Here’s one of the true icons of the muscle car era. A 1970 Dodge Challenger, equipped as an R/T with a numbers matching 426 cubic inch Hemi V8 (fewer than 300 were assembled). This one was treated to a rotisserie restoration and has had the same owner for 49 years. We don’t know where it is now, but it will be at the Mecum auction in Indianapolis, Indiana on May 16, 2025. Details can be found here on Mecum, and you can bet this car will have a stiff reserve. A big “wow” goes to Mitchell G. for this great tip!
Dodge came late to the “pony car scene,” more than five years after the Ford Mustang created quite a stir. Chrysler had cooked up a new E-body platform for the Plymouth Barracuda for 1970 and the set-up was shared with the new Challenger which had a slightly longer wheelbase and no in-common sheet metal. First-year sales came with optimism at nearly 77,000 units of which the muscular R/T accounted for 18,512 copies. Of those, 287 coupes had the 425-hp Hemi, but when you drill down to the automatic transmission, color scheme, and collection of options, who knows how many may have been produced besides this one.
Though the photos show this Mopar inside a nice barn, it’s nothing like most of the barn finds we see. It’s a triple black beauty with a bright red stripe in the rear to set it off. We don’t know when this Dodge was on the rotisserie, but it looks flawless (same owner since it was six years old). The only exception to stock in the restoration was a switch to an MSD ignition. To prove its pedigree, a copy of the original broadcast sheet has survived.
We don’t know the mileage of this Challenger car, nor do we get to peek at the interior. But there’s no reason to suspect that the passenger compartment is anything but a treat. I, for one, will be watching the auction on 5/16/25 to learn more and find out how much it went for in changing hands.
If you haven’t been to a Mecum auction it’s well worth the time and effort, even if you are not in financial shape to bid on the cars. I’ve been to their Indy show for the last 8 years or so and it’s one of the greatest car shows you’ll ever see. Acres and acres of cars you always wanted, or haven’t seen in years, or will never be able to afford will bombard your senses. In recent years I’ve seen nearly every iteration of Corvette ever made, including a Greenwood C3.
I have a friend who has a Challenger 340 convertible with a 4-speed that he’s restoring and the opportunity to check out this Hemi Challenger should be incentive enough to get him to Indy this year.
The auction itself is interesting even if all I can afford is to sit and sip an adult beverage from the upper deck. The Mecum organization is just that – well organized – and they put on a good show.
ccrvtt is dead on, Mecum and Barrett Jackson are worth the trip, even if you aren’t buying. It’s a hell of a car show. I go to Mecum Harrisburg every year just to see the show
I discovered that if you pay the extra money to get the Gold Pass you get enough free food vouchers and extra munchies that it’s well worth it. Now I’m addicted to the VIP stuff, I just spent $1750 on the NHRA’s Top Eliminator Club at the US Nationals. But you only live once.
Last summer we sat beside a family that were obviously French speaking. I assumed they were from Quebec. No, they came from France. They bought two cars and shipped them home. You gott’a love car people.
They wanted to know what we were there to buy. I had to explain that I have a 32 x 48′ building that’s clear full plus three garage stalls. My nephew and niece were with me, they have a 40 x 80′ building that’s full. We couldn’t buy anything, we’re just there for the show.
Ah, the universal language of the automobile. My wife and I were on vacation in Mexico a few years ago and during one of the excursions, we met a young couple from France. They did not understand English well, and I was trying to decipher the instructions from the excursion leader.
Afterwards, he came over to thank me, and showed me some pictures of Mopars that his family owns. He was very proud of his family’s car collection. He said that they buy from the auctions and ship them to France for their own enjoyment, not resale. I told him about the Barracuda that I once owned and he misunderstood because he asked me if I wanted to sell it.
In 1976 this was fairly cheap to buy. One gas crisis in the recent past and the rumblings of one to come. Depending on condition, the price could vary, but in todays reality, any price then was a steal. Many of these were bought by kids and ran into the ground. Few would buy a car like this as a DD, but if someone had a little extra cash laying around, might be a fun toy. I assume that was the case here.
I read the axle is a 4.10. Not too practical, but I guess the car was never meant to be practical. Not exactly a road course car, more like a quarter mile or street light to street light one. I never got to drive one, but I remember they sounded mean. I would have preferred a healthy small block and a four speed in mine.
This is a beautiful restoration.
I like the color choice and engine. The transmission and extra pedal shortage is livable on this situation 😎
Bring a suitcase 🧳 of bearer bonds and drive it home. 😜
Beautiful car that I’m sure will go for some serious spendin’ money. I do have one question for one of you Mopar guys that know a hell of a lot more than I do. Is that tail stripe factory? I don’t think that I have ever seen one like it.
Yes.
I’m thinking $475K. What do you think it is going to sell for?
I think that you’re probably pretty close. Nice ones, and this is a nice one, bring some pretty serious money.
If memory serves me those are ’71 center caps!?
Black center caps!? Thought they were supposedly Argent Silver? Defintely need to see the fender tag!
For even south of 500k USD. it still needs to be dead-on factory correct.
Dixon writes ✍️ up a cream puff here. Wow. 👇
Column-shifted Torqueflite 727 automatic transmission
A32 Super Performance Axle Package with 4.10 gears and 9 3/4 inch rear end.
😎 🏁
Racing stripe(s) & vinyl roof are IMO a strange combo(also seen on some ’69 camaros) – & the colors above clash too.
oldrodder, the red graphic on the tail end of this beautiful car is known as a “Bumble Bee” stripe. Factory option if you checked the right box at the dealer. For this 1970 Dodge, the fender code would be “V9*”. The * replaced with a number for a particular color stripe. Black, white or red stripes were common.
Interesting. All the bumblebee stripes I have ever seen had a wide center stripe with thinner stripes on either side, never seen a.solid one. Sheltered life I suppose.