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.
These S.E. Challengers can be a challenge when it comes to sourcing parts for it. Although it’s a rare (1 of 1306) and only made 1 year – done right, these cars are a blast to drive. I have one of the sister cars to this one, after the restoration it always draws attention and gets recognition.
Restoration of an S.E. this solid will be well worth it in the end.
I like it!
It appears to also have factory A/C ( hard to find )
Like moparmike65 said, the power bulge hood came later in life. Unless it was an RT/SE, the regular SE models came with a flat hood. The Rim-blow wheel is a nice addition….
For this kinda money it should include a set of hubcaps and Summit boxes on the back seat and a starter and a couple carburetors on the passenger seat.
These (expected) prices are a primary reason I got out of the rustoration biz a while back.
These days in the current markets, Hagerty values are too high.
I only read this ad to see how outrageous the price was, and it did not disappoint. I actually feel for the Mopar folks out there because they just can’t buy a break on what people think these things are worth.
What we have here is another overpriced Mopar.
It is a complete car with A/C but needs work and the price is high such as all Mopars in this shape.
Oldrodder and Paul have never owned one so pass on their comments.
For the money this SE looks to be about right – get in and enjoy !
I’ve owned several old Mopars over the decades so stop assuming. You know what they say when you do. If it looks so right then get out your checkbook and put your money where your mouth is.
One of the reasons Mopars are more expensive now is because Ford and Gm. sold so many more back then that Mopars are more now because so fewer are available Suppply is smaller so price is higher
Not according to the number of clapped out Mopars that I’ve seen on Barn Finds.
For what 28K buys these days in a classic muscle car, this really isn’t too bad for a ’70 SE Challenger. Unfortunately.
“Not too bad”? Really? Have we come to a place where it is actually OK to feel like this is an acceptable price? (Mopar guys, don’t think that I’m pointing you out, I feel the same way about all brands)
oldrodder, I absolutely agree and have expressed my outrage on today’s prices on many occasions. That’s why I added the word “Unfortunately” at the end.
“Sad” would also work.
Sad would definitely work. I’ve been playing the car game since 1964, and what it has become saddens me. Playing with cars, whether that’s buying, selling, building, driving, or just talking has been a big part of my life, and to watch that morph into nothing more than a money thing is a hard pill to swallow.
That’s all that runs today’s clown world. Money, money, money….