I don’t know about you, but I’m always a little leery when an ad starts with “selling for a friend.” That’s how the ad for this 1970 Dodge Challenger begins. It looks like a nice car that could use a little work, but overall, it would probably be a fun driver. It can be found here on eBay with a current bid of $15,700. Located in Livonia, Michigan
The engine is a 340 cubic inch V8 that has been bored over with forged pistons and 10.25:1 compression. The intake and carburetor are from Edelbrock. The transmission is an automatic with performance rebuild (clutches and torque converter) with full manual reverse valve body. The rear end has posi-traction with 3.55 gears. For some reason, the intake was removed in the spring of 2019. Here is a photo of the engine now.
There isn’t much information in the ad regarding the interior, but based on the photos, it looks pretty good. You can see in this photo, there is an old-school Sunpro Power Curve tach mounted to the dash. Unfortunately, it looks like someone has hacked up the dash where the stereo was, but hopefully, it can be fixed without too many issues.
There is a photo of the VIN tag in the ad, but it’s a little hard to read. I’m no Mopar expert, but the VIN tag and/or a build sheet can pretty much tell you everything about the car when it left the factory. The seller says the VIN on this car is JH27G0B160112. According to the VIN decoder on challengerspecs.com, this would mean the following: J = Challenger, H = High, 27 = Convertible, G = 318, 0 = 1970, B = Hamtramck, MI Assembly Plant, 160112 = Plant Sequential Production Number (not the number built). With this information, it’s certainly possible this car has spent its whole life in Michigan. What do you think about this Mopar?
Well, someone worked on this who doesn’t know anything about Mopars. Engine was obviously pulled at some point and engine compartment sprayed an ugly brown-black instead of original body color. WAnd why not paint engine? Looks like it has original valve covers, but either not painted or cleared. And could they have chosen a worse location to mount the MSD ignition? I’m also not sure why they chose some aftermarket radiator – Mopar small blocks aren’t known for being heat challenged.Hard to see interior condition. It’s a shame because if this is to be a nice car, you really have to factor in the additional cost of backing out and correcting the glaring modifications . Convertibles are always in demand, so if done well, this could be worth it depending on the final auction $.
Well, someone worked on this who doesn’t know anything about Mopars. Engine was obviously pulled at some point and engine compartment sprayed an ugly brown-black instead of original body color. And why not paint engine? Looks like it has original valve covers, but either not painted or cleared. And could they have chosen a worse location to mount the MSD ignition? I’m also not sure why they chose some aftermarket radiator – Mopar small blocks aren’t known for being heat challenged.Hard to see interior condition. It’s a shame because if this is to be a nice car, you really have to factor in the additional cost of backing out and correcting the glaring modifications . Convertibles are always in demand, so if done well, this could be worth it depending on the final auction $.
Looking at the pictures close up, it appears this car has had major sloppy surgery…plus, that black paint that is sprayed all over the trunk looks recent, and looks like it is covering up some scarring…an up close and personal inspection would be in order if I were a serious buyer…
Looks decent (not speaking to the price) but as noted there are some issues. Someone wanting a numbers matching vehicle will likely be disappointed here if it was built with a 318 and now has a 340 then obviously the engine in addition to being modified was replaced.
For a driver, that should not be an issue. I’d suggest a good lookover before putting any $$ down on it.
Yet another case of horrible taste meeting ambition. I’m not sure how to decifer what the vision was intended to be for this Dodge. Yikes what a cluster!
Major surgery may save.
Too much work for me.
Cluster pretty much covers it.
this thing had/has MAJOR rust, look at the fender data tag, wow you don’t see them rusted that bad very often, the fender is fiberglass and the firewall had major rot and mud installation…I’b be afraid to crawl underneath, frame could be paper thin
Still can it be saved?
That tag is on with a cpl phillips screws & not rivets?? That a mopar thing?
Al, that’s how they did it on my 65 Belvedere. Two small phillips screws into the inner fender is correct, at least for 1965. That tag was never intended to have anything to do with the VIN tag, so apparently somebody decided that screws were easier and/or cheaper than rivets.
As Hemidavey said, that tag is in terrible shape. It’s pretty far up off the road and shouldn’t see much salt. If it’s that bad, the rest of the car had a really hard life.
That’s right, I was confusing that with the vin tags lol. Yeah that tag was pretty rusted out. Kind of funny as the only rusty cars I see are on here as it’s high & dry here in SW Idaho. Rarely I ever see a car with rust & if so, has a dealer sticker on back from Washington or elsewhere. One of those forgotten things I don’t see since having left CT 20 yrs ago.
Al, that fender tag is screwed to the drivers’ side front inner fender just past the battery tray. The codes give you the motor, transmission and options.
If you’re used to a dry climate, the rust belt would be a distant memory. My cousin spent 40 years in LA, said he never saw a replacement brake line in a parts store there. In Western PA every parts store has a rack of them because the salt eats them.
I think this is a pig wearing lipstick!! As others have said the mechanicals are a mess and the body work is probably done in a similar fashion!! This is a definite buyer beware syndrome in my opinion!!!!
Looks pretty good for a Michigan car. Anyplace else, not so good!