Even in its most “sedate” mechanical configuration, Dodge’s 1970 Challenger R/T Convertible offered buyers impressive performance. The car combined this with muscular good looks, making it a sure-fire winner in the classic world. Our feature car possesses these attributes, and its presentation is difficult to fault. With summer just around the corner, it could be a car that has appeared on the market at precisely the right time. Located in Gainesville, Florida, you will find the Challenger listed for sale here on eBay. The owner has set a BIN of $85,000, and there are currently fifty-seven people eagerly watching the listing.
I have always been a fan of Chrysler’s E-Body range from this period because I believe that the company achieved a winning blend of sharp body lines and muscular good looks. Our feature Challenger wears Hemi Orange paint, and it presents superbly. The paint shines beautifully, with no evidence of significant faults or problems. It is perfectly complemented by a Black power top and stripes that are crisp and show no signs of lifting or other defects. The panels are as straight as an arrow, and the gaps are some of the tightest I’ve seen on a Dodge from this era. Although the owner mentions originality, I suspect that the R/T has been the recipient of a refresh at some point because everything presents better than you might expect from a classic of this type and age. This is especially true of the gaps, which I believe indicate somebody taking their time to tweak them in search of perfection. There are no signs of rust, and the owner doesn’t mention any problems in his listing. The chrome, trim, and wheels look spotless, while the same appears true of the glass.
Turning our attention to the interior, we find that somebody has swapped out the original AM radio/8-track player for a modern CD player. That’s a shame because otherwise, this interior appears original and unmolested. If the buyer seeks complete originality, they might scan the usual online auction sites to locate a factory replacement. Beyond the in-car entertainment, the original owner ordered this Convertible with air conditioning, a console, a Rally gauge pack with a factory tachometer, and a console with a floor shifter. The overall presentation of the interior is another aspect that is hard to criticize. There is no evidence of wear or the types of damage and deterioration resulting from long-term exposure to UV rays. If the new owner took this Challenger to a show or a Cars & Coffee, they could hold their head high with total pride.
One defining characteristic of the ’70 Challenger R/T was that even its entry-level engine offered buyers bags of performance potential. With that thought uppermost in our minds, it is worth noting that this Dodge’s 383ci V8 gave the driver a healthy 335hp under their right foot. When combined with a three-speed TorqueFlite transmission, power steering, and power brakes, it allowed the Challenger to storm the ¼ mile in 14.7 seconds before winding its way to 136mph. For potential buyers, the news here is pretty positive. The owner states that the car is numbers-matching, and when you consider the BIN, this is a vital consideration. He doesn’t provide much information beyond that fact, although the overall presentation of the engine bay suggests that the Convertible should be in sound mechanical health.
There is no denying that the First Generation Dodge Challenger was a styling winner, but that was a common theme that carried across the entire Chrysler E-Body range. Today, these cars are highly sought, and good examples can achieve some impressive sales figures. The asking price for our feature R/T Convertible is not pocket change, and it is right at the very top end for a spotless example. Its overall condition probably justifies the figure, but the buyer will need to be passionate about their Mopar products to hand over the cash. What do you think?
Beautiful!
Agree…..and FYI the gauge package was standard with an R/T.
Both clusters had gauges, but the R/T had ‘rally’ gauges…which included a tach.
Drop the top, put some Tom Petty (Gainesville native) on and hit the road!
Buy it,then stop by Don Garlit’s place in Ocala.
Be careful what you pay for this, if they can’t even figure out correct paint and strips for a 70 RT, what else is wrong, or fabricated?
Is that spoiler oem Fred ?
Smarty pants, are you saying that side stripe is from a 70? Try 71. I do not really care, but if you want top dollar, then do it correctly. BTW, the spoiler stinks. I am willing to bet it is not original to the car. Most cars in those days did not come with those gaudy things.
Stan, the spoiler was a factory option 1970 whether or not it was original to this car only the build sheet can tell which considering the condition it is probably still there. Fred you’re absolutely wrong, that is a 70 stripe not a 71.
Wow more experts on here than at Carlisle.
Mistakes happen. Galen Govier, Mopar expert extraordinaire, once verified a Superbee that I built as all original, when I had actually added options, such as side scoops and a vinyl top.
Ahh yes, the man from Prarie du Chein, Wisconsin. He needs to quietly go away. He is a big part of why these cars are no longer affordable for us regular guys. Stroking the egos of fat cats might be how he gets to lay around all day and not have a real job, but is rotten for the rest of us. he should be ashamed.
Fred, you gotta go poddy?
Why can’t we discuss the reality of car ownership here? That is still on topic, or so I sure think so. Tell me, if people like Mr G and his ilk hadn’t promoted high values on these cars, do you think you might actually have a few now? How many do you have?
Freds a dummy.
Might be top dollar for a 383 car today, in 5 years it will look like a bargain. Big block convertible E bodies aren’t cheap, try to find another in this condition for less money.
The side stripe is correct, and so’s the hood blackout That looks like the correct spoiler, though it’s not coded on the fender tag. I had a big block convertible for a while. Original 383/auto that I changed to 440-6/manual.
The good: Handsome car from just about every angle, and got lots of attention, especially from the Mopar guys.
The bad: Heavy and sluggish. No great thrill to drive. I was never get the power out of 440s that I wanted either, but that was before affordable aftermarket heads.
I remember that 1970 383 auto challengers with factory a/c had engines painted turquoise indicating special cam installations due to a/c and auto trans. HP was 325 due to the 335HP motors tendency to surge at idle with the A/C on in gear. The car in question has the wrong paint color.
Where do some of you people get your information? Air conditioning and transmission had absolutely nothing to do with the engine color. As for the turquoise engines it’s last year was on high performance engines in 1968. Street Hemi orange replaced the turquoise for HP engines.
There was a very small number of L code e-body verts with 383 2v motors. They were blue. I don’t think I’ve seen a blue HP motor in 70. I’ll have to keep my eyes open
Great car, great color. Also has a 70 Barracuda listed for the same price.
I’m sorry, I see a Challenger convertible like this, I can’t help but think of Indy 1971,,”Yep, Mr. Glenn, this car is as fast as your Saturn V rocket,,oh, oh, coming in too fast”,,,the guy goes around the earth in a tin can and almost gets killed in the Indy pace car,,
Govier can be difficult to deal with, but he was the first guy to say hey no one offers a service of verifying Mopars and using his service manager background did what the rest of you cry babies did not. Wah. As for paying too much money for 50 year old horribly built Chrysler products, that is your fault. Your man hood no longer works, your hair is gone and suddenly you have a 40 ibch waist. You have money to burn so you pay $250,000 for something you will hardly drive because you take your Escalade to your job and the country club.