1969 Dodge Charger R/T 440 project with a VIN-coded XS29L R/T car under $11k bid

Why we picked it

This 1969 Dodge Charger is listed on eBay by a private seller in Brookline, Missouri. The VIN, XS29L9B342072, decodes as a real R/T (XS29) with the L-code 440 four-barrel, built at Hamtramck. The seller says the 440 is numbers-matching; the original transmission was replaced by a 727 automatic. The listing shows a clean title and 73,000 miles, but the mileage is not documented. Bidding was at $10,600 with 2 bids and the reserve not met, with a little over four days left when we checked. The item description is blank, so most details come from the photos and the item specifics.

Why we picked it: R/T Chargers are among the most-wanted Mopar B-bodies. Even ordinary 1969 Charger projects with small engines have sold for $41,500 to $47,250. The bid is very low now, but bids usually climb near the end and the reserve has not been met. It needs a lot of rust repair, so set your top bid with metal work in mind.

The value check

The current bid is $10,600. Comparable cars in the same condition have sold for $41,500–$47,250, so the middle of the market is about $44,375. That put this car 76% under. Bids usually climb in the final hours, so the discount will likely shrink.

Rough 1969 Charger projects have sold for $41,500 (BaT, May 2026, a 318 car) and $47,250 (Hagerty past sale, 383 car). A real R/T project should sit at or above that, so the current $10,600 bid is about 76% under the comp midpoint, but the reserve is not met.

Where the numbers come from:

• 1969 Dodge Charger project, sold $41,500 on BaT, May 22 2026 (classic.com)
• 1969 Dodge Charger Project, sold $47,250 (Hagerty past sales)
• classic.com 1969 Charger market page (sold and listed results)
• classic.com Charger R/T market page

What to check

• Rust is the main issue: the photos show work needed on the driver-side front frame rail, rockers, torsion bar crossmember area, floor pans, trunk floor, spring perches and wheelhouses
• Reserve not met and the seller description is empty; ask for VIN tag, fender tag and engine stamping photos before bidding
• Confirm the 440 partial VIN stamp matches the car; the 727 automatic is a replacement
• 73,000 miles is unverified. This is a private-seller listing: confirm the title and VIN in person, and don't send a deposit before seeing the car (the listing asks for a $500 deposit after the sale)
• Get an inspection or detailed underside photos; 1968-70 Chargers rust at rear window channels, quarter panels and lower fenders too

Making it drive like new

Once the shell is solid, use a subframe connector kit and a modern torsion-bar or coilover front suspension with tubular control arms and rack-and-pinion steering. Add four-wheel disc brakes, an overdrive automatic behind a freshened 440 or a Gen III Hemi, and an aftermarket fuel-injection system. Seat belts with shoulder harnesses and a modern wiring harness are worth doing at the same time.

4 builders make a complete chassis for the 1966–70 Mopar B-body (Charger, Road Runner, GTX, Coronet). Compare them side by side, along with what it takes to stiffen the factory frame.