It’s a sad time when you finally finish restoring your dream machine and an accident follows, but even more so when that auto happens to be a 1970 Dodge Challenger T/A. While $865 was a lot more money back then compared to today, shelling out this extra amount got buyers the T/A package on the Challenger, a one-year-only option. These funds were well-spent, as the list of additional features this cash got you was long and intense, plus this was one of those homologation deals. That means that a certain number of street editions had to be built for the car to qualify for race use, and in this case, for SCCA Trans Am racing. This one here on eBay is presently in a state of woe, and much effort will be needed to get this once beautiful Mopar back to its pre-accident condition. The rare E-Body is resting in Tampa, Florida, and comes with a $29,500 buy-it-now price tag.
With all the cloning going on these days, I’d want to make sure this was the real McCoy before beginning to straighten out something that will require this much effort. Fortunately, the fender tag is still present, and it includes code A53. That’s the magic letter/number combo for the T/A package, so no worries regarding the authenticity; it’ll just be everything else the buyer will need to agonize over. No explanation of exactly what happened here is offered, but it was catastrophic enough to wipe out many of the components from the firewall forward. The rockers are said to be OK, and hopefully, many of the components from the doors back will be usable.
Some potentially good news is that the 340 engine that came in all T/A Challengers is stated to be numbers-matching. However, the oil pan was damaged during the mishap, but the seller claims that the motor is fine. This one is also equipped with a TorqueFlite automatic transmission, although there’s no word on its current functionality. Thankfully, the rear end is still intact, and hopefully, the suspension in this area escaped unscathed from the crash.
Just two interior photos are provided, and neither shows a very good view of how the interior looks today overall. One bit of information we do get is that the dashboard is brand new, but that the dash frame is damaged, although the seller thinks it may be salvageable. A new hood, grille, and fenders are included, so that might be something positive to consider for those on the fence here. With only 2,399 made, this is a rare car, and I hope somebody with the right skills will save this 1970 Dodge Challenger T/A. Is this one worth all the time, labor, and expense that will be required to repair and properly restore it for a second time?
What kind of accident breaks the K-frame, cracks the windshield, buckles the roof and nicks the rear spoiler on a ‘restored’ car. The pictures and story don’t seem to add up here. Also Cragers and Rallye wheels? To me, it looks like someone put lipstick on a pig then preferred the insurance money.
Awwww c’mon, it’s only 30K, what could possibly go wrong………..lol
When the add or a valuable matching numbers enthusiasts car starts out by basically calling it a parts car, then goes starts referencing VIN numbers you know its inn worse shape than the pictures suggest. The one thing they didn’t show in the ad is the VIN numbers itself, which if posted would follow this car online forever.
Steve R
Steve R: I completely agree with you, but I will go one step further. In what universe is this junk yard dog worth 29K? There are some parts that would bring some decent money, (such as the motor, if it can be confirmed as an original T/A unit) but absolutely nothing that would justify this ask.
Ouch! What the hell happened? I hope whoever buys the car is able to not only restore it, but also make it driveable.
I hope this car will get a new life but it will take a good body shop to keep it numbers matching. The dash appears to be an original, that is a good start, if not damaged.
The Ebay listing states (in all caps) “THE DASH IS BRAND NEW AND THE DASH FRAME IS DAMAGED”. So it’s a repop of questionable integrity…
It looks like it has the stock stich as the 70′ did. I always thought the repos had none, as the other years.
“It’s a sad time when you finally finish restoring your dream machine and an accident follows”, I’ll say! But where’s the (finally) finished car that was in an accident? What does that dude considered finished? Why is the fender tag lying on a sheet of MDF?
Looks like it was dropped out of a helicopter!
A picture showing the “restored” car before the accident would allay a lot of suspicions. Why is the interior such a mess and missing the window crank handle; why install a fender when obviously MUCH MORE straightening is required???
Back in 1976, the driver’s window crank on my “original baby” 70 Chevelle SS427 broke, less than 2 weeks later it was stolen and totaled. 25 years later, the crank on my 70 El Camino SS396 broke, and (you guessed it). These days, I won’t OWN a car with a broken window crank. Thank God for power windows.
what happened very poor description and lots of lack of information. really should have posted the accident damage so bidders know what they are up against. nice to see it get redone but won’t be cheap
A TA Challenger had special exhaust coming out under the quarter window area. I see chrome tip in the rear. What happen here??? Everyone should walk away from this disaster! Mark won’t touch this! Unless he got it for free! What a shame this happen to a TA Challenger. Not many was made from Chrysler and it was a one year only. There was the AAR Cuda also. Same thing one year not many made. 🐻🇺🇸
I’m pretty sure California would not allow that exhaust, some other states might not have either. Someone would meet to track down the car’s history to see where it sold originally.
Steve R
All T/A’s had side exhaust according to Chrysler. If you have different information, please post a source.
All T/A’s had side exit exhaust according to Chrysler. If you have other information, please post a source.
Walrus, it was the N97 noise reduction package to meet the states noise regulations. It featured turn downs just before the rear bumper.
Steve R
That sounds odd to me. As I believe that you live in California, you certainly know a whole bunch more than me about state regulations, but what would the reason be for not allowing side exit exhaust? Does that mean that Corvettes with side exhaust were also banned?
I have checked all available sources and cannot find any reference to California N97 in any year. If you can clarify . . . ?
If you search this on Google “did 1970 Challenger TA have different exhaust in California” there are references that spell out the difference and why they weren’t the same as the rest of the country. Deviating from that specific wording in the search will give you different answers.
Steve R
Steve, thank you for pointing that out. I did not know google would show different results for just changing the words around.
An apex muscle car hard hit in the front. No pictures detailing what is obviously massive damage to the front/right front. Random pictures of other areas of the car. ID tag lying on a piece of OSB. Photo edited with MS Paint to obscure information on the ID tag. The engine has had the exhaust manifold(s?) and the water pump removed for some reason; that nasty air filter seems inconsistent with a carefully restored high end car that got sidelined suddenly by a collision. Rusty, crusty structure visible in the engine picture. Hoses missing; valve cover off; random hardware lying here and there and a long bolt sticking out of the intake. Oil pan damaged? Perhaps when the engine was sitting, along with the other hero parts stripped from the original wreck, in somebody’s shed for half a decade waiting on the right buyer. Replacement body parts tacked on to make it look like a whole car again. Still on the trailer and secured by a single (frayed) ratchet strap looped around the axle tube. ‘call call for additional info’ — much harder for some unfortunate purchaser’s attorney to prove misrepresentation when all the BS is via the phone and not printed. Might be interesting to learn where and when and how the ostensible VIN ended its last registration. This thing sure feels like a hodgepodge of abandoned, auctioned, Craigslist and/or ‘involuntarily misplaced’ parts stuck together to resemble a ‘restoration project.’
Oh, and what’s with the photographer wearing black athletic socks with Velcro shoes?
Watching the video, it looks like theirs nothing under the front sheet metal at all. The wheel has no lug bolts and looks to me it just sitting there to fill in the fender well. Passenger side if you look closely, you don’t see any frame, engine or nothing. I assume that’s what is meant by front floor clip forward.
You can see where someone sprayed a fan blade and used the trailer for a table. Lol. Looking at the grill, you can see the ground. That engine looks to be sitting in another car completely by the section of grill showing. Just my thoughts. Good luck.
Wow, 1184 “viewers”, so no question there’s interest, but no bids, just not for this car. Oh, they go so nice in a straight line, but stopping is clearly another issue. Obviously, they did a “Dukes of Hazzard” here, and didn’t fare so well. The lure of alleged riches is strong with this one. Get used to it, as these “bottom of the barrel” heaps are all that’s left.
This isn’t an auction.
Steve R
If I had to hazard a guess, I think it fell off a trailer.
Mopar parts car. This is just insane money for this.
This cars now a politician: too crooked to save.
Ridiculous money for a parts car also.
Probably sit for awhile, unless a fool with money comes along………….
Steve R: This whole T/A exhaust thing is clear as mud. The N97 noise reduction package explicitly removed the cut outs and chrome exhaust tips from the rear valance, but I can’t find anything about the package removing the side exhaust from the T/A.
If you google, “did 1970 challenger TA exhaust in california vs other states” it will indicate that there were only the aforementioned side exhaust tips offered in all 50 states and also that the confusion comes from misinformation due to california noise restrictions that did not affect the car.
Quote:
“No, the 1970 Challenger T/A exhaust was the same side-exit design in both California and other states, with the unique blunt-end mufflers. However, California cars had some other equipment restrictions due to noise regulations, such as the inability to have a shaker hood, but this was a separate issue from the exhaust.
Exhaust design: All 1970 Challenger T/As had the distinctive side-exit dual exhaust system with blunt-end mufflers, a design intended for racing homologation. This was a standard feature for all T/A models, not specific to any one state.
Other California restrictions: Due to California’s 1970 noise restrictions, some performance options were not originally available for California-bound cars, but the exhaust system was not one of them.”
The exhaust is pass the last open window, makes it legal.
I’m glad that someone finally found a definitive answer to this little mystery.
29,000 thousand what a joke .
It appears to be maybe a little airborne with the windshield busted up. The right front wheel assembly tore out of the car. It mit be just me looking wrong but the front end looks a little like it has been push up into the windshield. That’s what makes me think somebody had it airborne.
I’m glad that someone finally found a definitive answer to this little mystery.
Buckled roof is never a good sign no matter what the vehicle is
What happens when one lets their teenage son drive one of their cars to the high school dance!