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Hellkitten: 1980 Dodge Challenger

In 1971, you could get a Dodge Challenger with a V8 engine rated at 425 horsepower.  In 2018, you could get a Dodge Challenger with 840 horsepower.  In 1980, you could get a Dodge Challenger like this one, for sale here on Craigslist in Weston, West Virginia, with 105 horsepower.  It’s fair to say that the Challenger represents all that went wrong and then right again with vehicle performance during the past 50 years.  Thanks to Ian C for the submission!

The second-generation Dodge Challenger was introduced for the 1978 model year.  Unlike the first generation, which followed the typical American muscle car formula of combining a powerful engine with a mid-sized chassis, the second generation Challenger was just a rebadged Mitsubishi Galant.  As such, it was typical of late-70’s, early-80’s Japanese imports – efficient and uninspiring despite the sporty, fastback appearance.  I’ll admit, though, that this car did appeal to me just a little bit once I saw the seat and door-panel material…

If you’re looking for a Dodge Challenger, but you’re afraid of cars with any semblance of power, this might be a good find for you.  The seller says this car only has 37,000 miles and that it was garage kept for 40 years.  Except for a slight unevenness in the rubber trim above the rear bumper, I don’t see any significant flaws, and the seller’s mileage claim seems credible.  This car is likely one of the nicest second-generation Challengers extant.  I can’t remember when I last saw one on the road.

Assuming this car is as described, then, the question remains: what to do with such a car?  At the $11,000 asking price, it isn’t exactly cheap, and that kind of money could bring a lot more performance if put towards a 4th-generation f-body.  Is there someone out there who has fond memories of one of these cars and has that kind of cash to put towards reliving those memories?

Comments

  1. Avatar Oingo

    Did you save the listing? The seller might have been derided into removal.

    Like 1
    • Avatar 71FXSuperGlide

      This listing is gone! Someone couldn’t have actually bought this.

      Like 2
  2. Avatar Howard A Member

    “You calls this a Challenger?”, they said. A mega slap in the face to die hard Chrysler fans. Asian cars were still a tough sell, and to name this after one of the mightiest Mopars on the planet, just turned many off. We knew the end had finally arrived. Not bad cars, to see one like this is unusual, they rusted with one dose of salt, again, for me, not $11,000 dollars worth of car, not when a few pages back, you could buy a cherry ’59 T-Bird for the same money.

    Like 6
    • Avatar Steven Visek

      It has a hemi(Mitsubishi 4cyl. with hemi head) believe it or not, but true. :-)
      They actually handled pretty well too.
      Styling wise they revised it for 1981 and it was improved from looking like a Pontiac Sunbird to looking like a Fox-body Mustang.

      Like 3
  3. Avatar redwagon

    “If you’re looking for a Dodge Challenger, but you’re afraid of cars with any semblance of power, this might be a good find for you. ”

    Realistically are you reaching out to 2 or 3 people?

    Like 5
  4. Avatar Bob C.

    Even worse IMO was the Omni based Charger from the 80s. I almost bought a new at the time 1985. No regrets not doing so.

    Like 3
  5. Avatar bobk

    rotflmao.

    Like 1
  6. Avatar Matthew Van Leer-Greenberg

    A person has to look at this car from the perspective of the 1980’s. Cars had no power, looked frumpy to say the least, and were pigeon held by the accountants at their respective car companies and emission standards.

    Yes,this car pales in comparison to the 2018 800 Horsepower behemoth Dodge Charger, but for what it is, I think its cool. This is also coming from someone who thinks that the Dodge GLHS is an amazing car too. But reasonable minds may differ.

    Like 5
  7. Avatar OIL SLICK

    Cool car but the ad is gone.

    Like 1
  8. Avatar David Canty

    I have a “hell kitten” a 450 hp 2005 NSRT4 and the decals on the side with the Mopar M and a kitten!

    Like 2
  9. Avatar ChrisMo

    Had the 1981 stick version for my first car. It was quick with a 2.6 liter 4 banger. Now when I tell people I had a Dodge Challenger, I leave out the year for obvious reasons. Lol.

    The Plymouth Sapporo was this exact car but with all the 80’s techno displays and *gasp* power windows.

    Like 4
  10. Avatar Beemoe

    I had the Plymouth version, the Sapporo, and loved it and didn’t have any of the guilt of it bearing the name of a muscle car. Was loads of fun with the five speed, good on gas and could chirp the tires in third gear. This price seems way high, I wonder if it actually sold.

    Like 3
  11. Avatar Pacekid

    As a past owner of one of these badged as a Sapporro, the more elegant and les sporty version, it is a great car. The car was well worth the price. That being said this one is priced above a brand new one in 1980.

    Like 1
  12. Avatar Glen Riddle

    Now THIS is a Challenger!

    Like 10
  13. Avatar Todd Priest

    I’ll stick with this one.

    Like 10
    • Avatar Ken

      Nice ride. But I’ll stick to this one.

      Like 2
  14. Avatar Beatlepat

    Probably still a better car than anything actually built by Dodge back then.

    Like 7
    • Avatar Steven Visek

      Truth! My Dad bought a 1980 Dodge Omni O24 new in 1980.
      Dad always made sure to drive a car ten years before giving in and buying a new car. The Omni managed only a bit over 7 years before it was rusting apart so badly that it wasn’t safe to drive anymore.

      Like 1
  15. Avatar Ken

    Why U.S. automakers took the names of legendary muscle cars and slapped them onto pieces of crap like this I’ll never know.

    Like 1
    • Avatar Miguel

      The name wasn’t legendary at the time.

      People were selling the Challengers for whatever they could get for them at the time.

      I would like to also know why they used that name but not because it previously belonged to a car that ran for 4 years.

      Like 1
  16. Avatar AMCFAN

    My how the ignorant multiply. I am to assume many can’t recall how in the late 1970’s the Mighty Chrysler company was in the tank. Engineering wise as well as financial. Asking the American people to bail them out

    The muscle car died in 1974 and Chrysler had to stumble on making cars. Enter Lee Iaccoca. He took a company that many who worked at didn’t know if to leave the house or not for fear the doors at the factories would be locked..

    This Challenger represents keeping the Mopar nameplate alive. The market spoke and it took this and many other Mitsubishi built counterparts to keep the company afloat so many of you can own and enjoy Vipers and Challengers today…..and the SRT4 Neons (lots of respect for those Thanks Mitsubishi)

    My question is this. How is everyone bashing this car featured going to feel when in the not too distant future your parent company Fix It Again Tony kills off the Challenger, Charger and the lovely 300? Replacing them with Fiat SUV’s? or maybe just making Jeeps? It coming very soon.

    Not hard to figure. How many limited edition performance cars can you stretch out of the aging platforms? Reading what the Automotive Press has to say FCA has jumped the shark a long time ago. Case in point humorous is the fact ole Sergio approached GM to merge the companies a few years ago.

    Now that would be funny to see. The Mopar Nationals featuring 50 years of the Camaro haha for this we can only hope!

    Like 9
  17. Avatar P Wentzell

    I’m sure someone bought this for that badass plaid interior!

    Like 0
  18. Avatar Richard Whiting Member

    Should have had the twin stick shifter. Now that was fun! Had one in a 1979 Plymouth Champ, won several autocross events with it.

    Like 0
  19. Avatar Mike R in De

    Nice little import. Not really what we all think of as a Challenger, but these are fun cars to drive. I bought a new ’83 Mitsubishi built Dodge D50 pickup with the 2.6 and 5 speed. A friend had one of these, was quicker and a lot faster than the other 4 cylinder cars of the day. Good luck to the new owner!!

    Like 3
  20. Avatar ToniM

    I would love to combine that wonderful retro interior with something that was better, well, everywhere else…

    Like 0
  21. Avatar ROLF PONCHO

    O no mine is best I,ll stick to this

    Like 1

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