At first glance, this 1970 Dodge Challenger appears to be extremely dirty. It was left parked in a Pennsylvania barn sometime in the 1990s and has remained there ever since. Sadly, the owner did not take any steps to safeguard the vehicle, and the years have not been forgiving. Animals have also taken their toll on the car. This is evident from the outset of the WD Detailing video, where a crusty object is found amidst the decades of grime on the trunk. As they attempt to winch the car out of the barn, they discover the remains of a cat. Another skeleton nearby appears to be that of a raccoon. All of this is uncovered before the car even makes it outside.
There is a glimmer of hope, though. The owner reveals that the Challenger was parked due to an issue with its original 340 cubic-inch engine, which was removed long ago for a rebuild. He also repainted the car in a two-tone red/black scheme reminiscent of the 1970 Plymouth 'Cuda, the Challenger's contemporary sibling. With a thorough cleaning and some polishing, this classic muscle car could potentially be a hidden gem waiting to be revived.
Unfortunately, this is not the case. As layers of dirt are removed, the repaint is revealed to be amateur at best. It appears that duct tape was used for striping, and the paint is severely weather-checked beneath the clear coat. But none of this matters because the car is riddled with rust. The panels around the headlights are in disarray, the fenders are rusted, and there is a large hole in the driver-side fender. Inside, the situation is equally dire. Mountains of mouse nests are found under the seats and in the headliner. With the back seat removed for cleaning, massive rust holes are exposed in the floor. The front seats are torn, the sun visors are damaged, and the headliner is hanging by mere threads.
Despite all this, the detailing crew works diligently to make the old car look as presentable as possible. The paint gains a shine, the rear seat looks decent from above, and the door panels appear particularly nice. However, this is far from a straightforward restoration project. It would require extensive repairs and reconditioned parts to get it back on the road. In essence, a full restoration is needed. The video concludes without revealing the owner's reaction, leaving the Challenger's future uncertain.
