A desirable paint shade? Check. Excellent presentation? Check. No rust? Check. A 440 Six-Pack under the hood? Check. This 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T has enough positive attributes to appeal to most Mopar enthusiasts. Actually, we can scrub the “Mopar” part of the previous sentence, because almost anyone seeking a classic with exhilarating performance will be drawn almost irresistibly to this R/T. It appears to need nothing and is ready for a life of adventure with its new owner behind the wheel. I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Curvette for spotting the Challenger listed here on eBay in Magnolia, Texas. The seller set their price at $49,900, and it appears they are firm on that figure.
I have always considered Chrysler’s E-Body range among the most attractive American production cars of the 1970s. The low roofline and bulging flanks make even the most basic example look bold and purposeful. However, when the vehicle in question is a 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T in Plum Crazy with huge wheels, a hood scoop, and a rear spoiler, that impression lifts to a higher level. The seller confirms that while this R/T wears its correct paint shade, it underwent a fairly comprehensive refurbishment approximately twenty years ago. The fact that the car still presents so well suggests not only that the work was completed to a high standard, but also that the Challenger has led a sheltered existence for the last two decades. The paint shines beautifully, the panels are straight, and slipping beneath this Dodge confirms that the factory undercoat has protected this classic from the ravages of rust. The Centerline wheels don’t appeal to me, and I would love to see this classic rolling on a set of factory Rally wheels. Otherwise, there is little to criticize about its appearance, while the hood scoop indicates that there is more to this R/T than meets the eye.
The first owner ordered this Challenger with the U-Code 440ci Magnum V8 under the hood. With the factory quoting a power output of 375hp, it was a pretty handy weapon for the driver to have at their disposal. They also selected a three-speed A-727 TorqueFlite transmission, the optional 8¾” A36 performance rear end, power steering, and power front disc brakes. That combination promises excellent performance, but this R/T offers so much more for your money. The seller states that while the engine block isn’t original, it is of 1968-1970 vintage. The refurbishment included a comprehensive engine rebuild, designed to squeeze considerably more from the 440. The process commenced with a 0.030″ overbore before the motor received new forged and balanced pistons, attached to a forged crankshaft. With the list also including hardened rocker shafts, roller rockers, a double-row timing chain, a Hughes hydraulic camshaft, a high-volume oil pump, ceramic-coated headers, and Edelbrock aluminum cylinder heads, the goal was reliability. Completing the package is a vintage Edelbrock aluminum Six-Pack intake with stock carburetors. Forget 375hp, because this V8 should deliver well north of 400. The TorqueFlite received a 3500 stall converter, and the rear-end 3.55 gears were swapped for 4.10s for more brutal acceleration. The seller states that the car runs and drives well, admitting that it isn’t at its best on the open road due to the short rear-end ratio. However, swapping to something more appropriate would be pretty easy without compromising the Challenger’s performance potential.
Considering the modifications made elsewhere, I’m sure many readers will accept that the refurbishment included replacing the factory White vinyl interior trim with Black. It is probably a more practical color in the long term, because it still looks good twenty years later. There is no significant wear on the upholstered surfaces, the carpet, dash, and console are in good condition, and the woodgrain hasn’t faded or lifted. The first owner ordered this R/T with air conditioning and power windows, though it appears the A/C may have been removed during the build. There is a wide range of additional gauges that allow the driver to monitor what is happening below the hood.
There’s a lot to like about this 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T, especially if you crave a high-performance classic. Its engine will deliver more power than most people would know what to do with, although I can’t remember ever hearing an owner wishing their car had less power. I would probably swap the wheels if it found its way into my garage, but that is a matter of personal taste. You may disagree, and I respect your opinion if that is the case. The listing statistics are quite impressive, but do you think they will translate into sales success? There is plenty of time left for interested parties to throw their hats into the ring, so it will be interesting to monitor proceedings to discover the outcome.
Adam, i agree with you on the wheels, the stock ones are gone?
I could have built this car myself back in the 80s, when I’d put parts from 5 or 6 parts cars into one. The fairly rare tuff steering wheel looks like an original, but they were never factory installed on challengers. The little chrome reverse light on the lower part of the dash under the center a/c vents indicates that the dash frame is from a manual transmission car. The hood and spoiler are T/A challenger items, if they are OEM, although the hood was available on a handful of non-T/A R/Ts. The door panels appear to be from an SE, which this car is not. Then, of course, there’s the block and six pack which could be from two other cars, and the purple car itself, which the k frame would indicate as being a factory 440 car. I’m not really knocking it, because there’s cool/hot rod potential here, and I’m a genuine fan of that, and if you ever decided to do a more faithful restoration, it would appear you’d have a genuine purple 440 R/T as a starting point.