Reviving a gem: The incredible story of a rare 1970 Dodge Coronet R/T discovered in an abandoned junkyard

The owner’s private “junkyard” includes everything from 1950s Chevys to muscle cars like the 1970 Dodge Coronet R/T. If you’re a fan of vintage rides, this place is a must-see. Like the one you see here.

It’s a common argument – should classic car owners keep their vehicles for decades if they don’t plan on restoring them? Some say no, pointing out that over time, the cars will rust and become too expensive to revive. But here’s the thing: no owner intends for their beloved ride to sit untouched for years on end. Sometimes, life just gets in the way.

Fortunately enough though, some owners do get around to restoring their beloved rigs. And that’s exactly what this video is about; most of the classics you see here will get a second chance at life. Sure, some won’t become more than just parts donors, but others will be restored to original specifications and find their way back on public roads.

But there’s a second reason why I’m showing you this private junkyard walk. This classic car stash made up almost entirely out of Mopars includes a very rare gem. It pops up right at the beginning in the form of a 1970 Dodge Coronet. And before you say “wait a minute, Dodge sold more than 100,000 Coronets in 1970, how can it be rare?,” you should know this isn’t a run-of-the-mill B-body Mopar.

The hardtop you’re looking at is an authentic R/T car, which saw daylight in only 2,319 units in 1970. That’s only 2% of total Coronet production for the year. And that number includes every R/T hardtop regardless of engine and transmission, so this B5 Blue beauty is actually much rarer than that.

So if we eliminate the 13 HEMI cars and the 194 Six Pack-equipped Coronets, we end up with 2,112 examples. But we also know this R/T has a Torqueflite automatic, so we can narrow it down even further to just 1,543 units.

If I’d also include the B5 Blue paint, which, by the way, is still original on this car, this Coronet R/T would surely be one of fewer than 150 made like this, but a four-digit production number is good enough for me.

Especially since many of these cars are in far worse shape or have been crushed as of 2023. And here’s yet another cool thing about this Mopar: the 440 under the hood is a numbers-matching unit.

But is this car worth saving? Well, even though it’s been parked for a few decades, it’s still in relatively good shape. It’s surprisingly clean rust-wise for a vehicle that’s been sitting for so long and it appears to be complete. If the frame is also in one piece, it’s definitely worth a second chance. As the owner puts it, these cars are never too far gone to restore.