1970 Dodge Challenger
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Year of manufacture1970
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Mileage36 018 mi / 57 966 km
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Car typeOther
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Lot number248
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DriveRHD
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ConditionUsed
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Location
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Exterior colourOther
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GearboxAutomatic
Description
"Positioned to compete against the Mercury Cougar and Pontiac Firebird in the upper end of the pony car market segment, the Challenger used the same unibody platform as Plymouth's new Barracuda but its wheelbase was 2” longer to provide slightly more rear-seat room. Exterior design was penned by Carl Cameron, who was also responsible for the exterior designs of the 1966 Dodge Charger, Cameron based the 1970 Challenger grille on an older sketch of a stillborn 1966 Charger prototype that was to have a turbine engine. As in most US classics, it came with a large number of trim options making each one quite individual. Dodge muscle cars were among the fastest and wildest on offer offering an astonishing range of engine choices from a docile slant six to the earth-shaking Hemi. This was Dodge's way of getting attention.
This MOPAR car was special further still though. It was one the rare R/T 440 performance models (Road/Track) with a 6.3 litre ‘Magnum’ V8 rated at 335bhp. The standard transmission was a three-speed manual. The Challenger R/T came with a Rallye instrument cluster that included a 150mph (240 km/h) speedometer, an 8,000rpm tachometer and oil pressure gauge.
It was sold in hardtop and convertible form with performance versions wearing the familiar R/T label. Two 440s were offered, the four-barrel Magnum with 375bhp and the top-of-the line tri-carb, Six Pack with 390bhp.
The Hemi came as standard with TorqueFlite automatic but when ordering the four-speed unit, it came with a pistol-grip Hurst shifter and a Dana 60 axle. Gear ratios climbed from 3.23:1 to 4.10:1.
With normal throttle it travels... with complete docility, Road Test said of its Six Pack Challenger. The explosion comes when you stuff your foot down on the gas pedal, either on purpose or accidentally. The car squirts forward like an unleashed dragster... and suddenly you're way above the speed limit. ...
Offered from an exclusive but private collector, this presents a very genuine 36,000-mile survivor, totally unrestored and sitting its original paint with lots of paperwork and history. Indeed, enclosed is the original dealer invoice, a full Galen Govier report from November 2008 and a full story magazine article from Muscle Car Review, May 2007. As shown, this represents the uprated SE version, a vinyl roof with a more formal rear window and a leather interior. Power comes from the R/T 440 Magnum motor through the, extremely rare to find now, four-speed gearbox then Track Pak and out through the Dana 3.54 rear axle. The cockpit is a great place to manage operations, a well-crafted steering wheel through the Rallye Instrument Panel and looking out over vented black bonnet with ‘hood pins’ in each corner. A rare ‘Tripe Black’ colour combination with red tail stripe and an important piece of Mopar history.
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