The 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T Hemi was one of the most potent muscle cars to emerge from that era, and the right car in the right color is the automotive epitome of cool. Sadly, their rarity and soaring values mean that owning the genuine article will be out of the reach of most enthusiasts. That’s where vehicles like our feature car fit into the equation as a beautifully executed tribute. It seems somehow fitting that a vehicle of this type should carry the autograph of one of the coolest characters to grace the small screen during the 1970s. It is debatable whether the signature adds to its value, but it is an interesting conversation starter. Located in Auburn, Washington, the Challenger is listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding sits at $55,000, but this figure is short of the reserve.
I’ve always felt that photos don’t do a classic car justice, and judging by the text of the listing, that could be the case with this Challenger. The owner states that it is more than a bunch of fancy parts thrown together but is a total package created by professionals. When you look at its specifications and appearance, that claim is easy to believe. It seems that its creators wanted to produce the ultimate tribute, so why not start the process with a high-impact color like Sublime gracing laser straight panels? The paint shines beautifully, with the Black decals and vinyl top adding a welcome contrast. The owner points to a tiny spot of rust in a lower door corner, but it appears there are no other problems on that front. The glass seems flawless, while the same is true of the chrome and trim. The Challenger rolls on a set of Rally wheels with spotless trim rings, and these add a perfect finishing touch to this classic.
Within a few years of this Challenger rolling off the production line, a few events occurred that would significantly impact the 1970s. The first of these was tightening emission regulations that strangled engines and reduced many high-performance cars to shadows of their former selves. The second that we need to consider in the context of this story was the appearance on small screens of a TV series that would become iconic. On January 15, 1974, the first episode of Happy Days was broadcast, and the series would remain in production into the 1980s. One of the characters in the series was Arthur Fonzarelli, or “The Fonz,” played by Henry Winkler. Initially considered a minor cast member, The Fonz’s contribution to the series grew at an incredible rate from a bit player to one of the leads. His was also one of the coolest characters to appear on TV screens in the 1970s, and while it has no direct bearing on the story of the Challenger, finding his autograph gracing the dash of this car seems somehow appropriate. It probably adds nothing to the value of this classic, but it rates as a great conversation starter at a show or Cars & Coffee.
The theme of immaculate presentation continues when we start to examine this Challenger’s interior. Upholstered in Black vinyl with bucket seats and a console, there is no evidence of wear or significant damage. The faux woodgrain behind the shifter is lifting on one edge, but that is one of the few faults worth mentioning. Rectifying this would be easy and give the new owner at least one task to tackle. The dash looks perfect, as does the carpet. There is no cracked plastic or other issues signaling deterioration or abuse. For the most part, the seller has remained faithful to a genuine R/T, with no glaring signs of aftermarket additions. An exception is the gauge cluster. Dodge’s original gauges have made way for Dakota Digital components which look right and should be more accurate than the factory items.
I’ve kept you waiting long enough, but I’ve saved the best until last with this Challenger. The VIN indicates that this classic rolled out of the factory powered by a 318ci V8 that produced a respectable 230hp and would have propelled the car through the ¼ mile in 16.5 seconds. I would typically balk at an engine change, but what resides under the hood of this tribute defines the vehicle. What we find is the legendary 426ci Hemi V8 that its builder bolted to a three-speed A-727 automatic transmission. The Hemi made the Challenger the king of the kids, with 425hp at the driver’s disposal. However, this V8 will undoubtedly top that figure because it appears to have been built with no corners cut. Starting with a Mopar High-Performance block, the builder slotted in a steel crank, a Comp Cam, Indy cylinder heads, and Diamond pistons. The spent gases find their way out of that brute via TTi headers and a dual exhaust. The crowning glory is the magnificent Mopar NOS cross-ram intake. In keeping with the “total package” approach, the owner swapped the brake lines for stainless steel, while they upgraded the braking system to four-wheel discs. It isn’t clear what power is being churned out by that motor, but it is a safe bet that this car would blast a genuine Hemi R/T’s ¼-mile ET of 13.6 seconds ten feet in the air! Of course, you’re probably more concerned about this classic’s mechanical health than its immaculate engine bay presentation. The owner emphasizes that although he only uses the Challenger for shows, it runs and drives exceptionally well. It is a turnkey proposition where its new owner won’t need to spend a dime.
The bidding history on this 1970 Dodge Challenger suggests that it is unlikely to be a cheap car when the hammer falls. With only 287 examples of the R/T Hemi Hardtop (plus sixty SE derivatives) rolling off the production line in 1970, enthusiasts are unlikely to chance upon an original car every day. If you do and it is pristine, its value will sit well into six-figure territory. That’s why there is a ready market for well-executed tributes or clones. The bidding action on this car has been relatively subdued, but it isn’t unusual to see the action increase in the final hours of an eBay auction. It might be worth watching this because I wouldn’t be surprised if it hits $100,000.
Those wheels/tires just don’t look right.
I love ’em…vintage look and a decent tire will fit. The car just sits about 2-3 inches too high all around. Cheap and easy fix on a Slo-par.
Looks like those are 17″ newer wheels that are supposed to look like the old 15″ Rally wheels. They do look off to me as well. http://moparrallywheels.com/
I would feel like I died and gone to heaven if there was any chance of me owning this fine automobile. Unfortunately my piggy bank is much too light for the task.
Say what you will, she is a beauty, and she can sleep in my garage anytime.
You’re not fooling anyone Terry, if U had a big enough bedroom it’d be sleeping WITH U!! 😁
Back around 1982 in Detroit I had a 71 Cuda this color with the 318 auto for a short time.
🎶 🎹
..Sunday Monday happy days
Tuesday Wednesday happy days
Thursday Friday happy days
Saturday what a day
Rockin’ all week for you
These days are
Won’t you be mine
These days are
Oh please be mine
Goodbye grey sky hello blue
‘Cause nothing can hold me when I hold you
Feel so right can’t be wrong
A-rockin’ and rollin’ all week long 🎶 🎵
What a waste of a once decent car. This belongs in some trailer park. There is no way that kind of power is safe or practical for the street. Even if I had the money, I wouldn’t give a dime for it.
“That kinda power isn’t safe or practical…” But a 700+hp Hellcat is I guess. With the upgraded brakes & will assume any suspension & steering deficiencies addressed, I don’t see any problem or difference.
No, neither is a Hellcat. The difference in the buyer is the amount in their trust fund The difference is that some fat cat will buy the Hellcat for bragging rights and as an “investment” so will never drive it. That is safe. (Except for the sanity of the poor hired help that will be tasked keeping it polished). This car will be driven and then safety comes into question. There should be some legal liability when selling something like this. Perhaps buyers should be made to sign of waiver against possible future bodily harm with its use.
Are you kidding me – Hellcats as investments? Not likely.
I’ve seen plenty of them and other high powered Mopars being driven on the streets – and never by people who don’t know how to drive them.
It’s great to see people taking advantage of what is being offered and most likely, not for much longer.
They might not be for me – I had a 318 in my Barracuda and a V6 in my Charger – but there are PLENTY of people who drive and enjoy the high powered muscle.
Wow, Mr.Rigor Mortis your comment reads jealousy and hate all over, especially the jealousy part!!! It’s just a guys car who took a 318 Challenger who chose to modify and repower to HIS tastes, I guess he should have contacted you on how he should spend HIS money and how he should have proceeded on the build. Rigor, cool down dude, go out and test drive a Toyota Corolla. Also, is it ok if I get whipped cream on top of my hot chocolate drink ?? Thanks Rigor for your positive answers on ALL your comments, I look forward to reading again what makes you unhappy. Have a nice day.
Gosh Ray, if it was made to HIS tastes (love those caps dude) then why is he selling it. If this was his baby, why would you sell your baby? Sounds suspiciously like greed to me.
@Bitter Mortis –
Medical bills/poor health
Kid in college
Down payment on a new house/remodeling an existing house
Unemployment
Wants something different or a new project
Plenty of good reasons to sell a beloved car beyond greed.
Get off my lawn!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Why would Henry Winkler write Fonz? It would be like finding something signed “Ken Griffey Jr (Baseball player)”
I’m not sure he was that well known then.
Because that’s his biggest claim to fame (at least for the cars and coffee crowd). He’s been in lots of other things and is a children’s book author. The Ken Griffey Jr analogy isn’t very accurate; I would equate it more like “Tom Wopat (Luke Duke)”.
The only things wrong with this baby is that scoop, and it’s missing a pedal.
I think it looks sweet!! But for me i would remove the hood scoop,but with that the 2 fours would need a new work around due to them coming out of the hood..
Wheels suck,no side wall tires on this sucks, just my opinion.
How is this “well executed”? With these wheels, scoop, even stuff under the hood isn’t authentic. Cool car, sure, but special, or valuable anything like a real Hemi car? Absolutely not.
If this goes for anything near $100k, then I will eat my own dirty underwear, because that would make just as much sense.
The auction is over with, $56k reserve not met.
Also has a 68 Dodge Charger listed with the reserve not met.
Yeah, he has a 68 listed that looks like a 69. States it’s an original, then a few sentences later states it’s a 69 clone? If it is a 68 cloned into a 69, what a waste of good sheet metal and time, who would want such a thing? States it’s a 528 and it states 472 Hemi on the air cleaner? Shows pictures of the fender tag and mentions the core support and cowl all matching but the fender tag is upside down on one picture and backwards on the other and no pictures of the core support or cowl? Seems funny too those are the only 2 pictures messed up? Why no pictures of the VIN on the dash, door jamb, Rad support, or rear quarter/trunk, they should all be there? I sent all these questions and more and said he should post them to the auction. He did reply but didn’t post my questions. I guess I’m just stupid.
Here’s his reply: The car is just as stated , the motor is a 528 . I can edit the upside down fender tag but everyone else he’s been able to figure it out , it’s a 68 RT 440 car that the prior owner cloned to look like a 69 also upgraded the motor to a hemi.
So, he answered 20 questions with one short sentence. I told him to post the last part of the sentence to the title in caps, lol. Main thing that comes to mind her is a word we all love that begins with a D, and rhymes with receptive!
I doubt the signature adds even one dollar to the value of this car.
Made it to $56,311 but did not meet Reserve.
Rigor Mortis, you need to butch up a little bit.
I love this car! “The Fonz” autograph doesn’t make sense to me and I’m not sure I would leave it but the car is clean and cool.
Just my opinion, but that godawful Hemi hood scoop destroys the lines of the car. I’m betting it will fly off the first time the car gets over 100, so maybe that problem will self-solve. I actually do like the repro chrome Rallye wheels.
If I bought it, I’d lose the Go-wing and they butt-ugly pistol grip on the automatic console. I’ll never understand why that is a thing on Mopars. The original Slapstick was such a cool piece of kit. If you want a pistol grip shifter, man up and buy a 4 speed car.
All cynicism aside, this is a well done and very attractive tribute car. Great color, epic drivetrain, nice restoration. I’d take it if I could!
The car looks confused, part pro touring, part 70s street machine and part restoration/clone. The wheels and the scoop would be the first to change.