Dodge introduced the Challenger in 1970, the last new competitor in the then-crowded pony car market. Demand was strong initially at 77,000 copies, but its ties to the shrinking muscle car market would hinder its sales in the following years. The seller has a rare car, an R/T with a 383 cubic inch V8, 4-speed manual, and original Plum Crazy paint. Estimates are that only a few hundred were built in this configuration. Located in Lewiston, Idaho, this running project is available here on eBay, where the current bid is $25,100 with an unmet reserve.
The R/T was the main performance model of the new Challenger. It came with a 383 V8 as standard, with a 440 and a 426 Hemi being the steps up. This unique car came with the Magnum engine rated at 335 hp, paired with a 4-speed and a Pistol-Grip shifter. The key hardware in this Mopar is numbers-matching. According to the math the seller has done, this Challenger may be one of no more than 500 produced in its inaugural season.
Though the car is photographed in a dark garage with poor lighting, we’re told the Dodge runs and drives as it should and is mostly original (except for the wheels, for example). You’ll find that parts like the radiator and carburetor are the ones that came with the vehicle when new. The Challenger has the desirable Rallye gauge package, including a speedometer that runs up to 150 mph.
The interior was refreshed about a decade ago, though the dash pad is cracked now. Per the seller, the car has been inside ever since. Rust has managed to get into the rear quarter panels and in a few other places, but patches may be able to take care of things. The seller bought this car from its second owner and had hoped to make a weekend driver out of it. But as his/her age advances, the cash it would generate is needed more. As far as original Challengers go, this one should check a lot of boxes as a project.
Looks like the heads have either been rebuilt or replaced. Those valve covers should be Hemi orange, not Corporate blue.
I’m a GM dude so take this with a grain of salt, but I do believe that Chrysler’s corporate blue would be correct if a 2 barrel carb, and if a 4 barrel the engine would’ve been painted Hemi orange. Though the air cleaner looks like it says Magum, so…
Not a bad car at all. We’ve all seen so much worse. Get the mechanical items sorted and fix the dash pad and drive the wheels off of her…of course, by now, I am sure most of y’all know that is what I would do at least.
Magum…goodness, it’s late. Let me try that again, M a G n U m. I’m a tad slow at the end of the day…
They could be later 346 or 452 heads, which flow about as well as the original 906s but are happy on unleaded fuel.
Over the last few days there were a couple of mid-1960’s chevies, one Camaro one Chevelle with some blue paint on the top end of the engine. In both cases several comments in the threads claimed the engine was a mid-1980’s small block. No one bothered to look beyond the paint to the parts themselves. They were clearly correct for the years of the car. For whatever reason it’s become a trend for sellers have been painting air cleaners and the top ends of engines on an otherwise well worn engine. That might be the case here. The seller seems pretty straightforward in his ad, he’d likely be able to answer that question.
Steve R
He mentioned painting the covers blue when he replaced the cover gaskets….like was said the orangie color is correct….
This is a great engine, transmission and color combination. Its rust isn’t too bad compared to most. It will be interesting to see where the bidding ends, with just under 7 days left it has 32 bids and went from a $2,000 opening bid to $25,100.
Steve R
It’s getting in the to much range at $29700.
Looks like a good mostly solid ol’ car, Steve….I agree!
Please opine all.
What is the difference between a Pony Car vs a Muscle Car?
Musclecars have big horse-power. Pony cars have smaller pony-power. 500 horse-power is a lot. 500 pony-power…not so much, unless the car is a small and light unibody four-seater with a long hood short deck theme.
Thanks.
The term Pony car refers to the class of car inspired by the success of the Mustang, such as the Camaro Firebird, AMC Javelin Challenger and Cuda. They gave off performance oriented vibe and were smaller than traditional ‘Muscle Cars” which were the performance version based on midsized domestic platforms from the mid-60’s through early-1970’s. Over time the term has expanded to often include full sized or other performance oriented cars.
Steve R
Also thanks.
I always have doubts when I see corporate blue under the hood, I always assume it’s a 400. A 70 R block 4sp isn’t a bad thing, nice enough car to put some cash into.
I am probably very much in the minority here. On a Challenger of that year and that color, they are only one of very few vehicles I prefer to have a white or black vinyl roof. On a Plumb Crazy 70 Challenger I’ve liked them the way I described since they were brand new.