Dodge was the last major brand to enter the “pony car” field that Ford is credited with starting in 1964. (Plymouth was there 17 days ahead of Ford, but sales of the Barracuda paled by comparison). The Challenger was born in 1970, sharing the new body (but not sheet metal) of the Barracuda, and ran for five years. This 1970 edition is rare in that it’s an SE model with Plum Crazy paint. While it needs some cosmetic work, the car still runs and stops. Located in Pompano Beach, Florida, this Mopar project is available here on eBay where the latest bid is $12,600.
The Challenger was quite popular in its inaugural season, selling nearly 77,000 copies. However, the pony car market was saturated by then and other factors (like higher insurance premiums and increasing emissions controls) caused sales to plummet in 1971-74. Only 644 copies of the 1970 Challenger were built as a Special Edition/SE (with the smaller, formal rear glass) using a 383 cubic inch V8 and automatic. Factor in how many were finished in the Hi-Impact color FC7 and the number built least this may have only been a few dozen.
This car was purchased with restoration in mind, but the seller is losing his warehouse by the end of the year and must sell off all his collectible automobiles. Before that, the history of the car is unknown. Besides the color, the smaller rear window may be the biggest selling point here, but I always thought it further inhibited the driver’s view looking out the back of the automobile. The drivetrain is numbers matching and the seller tells us the car performs as it should but doesn’t mention if he’d take any trips in its current state.
Someone looks to have changed the color from purple to blue, but that paint job is toast, so this is a perfect opportunity to let Plum Crazy come home to roost. We’re told much of the hardware is original, like the exhaust system, but it seems as though some spare parts will come with the deal. Of all the Challengers and Barracudas we’ve come across lately on Barn Finds that needed work, this looks to be one of the most restorable.
Not a good time to be buying a car in Florida right now.
Yep……and even greater caution will be required in the future regardless of year/make. Pay attention to any influx of used vehicle inventory north of the state in what has otherwise been a market shortage.
Pompano was untouched. No flood car here. You are correct, though.
I rode past Copart yesterday and they were rolling in truck after truckload.
The facility looks like it made it ok, and all the fencing is blown down.
Those vehicles are going somewhere…
A cool mopar project. Still working on mine. I’m checking with this comment and photo. I signed up for the fall 22 deal. I don’t think it went through although its letting me post a pix even though I’m not a member yet. I’m waiting for Jesse to get back to me so I can get signed up. Having trouble with my iPad I think.
The Nissan ZX behind is more interesting. But not recognized here.
Always preferred the Barracuda and Cuda’s over the Challenger.
I love this color challenger, the only one I thought looked better was a pink one, saw a 440 4 speed going thru the gears, and the pink and black really popped.
Cant touch dis
Anyone have any info on the hood being the standard flat one, i thought it should be one with scoops?