Dodge was the last major U.S. automaker to field a “pony car” in 1970 when it went into production sharing the all-new platform of the Plymouth Barracuda. At the same time, the company wanted to go racing in the SCCA Trans-Am series, so fewer than 2,400 street copies of a special edition of the new Challenger were built. The cars used a 340 cubic inch V8, but with a 6-Pack set up (3×2-barrel carburetors). This garage-kept version is painted Plum Crazy and may only have 14,000 miles. Located in Chesterfield, Missouri, this rare Dodge is available here on eBay where the bidding has reached $52,600. But the reserve is north of that figure.
During March and April of 1970, Dodge built the T/A (Trans-Am) to meet SCCA guidelines. The quantities produced paled in comparison to the overall assembles of 77,000 Challengers. The T/A would be one of the first production vehicles to offer different size tires, front and back; E60 x 15 in the front, G60 x 15 in the rear. All T/As came with power front disc brakes, heavy-duty suspension, side-exit exhaust, a fiberglass fresh-air hood, Rallye wheels, front and rear spoilers, and special graphics. With an engine conservatively rated at 290 hp, the T/As were fast, capable of 0-60 in under six seconds and the quarter-mile in 14.5
We’re told this Challenger is numbers-matching as it pertains to the motor, but the 4-speed manual transmission has not been verified. The present owner has garaged this car since 1991, which likely explains its low mileage. And the seller says that the odometer has not turned over per a mechanic’s check. The Dodge has recently been serviced, so we assume the automobile performs as it should.
The body, paint, and stripes look fine on this car (except maybe the hood) and the cowl tag verifies that the machine’s original color was FC7 Plum Crazy. But no mention is made if the paint is original or if the interior has been restored, so this car may be as it was when it was assembled in the Spring of 1970. The seller does tell us the passenger side rear panel has been replaced, so at least that part of the finish has been redone. Given that fewer than 2,400 of these cars were built, how many could have been made in this color AND still survive, especially in this condition?
Got the name right anyway,,even though Chrysler wisely spelled it without the “b”. These really were cool cars, and no wonder they command a price, nothing like it before or ever again. It’s the real deal, and someone knew what it’s value would be someday, and drove it sparingly. Most were simply rusty beaters that were killed accordingly. I guess the ultimate kick in the knickers here is, we had our chance. For maybe a grand, they were in the corner of every gas station lot for sale, 6 pak, pistol grip or not, right next to CJ Mustangs, GTO’s,and 396 Chevelles,,nobody wanted them. The 340 is a much better offering, I believe only the center carb is used under “normal” driving, and could deliver reasonable mileage, unlike say a hemi, that would gulp gas idling,,if you could keep your foot out of it that is. The temptation would be great with this one. Cool car.
I have a numbers T/A in the corner of my shop. Came to me in the 80s as a trade for painting a friends Roadrunner, and I’ve been dragging it around ever since. I have one more project to complete before I start in on its resto.
You’re right…from any perspective, these are special cars.
I think you will find they didn’t purposely leave the “B’ off….plum was used as the color, the corresponding shade for Plymouth was In-violet………sublime-lime light…Go mango- vitamin c…..top banana- lemon twist….an so on
back about 77? a guy;a latino had a plumb crazy in a lot by our house. figgered i was smart. offered him 1k? 40yrs ago. don’t recall? he knew what he had. didn’t have 3K back then. living in chiraq? 3K will get your tickets paid.
Odd i never noticed these 6 pack only(?) exhaust manifolds before.
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/2wEAAOSw-ZpiMyx3/s-l1600.jpg
Is that a 15″ or 16″ steering wheel?
Back in the day, were there ever issues with the law in some states & where those pipes exit? & can i assume this factory exhaust setup is not that loud, say compared to chevy’s short lived chambered exhaust, or Pontiac’s humbler?
Heh, heh…(unbelievably now) I actually once owned a new ’69 Z-28, complete with factory chambered exhaust and later added-on Stahl headers (as in Jerry Stahl). Just for fun it also had 4:88 gears (sorta impractical and a mistake). I then moved/registered it in NJ then when inspections were done by state employees (vs. repair shops/dealers as in PA). NJ didn’t appreciate this setup but IIRC it did get through inspection once or twice. After a couple years of this, I traded it in for a new ’70 AAR ‘Cuda (maybe that’s among the reasons I traded in the Z?, I don’t recall). I left the AAR “pure” stock including the side protruding exhaust tips. NJ also gave me a very rough time about them even with it brand new. Soon after, I moved to NY state ;-) Geez, I loved both of those cars…good times.
P.S. I meant to say this T/A is a really nice car for someone with $ and time. My AAR was a Torqueflite which I preferred in some Mopars I owned back then. Either way, with a stick, it would make a fun regular ride/driver, too. Of course, if mileage and condition are genuine(?) then future value fades as mileage grows. Good luck to the new owner.
joenywf64, back in the day the cops did harass 69 Camaro owners with the chambered exhaust system. We’re working (slowly) on an original owner 69 Z/28 Camaro that came from the factory with the chambered exhaust system.
The owner has the window sticker (still in the glove box) that she used to prove to the cops who complained about noise that the car came with that exhaust system from the factory. No knock on the cops, I’m pretty sure that that they didn’t stop her for going slow . . . . . .
53 yrs ago the cops might have just been pulling her over to meet the hot chick driving the hotter car!!!!
An extremely low mileage, Plumb Crazy, Rallye dash, 4-speed car? Man… this is my personal unicorn. If the numbers really do match this is the holy grail of T/A Challengers. Can someone please get Gale Govier on the phone?
Sweet ride and a manual.
Oh i cant wait for my barn find, this would work for my barn find, i could be happy with such a find, its gutta be almost my turn
I have read in a few places that the hoods on these or an AAR will have a bow in the middle of them if they are original. Just something they do after all these years. The repo’s do not have it.
Quite a few of the Plum painted Mopars had sheets of paint flaking off back in the day, not sure why. Always struck me I didn’t want a purple one.
A mechanic can not tell you if an odometer from that period has rolled over or not, or been turned back, just could guess by conditions of some of the details of the vehicle. He could tell if it was turned back crudely, but not by someone who had a bit of talent.