Few muscle cars embody the Mopar spirit like a 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T, especially when it’s wearing Plum Crazy paint with a black top and interior, as this car once was. This example, listed here on Facebook Marketplace, has all the right ingredients for a desirable restoration: an R/T model, a 383 under the hood, and a clean title in the seller’s name. It’s been sitting since the 1980s and will need plenty of work, but it offers a solid foundation for anyone dreaming of bringing a true E-body back to life. Thanks for the tip Mitchell G.!
The story behind this Challenger is typical of many long-term projects. The car was stripped down decades ago for restoration, the engine was pulled, and then the project stalled after the original owner passed away. Somewhere along the line, the motor was set back into the bay, though not mounted, and the body was given a coat of primer. From there, it sat again until the current owner picked it up, only to decide recently to go another direction.
While the car is rough around the edges, it isn’t without promise. The seller reports the usual rust in the floors, trunk, and quarter panels, but the frame rails, rear floor, and rockers are said to be original and solid. The firewall has a couple of holes to contend with, but overall this Challenger looks like a restorable project rather than a lost cause. The extra parts collection is small, just a couple of spare grilles, but the car does come with a reproduction VIN tag and a clear title, which are big positives in the restoration world.
For Mopar fans, the appeal here is obvious. The Challenger R/T was Dodge’s heavy hitter in 1970, going head-to-head with the Mustang and Camaro while carving out its own identity with bold styling and big-block power. A numbers-matching car with its original drivetrain intact would command a premium, but even as a project, this R/T represents a chance to build one of the most sought-after muscle cars of the era.
With an asking price of $24,000 (or best offer), the seller seems realistic about the car’s condition and is open to negotiation. Considering how few real-deal R/Ts are left, especially in high-impact colors like Plum Crazy, it’s easy to imagine someone stepping up to take this one on.
If you had the time and space, would you bring this Challenger back to factory specs, or turn it into a custom build with modern upgrades?
In the adds pictures I see it has a floor shifter but the steering column in the engine bay has a lever on it for a column shifter?
I believe that would be for the trans lock. Back in the day it seems most of them got misplaced when transmissions were changed.
Actually it’s part of the linkage from the shifter to lock the steering column when the trans is in park. Ridiculously complicated setup.
Thanks for the info Tim. I made the first comment.
$24k is realistic ???? It must be the VIN tag and clear title to this full on project.
In 71 after the Army I bought a 5k mile dealer demo 70 Barracuda Gran Coupe…. red with white vinyl top… 318 column auto, A/C, deluxe houndstooth interior… 2 stripe whitewalls on 5 spoke road wheels…. very sharp. drove it for real in Ohio and Michgan winters to 115k niles… the rear springs were loose from the body mounts. The night before i sold it for 800 bux it still went 115…. the body was loose… ! Looks like I should have parked it in a farm field and waited til today to ask 24k….. Loved that car….
Maybe if the car was free and came with a mig welder and a Classic Industries catalog.
AND a $20,000 gift certificate from the same place!
I’ve seen worse! This same page has a BOSS 429 MACH 1 for the amazingly low price of just $595,000! A friend of mine sold his in 1980 for $1500 still in mint condition and was lucky to get that with the “oil embargo” and $1.79 fuel prices in Michigan and only getting around 9 mpg when not whooping it’s ass you couldn’t hardly give away the gas guzzlers!
A Boss 429 Mach 1= 2 cars.
Too bad it doesn’t look as nice as it’s trim tag. At this point in my life I’m way beyond the resto route. I’d just assume pay for something already done.
Ordinarily that would be called a parts car.
Take the 23.5 that you were gonna waste on this and put 20 with it and buy the blue one listed today….. or just buy a used current model one for less and put the money into 10% dividend stocks…