Dodge cooked up the Challenger in 1970 to compete in the “pony car” market segment, although they were the last to get in on the act. To allow them to compete in the Sports Car Club of America’s Trans-Am series, the T/A was created. There were 2,400 versions built for street use of which the seller’s roller was one of them. To say it needs a lot of work may be an understatement, but there’s more there than meets the eye. Located in Discovery Bay, California, this rare car is available here on craigslist for $16,500. Thanks, PaulG, for sending this tip our way!

SCCA rules stipulated that Dodge produce and sell production versions of the track car, so the Challenger T/A was the solution. The race cars used a de-stroked 340 V8 that displaced 305 cubic inches and was tweaked to produce 440 hp. The street editions had the rack 340, but with a 6-Pack set-up (3×2-barrel carburetors) sitting atop an Edelbrock aluminum intake manifold. They were formally rated at 290 hp, but the real number was more like 350. The matte-black fiberglass hood sported a rather large scoop for forced air. While the street cars would more than light up the tires, the T/A wasn’t a consistent winner on the track and Dodge dropped it after one year.

The seller’s Challenger T/A came from the factory with Plum Crazy paint with a white interior. Out of nearly 77,000 Challengers built in 1970, only 2,400 were T/A’s, and 1410 of them came with an automatic as the seller says this car once had. There is a registry for these cars, of which just under half have been identified. Out of 1,144 known survivors, 107 are said to have been painted in this one’s color, meaning this Challenger was rare when new and more so today.

Despite this car’s current appearance, the seller says it’s better today than it was when he bought it. While it had fenders and doors, it had little else, and the seller has accumulated a bunch of parts that can be used to take the car to the next level. That includes a numbers-matching long-block, a reproduction T/A hood, T/A quick ratio power steering box, deck lid, deck filler panel, dashboard components, gauges, reproduction spoiler, seats, taillights, rear window trim, some glass, and a few odds and ends.

What it doesn’t have is a transmission, air cleaners, carburetors, and the intake manifold. The Dodge was in an accident and some of the repair work, which was not completed, was poorly door. The car will come with production tags, but they’re not affixed to the car, and the build sheet has managed to survive. The Challenger’s authenticity is said to be verified by a Galen Govier report. When these cars pop up for sale – which isn’t very often – they can run in the low six-figures when in pristine condition. Only its next owner will know if this example can reclaim its former glory.