You might expect with the loud paint job, hood scoop, and tough, raked stance that this 1970 Dodge Challenger SE is packing a mean streak under the hood. In reality, it’s got a numbers-matching 318, and this SE trim Challenger features more upgrades in the cosmetics department than in raw performance. Still, it looks like a fun driver in those colors, ad is listed here on eBay with a $17,800 Buy-It-Now.
The Challenger looks good from a few feet away, but it’s got some body issues that will keep the next owner busy for a few years. Per the seller: “Front corner of drivers door and rear quarter panels ahead and behind the rear wheels are showing signs of rust bubbling down low. Rear roof B-pillars are swollen along the seam to the top of the quarter panels and bubbling up beneath the white vinyl top.” The luggage rack won’t be to everyone’s tastes.
It’s always interesting to see what passed for options back in the day. The seller is quick to point out that it’s a Special Edition car, and that consisted of a number of cosmetic upgrades in the cabin. According to the listing, on this Challenger it included “….woodgrain Special Edition door panel inserts, lower door panel carpet and reflector, overhead console, premium seat upholstery, and small rear window.” The seller says there is fiberglass over the floor and he would assume there to be holes.
To me, the most impressive feature is that the 318 remains numbers matching. I’d guess most of these cars had their original, smaller motors yanked years ago, making it particularly impressive to find a Challenger that looks as racy as this one to still have its diminutive mill under the hood. Given the body issues, the price seems high to me for a model that wasn’t the top shelf performance variant, but perhaps the SE trim makes this one desirable to a Mopar collector.
Love that luggage rack! An AAR hood and 340/6pk to replace the 318. Drive it’s wheels off. Or use this to get hard to find SE parts and use to Restore RARE Challenger w/anything but a 318! Then use rest to make race/track car.
Sounds like you have the perfect vision, gonna go with the BIN today?
Better idea, kill the vinyl roof, rid yourself of the ugly color, find a standard hood and leave your 14 year old selfs need for that ugly monstosity behind, THEN go through the 318 to make it run up to standard specls and drive. Oh yes, need some magnums, if ya want to mix it up, be a bad boy and put on all chrome 1968 models.
I like the way you think.
I’d lose the luggage rack tho. Can’t deal with that thing.
I forgot…..Big Brakes too! Fast going forward. Needs fast slowing down with better then 318 power that is.
Its hard to find any Challenger that hasn’t been made into something it wasn’t originally , so the 318 drivetrain is a plus ,in my opinion. Just because a car could have been a 440 RT car , doesn’t mean they all are or have to be. Much like a Firebird Esprit is no Trans Am ,The SE wasn’t meant to be a muscle car , just a sporty driver. That being said , it needs a lot of work , and while reproduction interior parts are available , there does seem to be more rust than it shows. When the cowl starts to rot out ,you’re looking at a lot of work and money to repair . The car needs a rotisserie restoration; and that lime paint has to go. Considering it needs a complete restoration its worth a lot less than the asking price, but it would be cool to see the restored olive green SE pulling into a car show !
This car is just screaming for a white interior! I love the luggage rack and the retina searing color! I do think the price is a bit high for what it is and the condition but I would own this and keep it mostly stock (that interior color is just horrendous in regards to the exterior). I would keep the 318 and use it as a daily driver! Add power brakes since I would be changing the interior anyway….
My brother and sister in law had a 74 Challenger, all the power windows / locks / cruise / tilt / stereo plus AC, white w/white vinyl and mostly white interior w/ some black interior. Just a 318 but what a beautiful car, not a race car but a heck of a nice ride.
nothin wrong with a clean stock car, u got 1 & everyone dreams 2 cut up, enjoy it on road, while rest of Toads dream
This looks like the 1970 Challenger I bought in 1987 for 700 bucks, just with an Earl Scheib paint job. I rode it hard and put it away soaking wet.
Guess these things are worth a little bit more now! I wonder if you could say people have gotten smarter or dumber?
dumber
That small engine wouldn’t hold up under my foot
Try and blow up a 318 ! I’ve had quite a few and they take a ton of abuse- I used to put my foot on the brakes and roast the rear tires to nothing in my rusty old 68 Belvedere , it had over 100.000 on it and I couldn’t kill it
Nice car, however if I remember correctly, those hideous aftermarket white door bump trim strips consisted of aluminium tracks riveted to the body with the rubber strips inserted into the tracks. Long story short, if you can’t live with those strips, stand-by for welding and body work. There’s lots of rivet holes hiding under those strips.
Let it b, clean her up 4 a daily driver, u get much more enjoyment & comments/thumps up on road [& shade tree mechanic an work on it]. I picked up this 6-7 years ago off 1st owners in no. cal., matching #s, no rust, original 6, lo miles, put in a 4spd, 8″ rear, disc brakes, Mach1 add ons, home interior & paint. Handles great & goes 75mph over the summit 2 Reno [7000′]. Going in style & everyone guesses what under hood. Fun car 2 own/drive, [piss on leaving it the garage 2 look at, it was meant 2 drive]. I wont get rid of it like the previous owners til I die. Yes I do have a 35 Hot Rod & Harley 2 go fast