How to Buy a Classic Dodge

Anyone who has ever seen "Dukes of Hazzard" or "Vanishing Point" knows about Dodge muscle cars. These cars dominated on road and track in the '60s and early '70s.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Car Value Guide
• Cars

1. Know that the most collectable Dodge cars are the Chargers, Superbees and Challengers built from 1966 to 1971. These cars have become quite popular as collector cars in the last 10 years.

2. Consider a Charger or a Superbee for excellent, straight-line performance and great, tough looks.

3. Choose a Challenger or a Dart GTS for a car with better all-around performance.

4. Focus on cars equipped with the special engines, such as the 440-6 or Hemi, if you want your car to increase in value. Convertibles add big bucks as well.

5. Know that Dodge built some exciting cars prior to 1966. These are increasingly rare, and car parts are difficult to locate.

6. Avoid cars built after 1971 or cars that have been extensively modified. Also watch out for clones. For example, with a few simple modifications a Coronet can be made to look like a Superbee. And if the car doesn't have the original engine or drivetrain, it won't hold its value well.

7. Realize that these cars were relatively inexpensive when they were built, and most were driven hard. Look for signs of rust and abuse.

Tips & Warnings

• Some of the cars described above are getting quite expensive. For cars with similar performance, look for a Coronet with a 383 or a Dart with a 340.
• Updates will add to your enjoyment, such as modern tires and suspension upgrades. But keep the original equipment if you choose this route.