it fun to drive but isn't overpowering and the original, slightly crusty chassis won't make you worry about rainy days. And we have to admit that we love the plain-Jane black steel wheels with dog dish hubcaps, which just scream sleeper, and they're fitted with 215/70/14 BFG radials. Documented with it's original Broadcast Sheet, it's pretty easy to see yourself driving this car regularly, isn't it? Or restore it and have one of the coolest cars of the '70s that few people get to see. Call today!
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