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Charger R/T 400 Magnum

20 messages,  Last post on Oct 02, 2012 at 9:13 AM

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What is this discussion about? Dodge Charger

Messages Page 1 of 2

#1 of 20 Charger R/T 400 Magnum by cmcfarland

Jun 14, 2007 (5:52 pm)

Hi all,
 
I'm really new to car restoration, and anyhow, there is a guy in my town who has offered to sell me his Dodge Charger 400 Magnum R/T. I've searched online and I haven't really found any mention of a 400 R/T. Is he lying to me? Could someone please set me straight?
 
Thanks!!
 
Chris

#2 of 20 Re: Charger R/T 400 Magnum [cmcfarland] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Jun 14, 2007 (7:21 pm)

Replying to: cmcfarland (Jun 14, 2007 5:52 pm)
Okay he probably means it's a 440 magnum engine (HP2, 375HP, "L" code engine) in an R/T.
 
Better make sure it's a "real" car though. Counterfeits abound.

#3 of 20 Re: Charger R/T 400 Magnum [Mr_Shiftright] by cmcfarland

Jun 14, 2007 (8:50 pm)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Jun 14, 2007 7:21 pm)
Thanks for the reply! That's what I thought at first, but he assured me it was a 400 Magnum engine in an R/T, which doesn't make much sense to me. Am I right to be suspicious? How can I check to make sure it's not a counterfeit?
 
Thank you very much.

#4 of 20 Re: Charger R/T 400 Magnum [cmcfarland] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Jun 15, 2007 (9:13 am)

Replying to: cmcfarland (Jun 14, 2007 8:50 pm)
I'm not sure what he's talking about. If it's a 400 engine, this is a late 70s Charger (1978), low horsepower car. I don't recall an R/T except for the Aspen R/T in those years but it had a 360. There was a Magnum GT.
 
What year is this car?

#5 of 20 Re: Charger R/T 400 Magnum [Mr_Shiftright] by cmcfarland

Jun 15, 2007 (10:03 am)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Jun 15, 2007 9:13 am)
The car year is 1974. Does that make sense?
 
Thank you so much for your help. I think the Edmunds forum may just have saved me from a very costly scam!

#6 of 20 further info by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Jun 15, 2007 (10:15 am)

Well I don't know if it's a scam exactly---maybe the seller just doesn't know what he's talking about. You could get a 400 cid engine, 250HP, in a Charger as an option, but there's no "R/T" in 1974 that I am aware of---there is an SE model.
 
The 1974 engines are a far cry from the powerhouse 440/375HP magnum big blocks.
 
If you had a VIN # and a data plate (fender tag), we could decode the car for you, and if you had an engine #, better yet.

#7 of 20 Re: Charger R/T 400 Magnum [cmcfarland] by t_apger90

Apr 03, 2008 (7:55 pm)

Replying to: cmcfarland (Jun 14, 2007 5:52 pm)
IT is not a scam!!!! My uncle owns the same exact car.. it is EXTREAMLY rare. and is worth A hell of a lot of money.( even if it is rusted out and doesnt run).. i have only seen two my entire life. my uncles and one at a car show in the 80's.. they also made a 340 magnum r/t as well.. its not as rare but is still worth alot... if you dont mind me asking do you think you could possibly send me some pix of the car..

#8 of 20 Re: Charger R/T 400 Magnum [t_apger90] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Apr 11, 2008 (6:06 pm)

Replying to: t_apger90 (Apr 03, 2008 7:55 pm)
The last Charger R/T was made in 1971. All the books seem to agree on this point.
 
Unless the seller has some pretty amazing documentation, one would have to believe the published data.

#9 of 20 Re: Charger R/T 400 Magnum [Mr_Shiftright] by t_apger90

Apr 11, 2008 (6:24 pm)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Apr 11, 2008 6:06 pm)
i do believe that you are wrong.. (No offence) but in 1974 they made 208 440 magnum r/t's 6 of witch were hard tops (bare metal). and i do not believe that info is in your books.. it is nearly impossible to find info on these cars... if you want to verify what it is and not get scamed all you have to do is look under the passenger seat.. (all the older muscle cars have a build sheet under the seat, giving all the info including how many of that model was made)

#10 of 20 Re: Charger R/T 400 Magnum [t_apger90] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Apr 12, 2008 (8:02 am)

Replying to: t_apger90 (Apr 11, 2008 6:24 pm)
No offense taken!
 
Well like I said until somebody shows me some proof, all I have to go on is the fact that none of the standard reference books on Mopars mentions such a car whatsoever.
 
As Carl Sagan said: "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof".
 
Maybe it's true, but why should I believe it without evidence? Or the buyer?
 
I'm certainly willing to have my mind changed.
 
Where did you get the number of 208? do you have the title of a book this info is in?
 
And if nobody knows about it, why should it be valuable? There are plenty of rare cars that are not worth anything. After all you need not only supply but DEMAND to make the equation work for value.

Messages Page 1 of 2

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