UPDATE 09/08/2025: Barn Finds readers are an eagle-eyed bunch of individuals who consistently spot some great classics for us to feature. Therefore, I have to say a big thank you to Barn Finder Curvette for bringing this 1970 Dodge Challenger T/A to our attention back in July, and for discovering that the seller has relisted it with a substantial price drop. The remaining details are unchanged, but rather than paying the original $109,000, someone could become the Challenger’s new owner for $98,500. The seller has listed this beautiful Dodge here on Craigslist in Oregon City, Oregon.
07/29/2025: While some people believe that in motorsport, market relevance is no longer critical, others long for the days when they could walk into a showroom on a Monday and hand over the cash for a production example of the machine they had seen driven to victory the day before by their racing hero. It appears that those days are long behind us, which I consider sad. However, if you long for a classic from that era of intense manufacturer involvement, this 1970 Dodge Challenger T/A might be right up your street. It recently underwent a show-quality restoration, presenting in as-new condition.
Dodge and Plymouth released new models in late 1969 based on Chrysler’s E-Body platform. The Plymouth Barracuda and Dodge Challenger both struck a chord with buyers, courtesy of their muscular styling. For those with performance leanings, there were plenty of V8 options that kept pulses racing. This 1970 Challenger is a first-year example, but what makes it special is that it is the homologation special T/A variant. With the Trans Am series at what many believed to be its peak, manufacturers were keen to become involved in a “win on Sunday, sell on Monday” basis. The result was cars like the Boss 302 Mustang, the original Camaro Z28, and the Challenger T/A. This particular T/A recently underwent a rotisserie restoration, and it presents in as-new condition. The seller commenced the process with a solid Californian car, replacing the trunk pan and filler between the rear window and the trunk opening as the only rusty components. With the body massaged to perfection, it received a fresh coat of Lemon Twist, the same shade that it wore when it left the factory. The correct stripes and decals were added, providing a stunning look that is impossible to ignore. If the exterior is eye-catching, climbing underneath is no less impressive. The floors and mechanical components look perfect, with many items sporting recreations of the original factory markings. The trim and glass are excellent, with the Challenger rolling on a correct set of Rallye wheels wrapped in Goodyear Polyglas tires.
We can probably keep things short and sweet with this Challenger’s interior, because it looks perfect. A complete retrim in the correct Black vinyl, refurbishment of the Rally gauge cluster and its factory tachometer, and a range of new or reproduction items have left the interior as spotless and immaculate as the exterior. The focus of the T/A was very much on performance, with this car scoring a console and an AM radio as luxury touches.
Although Ford and Chevrolet built engines for their Trans Am contenders that were below the magic 5.0-liter barrier, Dodge equipped the Challenger T/A with a 340ci V8. However, it gave it muscle credentials, courtesy of the Six-Pack induction system. Interestingly, while the company followed its competition in quoting a power output of 290hp, it trumped the opposition with 345 ft/lbs of torque. This car features the optional A-727 automatic transmission, a 3.55 Sure Grip rear end, and power assistance for the steering and the front disc brakes. The first piece of critical information for those with an eye on the future is that this gem is claimed to be numbers-matching. It runs and drives, only requiring minor tuning and exhaust tweaks to be at its best.
I’m unsure whether a perfect restoration exists, although some vehicles could claim to be close to achieving that goal. This 1970 Dodge Challenger T/A is stunning, and the level of detail is commendable. Sadly, the T/A variant proved to be a single-year model, with 2,399 cars produced in 1970. The automatic proved to be the most popular, accounting for 1,410 vehicles. That brings us to a point to ponder because, for its relative rarity, Challenger T/A values have taken a recent hit. It is unclear whether this represents a mere blip on the radar or whether the trend will continue. That could make now the ideal time to buy one, anticipating that prices will climb to their previous levels. Would you roll the dice at $109,000, or is that a risk you would be unwilling to take?
Beautiful car. Got to see the first one in an early ’70s Trans Am race in Sonoma, CA. It was fast and I remember it was the best looking car out there.
I still remember seeing an AAR Cuda for the first time. Of course very similar, the one I saw was a stick, and I remember the great sound from the 340, and those exhaust pipes. Real neat cars. š
A high quality restoration it would be worth the ask, but it does send the price into rarefied buyer territory. I’d love to relive my youth in this beauty, but my 340 Duster will suffice..
They don’t get any cleaner than this but the performance will seem disappointing (high 14’s in the 1/4) compared to almost any modern car. The experience is completely different though, so it isn’t a fair comparison.
I love the SixPak, it is a great carb set up and very easy to tune. The Buh waaah when you mash the gas is memorable and different from a T quad and nothing like modern fuel injection.
I hope it finds an owner who will go out and thrash it at a drag strip, but sadly most older guys buy these and are afraid to hurt them. Which is dumb as they will take a beating and its fun to run them through to 100… legally anyways.
If I COULD afford it, I would drop in a stroker crank and cam, at least it would get into the 13’s.
Beautiful car, but the prices have come down considerably. A beautiful AAR Cuda got to $66500 on BaT and that was a pistol grip car. $109k is a stretch.
Beautiful resto but price is too high in current market.
I was at target yesterday and the cashier said to me about my T-shirt. āNot many people know what a Super-bee isā. I remember sitting in the back of my dadās friends Super bee, a 69, yellow with a big black stripe around the back, going fishing. Those days are gone, cars like this, in this shape are usually kept hidden away in a climate controlled environment. The prices of them are only for the wealthy.
Although the T/A and AAR’s are at the top of my list because knowing the 340 as well as I do it’s a extremely excellent motor, the power to weight ratio was perfect, the suspension and braking was superb, These two models were very survivable on the street and were a pleasure to drive with performance to boot. I find this car beautiful but the price is far too high. Being from the area of which this is listed I know there super clean cars of this caliber for mid 70’s-80’s
Something’s not right…the hood’s too flat.
That is the Factory Fiberglass Hood, with the T/A Scoop, ORIGINAL!
Why is it sitting so low?
That’s a good catch. T/As and AARs were sprung to sit high in the back to save the side exhaust from getting torn up. This car is sitting pretty level which does look odd for a T/A.
I’d guess the restorer replaced the springs and got the wrong ones.
The off the dealer’s floor cars I saw had the same stance as this car. Only cars I saw jacked up by knomes who wanted bigger tires on the rear. You don’t want to go flying around corners with a jacked up rear end… and yes I saw the lumbering pig Starkey and Hutch drove.
Notice the Ćuda at the top of this list put on late Sunday afternoon and it’s stance. Just like they made them at MOPAR.
Odd are those 2 open sideways short hoses sticking out of the air cleaner.
What would be very hard to reproduce would be minor surface rust underneath on some new cars that sat on the lot for a while back then.
Would this car be worth less if a 4 speed manual & the latest radial tires that look like bias plies were substituted?
Surprising a T/A Challenger was even offered with anything less than a 4-speed. Can’t see it fetching less stock, with the correct transmission for the model. Still, a compelling car that preserves a view into a special era.
The short hoses sticking out of the air cleaner are drains for water that comes in the scoop when it’s raining. There are three total.
I noticed those hoses too and then thought they are for water draining!
I bought an Orange 4-speed from original owner in ’72 for $2500. Then bought Panther Pink Auto for $1500 in ’74.
Appears prices have gone up a bit!
The price is still too high. Prices are dropping on “non-essential items” and this car is still high priced. I would venture to say, in today’s market, it would bring $75-$80k, a little more if it was a pistol grip.
Although I was never a true Mopar fan, there were some models that Chrysler built that I truly loved. I saw lots of RTs but the first T/A I ever saw was wrecked after the kid who was driving it, left the road at 100+ and hit an overhead pass support. The impact split the car in two, right back to the rear axle. All (5) occupants (15 – 17 years old) were killed. I remember one patrolman talking about it in the coffee shop the next day. “It was still playing Led Zeppelin when we got there.”
Wonder if it was Stairway to Heaven?
A good friend of mine happened upon a real gem T/A back in ’74. 11K miles and it looked like the original owner did nothing but polish it. Of course that was good because that’s mostly what my friend does. He’s been offered some major cash for his. Of course his is original right down to everything but the tires…
Since this car has all of of the factory assembly pain markings on it, and it is an hour and half away from Welby’s Car Care Center, I thought it may have gone through Mark Worman’s hands.
However, the ad says that it went though another well known restorer’s hands:
Cody Reich.
So, if this is your dream car, at least you know it was built by the best and not some cutting corners hack.
Still seems a high in this market. Itās a beauty though.
Was jealous of all my friends cars, this one the most
I remember the 340. I had a 74 Z28 and my friend came to me wanting to sell me his mint condition 72 340 Duster for $2,200. I didn’t have the money but my father was looking for a car so I had him buy the Duster. I took out more mustangs and other Camaro’s with the 340. I would love to drive a 340 again with my 18 year old grandson. Nice car
One thing that always bugs me is people who want to sell a car for $100k and mention it just need minor tuning and some exhaust tweaks. Seriously?
I have driven cars for Mecum across the stage and you would not believe how many decent cars come thru that wonāt start or have some other easy to fix defect but they want a ton of money. Rant over.š
A girl in high school, 1973, had a yellow one. I knew her. She told me she paid $1,500. It was perfect. Never hit. Like all the muscle cars we bought then, I had an FE5 1970 Road Runner, we got them from newspaper ads I read this listing and people need a dictionary. He says it is “all original”, then it’s “restored.” Obviously, the car is not original and unrestored. To read that Accurate Exhaust doesn’t fit to his liking, well, that’s what Mark Worman uses. It should fit, maybe the installer had a bad day. I had a friend get a Gardner Exhaust for his 70 Chevelle SS. Fit perfect, looks original and sounds great. Gardner started with GM exhaust systems, but added Mopar to its catalog almost 20 years ago. Just a few months ago, these TAs and AARs were bringing very good money with sales in the high 80s. Yes, there is a down turn in the market now, but the near perfect cars with bullet proof paperwork at still bringing stupid money. Oh, I paid $1,200 for my ALL ORIGINAL Road Runner in 1973. It had the N96 Air Grabber too. Today, the hood is worth more than I paid for the car. Oh well.
Love these cars and the AAR āCudas!
Last time I saw an AAR āCuda was when I was driving through northern New Hampshire November 2003 on the way up to pick up my ā72 Challenger and I saw a red AAR āCuda on the side of the road with a for sale sign on it. Donāt see that any more. Dunno how much but was cool to see. Back then I didnāt know much about AAR āCudas or even Challengers for that matter but Iāve learned how cool those cars are.
owner should save himself the pain with Ebay and take it to mecum and be done with it if he really wants to sell it. i have a 68 low mile California gto and that’s what we are going to do instead of dealing with all the keyboard clowns and the B/S the stir up. this is what it is, and they are not making new ones. his price is most likely less the resto cost
The T/As and AAR Cudas simply arenāt legit in my eyes without a 4 speed. Their high-winding small block racing heritage deserves nothing less.