Classic Classified: 1969 Dodge Hemi Charger 500
From: Hemmings Motor News, December 1983
Price then: $8,000 ($19,790 adjusted for inflation)
Approximate dollar difference: $219,700 (assuming No. 1 condition)
Annual rate of return: 7.6%
Dodge: 1969 Charger 500, 426 Hemi, Automatic, console, buckets, 61,000 miles on car, 3,000 on engine, excellent condition, original hemi car, $8,000
The Charger 500 is a pretty rare find, and with a 426 Hemi lurking under the hood, it doesn’t get much better. Built for NASCAR homologation, these cars received aerodynamic updates from the Charger R/T to handle the high speeds of the super speedways. Hemi Mopars have always been desirable cars, and this one is no exception. While $8,000 certainly wasn’t chump change 1983, it looks like a heck of a bargain today since these are now six-figure muscle cars in any condition. A 7-percent annual return is a pretty nice reward for the buyer who was willing to take a leap of faith on this Charger and (hopefully) hold onto it.
