Charger: 1969 Dodge Charger R/T SE by Ryan

Muscle Car: Dodge Charger R/T SE Year: 1969 Engine: 440 c.i. Horsepower: 760 HP Transmission: 727 Automatic Rear End: 8 ¾ sure-grip

This 1969 Dodge Charger R/T SE with a 440 c.i. and 727 automatic on the floor connected to a 8 ¾ sure-grip rear end hasn’t moved in 4 years, and 20 years before that, so everything is as it was 20 years ago.

4 years ago, my brother worked at a office building and could look out the window of his building and everyday an older gentleman would leave and then return, each time parking in the garage.

Next to where he parked in his garage looked to be an old car, so my brother told me about it. I followed up by finding the house and ringing the door bell. The old man answers and I told him that I saw the old car in the garage. He said to come on in and he’ll show me the car.

I get in the garage and see that it is a Charger. I start enquiring about the car, the man used to race it in the 70’s and put it away when he didn’t race it anymore. Start pulling old sheets and blankets off the car and I see “R/T” on the quarter… I was going “Holly Shit” in my head, either 440 or Hemi. Kept pulling off covers and I see “SE” on the buttress, sweet a nice cruiser. Finally get the car all uncovered and I see the Charger completely. It is a stunning car. The old man tells me of the racing he did at Union Grove and Rt. 66, etc.

I then pop the question whether the 1969 Dodge Charger R/T SE could be bought or not. He said he knew the car didn’t run and needed everything redone, so he told me $1500 and it could be mine.

I nearly wet myself and we agreed on the price. I called my father and he brought over a trailer and an air compressor. We got the car rolling after a lot of work, the brakes were rusted together, bearings were rusted as well, etc… But we finally got it out of the garage and out into the light and onto the trailer. We paid the man and told him I’d bring it back when I get it redone.

I finally got it to my buddy’s shop to do some work on this 1969 Dodge Charger R/T SE see if we could sort some things out. We started going through the car starting with the engine, oil down each cylinder, make sure everything was moving and lubed. Did an oil change, tranny filter change, etc… Brakes were shot and beyond help at the time. A little filing of the points and the old girl fired right up. Not that smoothly, but she ran.

We went and redid some of the brakes, just what we needed to do to move the car around, new pads, rotors but not much else, still has a very soft pedal, but for now would stop the 1969 Dodge Charger R/T SE.

Then my father and I decided to put the Charger away until we finished our first project, my 71 Challenger R/T. And so she was put into storage for the past 4 years until I had to move her from her storage space so my buddy could clean the garage where she was at. Now she sleeps again, until I finish my Challenger.

I belong to no clubs, I go to a few local Mopar shows in the Chicagoland area. I go to the Skokie Cruise at Poochie’s and the Chicago Car Kruze. Haven’t won any awards either but hope to in the near future.