Son buys abandoned 1974 Dodge Challenger from dad who didn't realize he had a real treasure
- A hand-me-down 1974 Dodge Challenger had been moldering in a garage for 30 years
- However, the owner’s son decided to revive it
- After a good clean and an engine replacement, it’s ready to be back up and running
Published on Jun 19, 2024 at 3:09 PM (UTC+4)
by Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
Last updated on Jun 20, 2024 at 12:56 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
A hand-me-down 1974 Dodge Challenger parked for 30 years at first seemed like a huge project, but as this son found out – his dad’s gift seriously paid off.
After spending three decades in the same spot, the son simply wanted to see what lay beneath the grime.
However, to his amazement, it was a treasure that had been hiding in plain sight – and now it’s back on the road.
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How did the 1974 Dodge Challenger end up there?
One lucky son bought the muscle car from his father.
His father had purchased the 1974 Dodge Challenger for his ex-wife, who is also the mom of its new owner.
Following the divorce, he got the car and she got the house – seemingly a dud deal from his POV.
The iconic muscle car had last been driven in 1994 before being parked and left to molder in the garage.
The son’s mission
Skip forward 30 years and the son of the divorceés decided to resurrect his inheritance.
First, he gave it a good wash, before an all-important heart transplant.
He will insert a HEMI engine from a Ram under the hood of the 50-year-old car.
The renovation started badly, with the winch cable becoming temporarily stuck under the car.
Covered in bird poop and creepy crawlies and four-legged critters, it was labeled ‘horrendous’ by one detailing expert.
An all-purpose clean, followed by degreasing the rear glass, trunk lid, windshield, and hood and a pressure wash.
With the OG engine going to scrap heaven to be replaced, even the engine bay was given a power wash – which is usually off the cards.
However, when that was done it quickly became apparent that the side panels and the body of the car itself didn’t look too shabby.
Opening the doors, the detailer switched his attention to the rodent-riddled seats.
A good vacuum got rid of the droppings, however the vinyl of the upholstery was in shreds.
Reupholstering, while costly, was the only answer.
Turns out that these big-clean projects are the new ASMR with this 1962 Chevy Corvette barn having a nasty secret under the seat that needed resolving.
The history of the 1974 Dodge Challenger
This 1974 Dodge Challenger marked the final year of the first generation model.
It’s not been long since the final chapter of the Dodge Challenger came to a close.
A replica of the Plymouth Barracuda and designed by Carl Cameron, the E-Body muscle car was the epitome of cool.
As well as the mean and rough edges of this 1970s icon, Cameron was also behind the design of the 1966 Dodge Charger.
Originally intended to give the Ford Mustang a run for its money, it came out far bigger.
By the time the 165,000 first-generation Challenger units dropped between 1970 and 1974, the pony car segment was on the out.
Production of the 1974 Dodge Challenger halted halfway through the 1974 model year.
This is one of the surviving models, with its uncovered paint and chrome accents looking almost box-fresh.
‘That is insane!’ said the son, with the rest of his response limited to simply ‘wow’ and oh my gosh.
And it could end up being worth the hard work, as this Dodge Challenger costs more than a new Aston Martin.
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All Supercar Blondie contributors undergo editorial review and fact-checking to ensure accuracy and authority in automotive journalism. After gaining her BA Hons in French and English at the University of Nottingham, Amelia embarked on a vocational diploma from the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ). This led to numerous opportunities, from interning at Vogue to being on the small team that launched Women’s Health magazine in the UK, which was named the PPA Consumer magazine of the year for three years running. As Health, Beauty and Fitness editor, Amelia personally received a Johnson & Johnson Award and was shortlisted for both PPA and BSME titles. Since then, Amelia has created content for numerous titles and brands, including the Telegraph, 111 Skin, Waitrose, Red magazine, Stylist, and Elle, as well as being Head of Content at Vitality and Editor in Chief at INLondon magazine. “My superpower is translating technical jargon about the mechanical workings of a supercar into a relatable story you’ll want to share with your friends after you’ve read it.” After joining the SB Media family as a senior journalist in September of 2023, Amelia’s role has evolved to see her heading up the SEO output of the editorial team. From researching the most ‘Google-able’ key terms to producing evergreen content - it’s been a time of hard work, growth, and success for the editorial team and the Supercar Blondie website. “I like to think of myself as a ‘method journalist’. In other words: I live and breathe whatever I am writing about. When writing about fitness, I trained as a personal trainer, and as a beauty editor, I completed an ‘expert’ in scent diploma with the Fragrance Foundation. “During my tenure at Supercar Blondie, however, I did something I never thought possible: I passed my driving test at the age of 36. One day I’d love to train as a mechanic to better understand what happens under the hood, too. “My sweet spot is providing readers with a ‘takeaway’ (read: something new they didn’t know before) after reading every one of my stories. While I don’t claim to be an expert in the automotive world, I know the experts and bodies in the field to rely on to provide our readers with an informative and thought-provoking story every time they visit the site.”
