The Dodge Challenger was the last player to join the “pony car” movement that began in the mid-1960s. Launched in 1970, the Challenger shared its new E-body platform with the Plymouth Barracuda, and both cars are in demand today with collectors and muscle car fans. The seller has a 1970 Challenger SE, which brought a higher level of trim and a smaller rear glass (why?). Located in Plano, Texas (perhaps with a dealer), this Mopar needs some cosmetic TLC and maybe more. It’s available here on Facebook Marketplace for $28,995 and is a tip brought to us by Patrick S.
Dodge delivered shy of 77,000 Challengers in 1970, the car’s best sales year. After that, demand took a nosedive (as was the case with the Barracuda, too) as the muscle car movement was running out of gas. About 10,000 of these sales were the SE (Special Edition) model, which brought a higher level of trim. And a smaller rear glass that did nothing to help with rearward visibility for the driver. Two-thirds of the SEs were “regular” Challengers, while the rest were R/T editions which came with 383 cubic inch V8s as minimum power.
While the seller says it’s been driven a mere 5,000 miles, the odometer reading is more like 81,000. If you ordered an SE in 1970, you were treated to fancier accommodations that included a vinyl roof covering, leather upholstery, and an overhead console (seems to be missing here, along with the headliner). This car has a floor-shifted automatic transmission and a 440 cubic inch V8 that replaced an earlier 383 2-barrel.
Rust does not appear to be a problem, but the bright yellow paint is beyond its prime. A car of this caliber deserves to be bestowed with a new coat of paint. The black interior looks at least okay with no damage to the seats. The black vinyl top is shiny enough to have been replaced. According to the seller, you can “drive it and enjoy it,” but surely there’s more to the story than that.
Towards the end of the description is says “not R/T.” JH29L makes it a 383 2 barrel SE. Other non R/T clues are the lack of the rally cluster which was standard on all R/Ts and the fender turn signal indicators which weren’t available on Challengers with the bulge hood which was obviously added to this car later in life.
I can’t help but think Joe Dirt when I see this, that and the seller is crazy to ask so much, and a car flipper, so you can’t believe a word they say, inspection is crucial here. I wouldn’t paint it, too much stress parking it in any parking lot. I’d do mechanical work, suspension, tune up, etc… drive it, less stress with a car like this when going to the store, leaving it in the lot.