Many Mopar fans claim they prefer the trusty 318 cid (5.2L) V8 to those gas-guzzling big-inch motors like the 383 and 440. Here’s a great starting point for those folks or anyone looking for a dry climate pseudo-survivor. This 1970 Dodge Challenger in Tucson, Arizona features a super-clean undercarriage, decent original interior, and, well, it’s had at least two color changes during its lifetime… but you can’t have it all, right? Bidding here on eBay has topped $11,500 without meeting the seller’s Reserve. The car has been driven “across town” but it will need a complete going-through before hitting the streets for real. The R/T hood is not original but compliments the Challenger well, especially in the high-impact green.
While the dash shows signs of original air-conditioning (not amazing for what might be a lifetime Arizona car), the engine compartment has few if any chiller parts left. The black interior goes with anything, including the Sublime on most of the car or the Plum Crazy door openings. A three-speed automatic transmission backs up the (presumably original) 318.
Chrysler and few other auto makers continued their body color into the engine compartment, making for a flashy statement when you pop the hood, and a mountain of extra work when you embark on a color change. Of course you can always simply leave the old color in there as done on this car. I never knew Duracell made car batteries; if it were an Energizer, I might suggest a re-spray in FM3 Panther Pink. The bypassed heater core and lack of AC components suggest a few jobs for the new owner. The 318 is perfect for someone who enjoys the V8 sound but drives their classics enough to care about fuel economy. My grandparents towed a travel trailer all over America with a 318-powered 1969 Dodge Coronet, so don’t worry about keeping up with traffic.
A black vinyl top would look great, and it probably had one originally. Notice the flush door handles from a time period when most door handles looked the same as the pre-War days. Did we mention this car left the factory wearing Hemi Orange? Personally I like the black vinyl roof with the high-impact colors, but white seats and door panels would go nicely as well. What’s your favorite wild color for a classic Mopar?
The ad states that the OEM vinyl top was removed,and all of chrome trim pieces for top & window are in the trunk. Although this “chameleon” has changed its color several times, I still wonder WHY people persist in painting the hood nostrils black, when they should be body color?! This looks to be a good base starter; bidding has reached $14,600. GLWTA! :-)
Where is all this money coming from? A fools game, esp right now.
That’s what you say about any car on this site , yet the “fools” are still buying . No car is meant to be saved , they are meant to be used up and junked and you buy a new car .That’s what happens to most cars ,and if a desirable 50 year old car pops that wasn’t made in huge amounts like a VW Bug was, then the price will be high .
Moparman, those black scoop inlets are a huge pet peeve for me…ruins the look, IMO.
Maybe the hood inserts are repro replacements? I’m sure then that they would be available only in black &/or unpainted, like other misc parts avail today.
I bet you love all the black painted add ons on recent corvettes.
Best to get those cars all black.
This originally was a nicely optioned car, with A/C (which components are missing) and judging by the caps on the top of the doors & quarters, it also had the rare chrome trim that ran around the tops of the doors/fenders, and hood! I’ve never been able to find a set of said trim, used or otherwise! :-)
Got a pic? That’s interesting.
Again, Depending on what level the new owner wants to take it to, Need to strip the engine compartment and do it in Green? Repaint to plum crazy? drive as is?
Honest description with ample pics of the underbelly- There is a God! Looks like honest Arizona sandblasting under neath. Would wonder what the butchery is near the fuel fillneck in the truck? One of the more palatable Challengers we have seen here! Good luck to the new owner!
Cheers
GPC
You can buy Duracell car, boat, and motorcycle batteries at your local Batteries and Bulbs store.
Hats off to the seller for so many honest and unvarnished pics. I hope you all are taking reasonable precautions and staying healthy.
I do not think I am color blind but it appears that this car was originally painted Plum Crasey look at the pictures of the engine compartment and the drivers door opening.
you can see Orange where the trim tag use to be and inside the wheel wells, under the purple. So it was originally Orange, then done very well in purple, then half assed green. Orange or Purple would be a nice color for it w./ the vinyl top again maybe. Great pics, honest seller. :) Not everyone is scared out of their mind when they see a good investment. And in a few months when this all blows over, ..the economy will boom again.
The R/T hood is unfortunately not matched with the R/T ralleye cluster dashboard, and the T-shifter is not a true Slap Stick as those had round tops. Overall, I’m a sucker for the 70 Challenger as I had a convertible 383 R/T. This one could be a really nice driver.
Todd – you state that performance should be no problem because your grandparents towed a trailer with a 318. Uh, have you ever been stuck behind a senior on the highway? Towing a trailer?? Such is the inspiration for the “Anti-Destination League,” so turtle like is their usual and gradual forward progress!
This is what the third gen Mustang Coupe should have looked like. Chrysler out-designed Ford for this period of time.
Ended at $15,655 with Reserve Not Met
I do not know what school you went to . but in 1970 VW imported into this country 500,000 Vw Bugs. I would not call that low Volume. I can not say how many THOUSANDS followed after that but it was high volume.
I said “a desirable 50 year old car pops that WASN’T made in huge amounts like a VW Bug WAS ” meaning the bug was made in huge amounts… .