Some enthusiasts believe that if you’re going to spend the money to create a tribute car, there’s no point doing it unless you go the whole hog. That is the story of this 1970 Dodge Challenger. The seller and his father took a rock-solid body, coated it in the company’s most desirable color, and slid the most potent drivetrain available under the skin. They didn’t create a trailer queen but a classic designed to be driven and enjoyed. All good things must end, with the Challenger listed for sale here on eBay in Summitville, Indiana. The owner set his BIN at $75,000 but will entertain offers.
I have previously talked about how I believe Dodge hit the jackpot with the styling of the First Generation Challenger. The E-Body looks tough and aggressive, especially when an owner fits the right wheels and tires. This car’s father-and-son build team did that, but there are more attributes that help raise its desirability. The seller indicates they built this classic in 2007, dropping $55,000 on the project. They ensured the bodyshell was rock-sold and as straight as an arrow before applying the desirable Plum Crazy paint and distinctive R/T stripes. The Challenger sees regular use, so potential buyers won’t spend their hard-earned cash on a trailer queen that will remain hidden in a garage. It also means the vehicle is no longer perfect, but its condition wouldn’t cause embarrassment at a show or a Cars & Coffee. The paint shines richly, and any exterior imperfections are too minor to show in the supplied photos. The build included applying the same paint shade to every steel body component, and the underside still looks tidy after fifteen years of use. There is no evidence of rust, with the chrome and glass looking equally spotless. This Dodge rolls on a set of Rally wheels wrapped in new BF Goodrich tires. They fill the wheel wells nicely and are the ideal finishing touch to the exterior.
This Challenger rolled off the line in Hamtramck, Michigan, equipped with a 383ci V8 and an automatic transmission. The owner and his father could have focused on the car’s presentation because that motor offered enough performance to satisfy most enthusiasts. However, it didn’t satisfy them. The 383 disappeared, and they slotted a 426ci Hemi into the vacant space. In standard form, it would send 425hp to the 8¾” rear end via an A-727 transmission. The journey down the ¼-mile would have taken a breathtaking 13.5 seconds, making the Hemi Challenger one of the most potent production cars to grace the roads in 1970. This Dodge provides all of that and more. The build process included a rebuild of the Hemi, adding a more aggressive competition cam and a pair of Edelbrock carburetors to the top of the genuine Mopar dual-quad intake. It is only a month since the transmission, which features Hemi internals, received a rebuild with a 2400 B&M stall kit. This classic is in excellent mechanical health and is a turnkey proposition for its new owner.
The build process included a complete interior retrim. After fifteen years of regular use, its condition reinforces previous articles where I discuss how, although it can be expensive, this aspect can survive nicely if treated respectfully. There is slight stretching on the driver’s seat that is almost impossible to detect, but the overall presentation is as good as you could hope to find in a vehicle of this caliber. The dash and faux woodgrain are excellent, and there are no signs of cracked plastic or UV damage. The Rally gauge cluster includes a factory tachometer, and a modern CD player occupies the spot once reserved for the factory radio.
If you wanted to park one of the 287 Hemi-equipped 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T Hardtops in your garage today, you would have to have a healthy bank account. The real deal will cost well into six-figure territory. That places them beyond the reach of mere mortals, and those values will only continue to climb. That is why tribute cars serve an important role in the classic scene. They offer the same looks and performance but cost their owners a fraction of the price. This Challenger still isn’t cheap, and I doubt the owner will be inundated with inquiries. However, I feel that someone will look at it and what it would cost to build an identical car themselves, and decide that it is an automotive “must-have.” Do you agree?
Its a winner!!!
It’s nice, but for that kind of money unless it’s exactly what you want you could buy/build a lot of alternatives.
Beautiful car. It would make a nice weekend driver. But owning it, and keeping it secure, would drive me nuts.
I used to race compact sedans in Mexico with a traveling band of Texas racers. We’d be field-fillers for the races south of the border, but we’d get paid solid appearance money so it’d be more than worth the trip.
One of the guys had a new Porsche 928 that he’d take to Mexico to troll for señoritas, but it’d make the rest of our lives miserable. Half the trip would be wasted arranging security for that damn car. I was so glad when that 928 was finally stolen in Monterrey that I put up with this guy cryin’ and moanin’ in my pickup all the way back to Texas.
This car wouldn’t be that bad to keep secure, but in the city you couldn’t go out for the night and park it on the street. You couldn’t leave it parked in the driveway unless you lived in a secure gated community … maybe. And unless you were filthy rich, losing it would break your heart.
Again, it’s a beautiful car. It’s an incredibly desirable car, even as a clone/tribute. But for exactly that reason, it’s not a real, useful car. And that breaks MY heart. Because it illustrates why we can’t have really nice things.
If it was a 4-speed, it would deter most modern criminals.
Since it’s not, pop off the coil wire when you park it, old school stylie. Hoodlums will never figure that out. Or at least it would slow them down.
Most car theives use flat beds, so the trans doesn’t matter to most.
A cop told me most cars r stolen by professional rings.
I just use a simple toggle switch under the dash well hidden. Most time if you make the theft use too much time or trouble they scumbags will take off on foot. I’ve had 2 cars stolen and one attempted theft(toggle switch worked good).
@Purple Sky — You could say that for my Prius, but a Plum Crazy Hemi Challenger? That’s the kind of car serious thieves would make a special effort to get.
In the late ’70s I had a ’69 Camaro Pace Car convertible. One of the 25-30 396/4-speed cars — a 325 horse, but an honest to God numbers matching big block, 4-speed Camaro convertible. Back in the day when it was just a super-clean used car. Heady stuff for a 17 year old kid. I loved that car.
For three weeks.
Came out one morning and there was nothing but an oil spot, and it was never seen again. I lived in a safe, suburban Neighborhood Watch neighborhood. Didn’t matter. Protected it with a coil switch and a Club, so I suspect it was hooked out of my driveway.
But Metro St. Louis at the time had one of the highest auto theft rates in the country. Considering the era, I figure it was chopped up or re-VINned far away from St. Louis. These days, I imagine it’d go into a shipping container for parts unknown. Insurance paid off, but I’d never be able to find another one likeit for that kind of money. I’ve driven plain, unwrapped hot rods/sleepers or commuters ever since.
The only bright side I could find is it probably saved my license.
I feel the car lives at $55-$60k from what we’ve recently bought and sold. Fantastic car, fantastic color, great engine. But wrong original color, 15yr old build showing some age and wear. And if you’re going to build one, throw in the 4;speed if it’s not going to be right anyway. IMHO
This is a BARGAIN compared to a #s matching HEMI Challenger.
Mopar guys get it…
Price is reasonable.
You’re correct about it not being cheap, way overpriced in my humble opinion….seems like all these sellers are cashing in on American inflation, highest in 40 years….anyway, I’m guessing this wasn’t an original R/T….so we have rusty headers, a plain non-performance Challenger with who knows what year Hemi block, maybe a crate?….no Shaker hood or correct components….for me I need the Hemi 4 speed with Pistol Grip shifter too……just sayin’ 75 large is too large….at least they didn’t use elephant ears to mount the engine…..
It is people like these sellers that are causing inflation. They are cashing in alright, but they are just saying the word inflation to line their pockets fuller. Inflation is caused by runaway greed, but hasn’t that been the car market for at least 20 years now anyway?
Nice color, looks like it needs nothing, ends in 20 hours.
I got a 2012 Red 6 Speed 5.7 RT PLUS with only 49,000 miles and I LOVE a Red car, but I’d trade it for a Plum Crazy similar condition and mileage one.
That Plumb Crazy Purple makes my head spin! 😁
I hope they reinforced the seat backs. They are in for a rough life.
I know, I know: ‘Original rally wheels’, and all. But even vintage iron is SO much safer and MORE fun with bigger wheels and high performance tires.
Thank you for using the correct Plum Crazy name and not adding the word purple which an incredible number of people tack on.
It’s something you can drive and enjoy and as long as the world doesn’t implode you probably won’t get hurt buying this and using it occasionally
Now that’s a nice car with some balls. I’m plum crazy over it !!
Now I’m gonna Vanish !
Nice car , Nice Color, OK trans , 8 3/4 rear ?? . Dana 60 would do the trick ….
good one, emel. Kowalski would approve!!!
cheers
gpc
Finally put “juice” cams in them that year!
I was going to call it Plum Crazy Chartruse but somehow that didn’t sound right? 😆