Dodge was the last major U.S. manufacturer to field a “pony car,” but that doesn’t mean they weren’t busy hustling muscle cars. The late 1960s kept them occupied with hot versions of the Charger, Coronet, and Super Bee. The Challenger had a five-year run just as the market segment for both ponies and factory hot rods had waned, but they were still great cars that are in demand today. Especially a first-year R/T convertible with a 383 V8/4-speed combo that’s finished in Plum Crazy. That adds to what should be one rare automobile, as few as one of 19, according to the seller. Located in Hicksville, New York, this beauty is available here on eBay where the bidding has reached $65,100 and whatever reserve there was is out of the way.
Though not as commercially successful as the Ford Mustang or Chevy Camaro, Dodge built 77,000 Challengers in the car’s first year, 1970. Of those, 18,500 included the performance-oriented R/T model (Road/Track). When you drill down to convertibles with the 383 HIPO V8 and 4-speed manual transmission, just 138 drop-tops were produced. So, when the seller says his car is one of fewer than 20 built, that’s quite plausible. Paint color FC7, aka Plum Crazy, was the most visible of all the Hi-Impact paint colors that Chrysler would offer on certain Dodge/Plymouth products.
This example of the ’70 R/T looks like a stunning car, but the seller’s choice of photos does not display the car in a favorable light. The lighting is bad with tons of shadows and indoor photos when some coordination on a better weather day would have helped the car to shine. As it is, the purple paint looks good from what we can tell with no visible rust, and the seller mentions no issues. Whether the paint is original is unknown, but the seller says the original top was white, but a black version is in place now.
We’re told the Dodge runs and drives nice and the claimed mileage is 1,010. Is this real or is it 101,010 or something else altogether? The black interior is nice, but again the photos don’t help present the car. The seller also mentions the car has white stripes and a white interior and yet everything we see that compliments the Plum Crazy paint is finished in black.
This R/T had factory air conditioning when new, not something that was ordered frequently in a convertible built to go fast. The only known downside with this low-production car is that the block is not numbers-matching, so it was changed out at some point for reasons unknown. At the current bid, this Challenger almost sounds reasonably priced, but the inconsistencies in how the seller describes the car warrant an exchange with the seller before submitting a bid. At least that’s what I would do.
Either the seller has two different cars that he’s selling, or he is confused by his own listing. He says, “white top, white stripe and white interior”. Nice car no matter which color you choose:). GLWTA.
I think the seller is saying that the car ORIGINALLY had a white top/white interior…like guernsey says, nice car no matter which colors…great find!
Never cared for the color purple. I also dislike the late singer Prince. Barney the dinosaur upsets me. So when I see this shade on an otherwise fine car, I feel lunch coming back up. Who knows, that might be colored purple too.
Mom owned a 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T 383 magnum, convertible as well. Candy apple red with white interior and white top. This car looks almost exactly the same! I wish I had the cash.
My mother had my grandfather’s 1970 R/T 383 hardtop in Go Mango orange, black/black, that was supposed to become mine when I turned 16. The b -er, uh- witch sold it out from under me when I was 14 for, get this, $1,500 in 1982. I shudder to think what it would be worth were it still on the road today. I NEVER got over it and never let her forget it.
Well, mom died 6 months ago and the ONE extravagance I allowed myself out of the estate was a fully loaded 2015 5.7L R/T Plus Shaker in B5 Blue that I just got 2 weeks ago today. Call it a mid-life crisis or whatever, but she’s a 40 year dream come true to me!
Glad you got your wish, CC! My take is–if you want it, get it now , this ain’t no dress rehearsal, who knows what tomorrow will bring. I recently got my 57 ford ranchero that I waited 50 years for! Enjoy the ride and happy motoring!
Cheers
GPC
Mom might have saved your life. That was no car for a 16 year old. Try to remember it that way. May she rest in peace. I was lucky, when I came of driving age, performance cars were just getting going and only boys with rich daddies had them. My Dad was awesome, but he sure wasn’t rich. Maybe one of the reasons I am still here today. (That, and I think the Devil might be scared of me)
Very nice, also a Dodge Super Bee for sale.
Not a Mopar fan, but I must concede this is a nice looking car.
God bless America
In truth this car is the color In Violet , that’s what dodge called the same color Plymouth called Plumb Crazy .
You would have to see in person the top looks ragged
I very much appreciate your barnfinds!
I have a 1970 Dodge Challenger, stored in my garage. Bought it when I was in my early 20t’s I am 64, it’s got 2500 original miles. Parked it my garage in 1981, needs some work, 340 T/A engine. Wanting to put
her back together, pulled the interior and engine out so I wouldn’t kill myself driving it.i love mopower Cars and trucks. Thank you keeping everyone up on Brunfinds.
Perry – if you’re serious about selling it – I’m interested. Let me know and we can email/call about it
How many 1970 340 four speed convertibles were built