Disclosure: This site may receive compensation when you click on some links and make purchases.

Slant Six Survivor: 1970 Dodge Challenger

As a lover of all things MoPar, all I can say is wow! At first glance this may look like your average 1970 Challenger, and in 1970 it was. By today’s standards, this Challenger is something of an anomaly. In all original condition, this car is being sold by the second owner. The only things not original to this car besides wear items are the R/T badges, and it has been repainted once. The seller states “it has been left alone, just driven, has not been cut wires, chopped up or body panels patched in.” Find it here on eBay in Florida with an asking price of $32,000.

Under the hood lies the mighty Slant Six, so often pulled in lieu of more power. Most people who have owned a Slant Six equipped vehicle will tell you that although it is not loaded with power, it will keep on keeping on for what seems like forever, provided you maintain it. This Challenger has 83,500 miles on it and since the seller purchased it from the 92-year-old original owner, this is not a dubious claim. While it looks like the engine may have been freshened up cosmetically at some point, everything looks to be in place and correct if not all original to this car. Even the A/C still works, and blows cold! A rebuilt compressor and power steering box are included with the sale.

I have seen a lot of restored E-bodies, and I love all of them for what they are. However, original cars just tend to have a different feel to them and this Challenger definitely has it! The fitment of everything is the way it should be, and all of the interior materials look to be in excellent condition. This car has clearly seen gentle use and been cared for all of its life. The original radio is still in place! No cut dashes here. The only thing I would change is the floor mats, otherwise, I’m sold!

Although this car has been repainted once, and had R/T emblems added (with glue, so they can be removed), it is just about as original as a car of this vintage that has been enjoyed can be. Though I question whether the Magnum 500 wheels were added or opted for originally, this could be a great daily driver for someone with the Slant Six under the hood. The seller also offers a date correct 440/727 combo for an additional $2,000 as well as an A833 with a pistol grip shifter for another additional $2,000. Would you keep the Slant Six and drive it as it is? Or use it as a solid starting point for a flashier, speedier build?

Comments

  1. Avatar GP Member

    I love the 70 challenger, and this is really nice, but with a six and auto for 32,000.00 I’ll take a new one.

    Like 2
    • Avatar Magnus Bloodhammer

      I agree. $32,000?? Bwaaahahaha!

      Like 1
  2. Avatar jw454

    I think the seller is a bit high on the price. I think he’s hoping to interest a buyer into the car and the V8 drive train. If it were mine, I’d keep the slant six.

    Like 1
    • Avatar LAB3

      Agreed, at $32k the seller does appear to be high.

      Like 0
  3. Avatar Sam

    Very nice survivor. I would drive as is as it’s only original once. The price seems strong, maybe $25 for the whole package.

    Attached is a new one that’s been pimped out. The turning radius is probably 60 feet with those wheels.

    Like 0
    • Avatar Den

      Look at the wheels and tires,..OMG, speechless !!

      Like 0
    • Avatar cudaman

      I want to throw up!!!!!

      Like 0
    • Avatar Old Car Guy

      Can anybody say ugly?

      Like 0
    • Avatar Magnus Bloodhammer

      Oh boy! I’m living my childhood Hot Wheels Fantasy!

      Like 0
  4. Avatar Fred W.

    Definitely would not want to mess with it. Would be a hit at car shows for sure.

    Like 0
  5. Avatar Rich Truesdell

    Keep it as it is and drive it. Being a survivor with that drive train, it’s as rare as some big-block 426 and 440 cars.

    Like 1
  6. HoA Howard A Member

    Now wait a minute, this car ( as equipped for the time) doesn’t make a lick of sense. Nobody, but NOBODY( especially after seeing Vanishing Point) drove a ’70 Challenger with a slant 6. ( although, apparently, someone did) Anybody that ordered one of these in 1970 had one thing on their mind, 2 strips of rubber for a block and then some. I bet the assembly line workers got quite a chuckle out of this car.( coming down the line,,440, 440, Hemi, 383, 440, 6 CYLINDER???) Now, fast forward 40 years, this is exactly what I’d want today in a 1970’s renowned muscle car. Dynamite looks, and a freakin’ 6 cylinder. $32g’s, Aye Yi Yi, poof, there goes my chance for a ’70 Challenger with a 6 popper.

    Like 1
    • Avatar Superdessucke

      Yeah. It does make sense. The modern media and movie industry have brainwashed us into thinking that every car on the road back then was a 440 6-Pack, LS6 454, or 428 SCJ. Burning up the rubber while blaring the Zombies’ “Time of the Season” on the radio.

      Truth was that day to day life in the 1960s was much more mundane. The vast majority of Challengers, Camaros and Mustangs had the base V-8 or even the standard 6 cylinder, and were used for regular things like going to the grocery store, driving to and from work, and dropping kids off at school.

      Like 0
      • Avatar billy

        Yup, that’s the way it was alright. These kids today just have the wrong idea about those times. I could barely afford to insure a 318, a big block would have been undo able unless I was a thief or had a rich understanding Daddy. Truth be told, the standard engines were a much better package. Lighter in the front end, so handled better. Better millage, better running and reliability,. Thats why they were “standard” If the performance engines were all of these things, they would have been standard. By the late 70s, when many of us had a little extra spending money, the muscle cars (called super cars then) were in the back of the lots, could hardly give them away. Many were bought to goof off with and ruined. Sure wish I had known. This is a great car. I once drove a 225 3 speed Challenger . That was pretty awesome. Had a 323 rear end, very nice. Wish Chrysler would have offered a four speed with the slanty, might have been a great deal. You could get a four speed with a 318, that engine was probably a better choice. Pretty much the same mileage and 85 more ponies under the hood. Why anyone would want more then that to this day still puzzles me.

        Like 0
      • Avatar Superdessucke

        Insurance companies really started to crack down on muscle cars towards the later 1960s. It got to the point where a young person really couldn’t insure one anymore, and that’s mostly who was buying them. That’s why you saw those smaller displacement “Jr. Muscle Cars” like the Tempest GT-37, Chevelle SS 350, Olds Rallye 350, Mustang Mach I, and others.

        If you study muscle car sales figures, you will see a decline for most models after 1968, and a sharp drop into the abyss after 1970. Insurance was largely why. There were also cultural pressures against driving big loud gas-guzzling striped masculine cars by then too.

        After the first oil embargo, muscle cars were virtually unsellable. It would have been a great time to be a car guy between 1974 and 1982, LOL! You could get muscle cars for peanuts. As you point out, many did get trashed as a result.

        After that, Reaganomics kicked in and Baby Boomer started to earn real money. That’s when prices took off. Saving for a couple of mild downturns, it’s been up, up, up ever since. And all of the hype surrounding that has clouded actual reality for people who didn’t live through the era. And some who did, LOL! It’ll be interesting to see if muscle cars continue to remain this desirable as the Boomers die off.

        Like 0
      • HoA Howard A Member

        I remember, a time, you couldn’t give a muscle car away. This was dated 1976. Check out 2nd from the bottom.
        https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/46/4c/9f/464c9fc8ee124f1939250cdca2a61481–car-man-cave-car-dealerships.jpg

        Like 0
      • Avatar Jay E.

        It is easy to forget how difficult it was to come up with $1750.00 for a car back then, when wages were $1.60 an hour! Plus credit was really hard to come up with.

        Like 0
      • Avatar Superdessucke

        Adjusting to 2017 dollars, that dealer was asking $8,600 for a 1969 Mach 1 with a 428 (CJ?) and a 4-speed. $7,300 for the ’70 Challenger with the unidentified motor. $9,400 for a ’70 GS 455 with wheels (I hope the other two had wheels also). And I love the way a ’72 Maverick Grabber was more expensive than any of these three, LOL!!!

        Yeah. It was a different time. And because this is a car dealer, I expect these prices were quite inflated. If you threw $7k at them in today’s money, you’d have probably driven off in the Mustang.

        Like 0
      • Avatar Magnus Bloodhammer

        “Time of the Season”?? *snicker* You must have been driving an old Lancer or rusted out Bug. =D

        Like 0
    • Avatar JoeNYWF64

      I don’t think you’d EVER want 1 of the cars below, especially if you got steep mountains to drive up in your area.
      Or if you live in Germany & want to try 1 of these out on the autobahn. lol —>
      If a 6 cyl ’70 chally got a chuckle on the assemblyline, imagine the reaction to ….
      https://www.curbsideclassic.com/curbside-classics-american/curbside-classic-1968-dodge-charger-six-rarer-than-a-hemi-charger/
      &
      http://moparblog.com/slant-six-1969-plymouth-fury-iii-on-craigslist/
      or a FULL size chevy or ford with a straight 6.

      Like 0
  7. Avatar ulm210

    The popularity of “survivor’s” has people thinking every barn find is their retirement fund…

    Like 0
  8. Avatar JJ

    Hi teens, low 20s for that car with a 6 – still beautiful tho!

    Like 0
  9. Avatar Todd Fitch Staff

    If this car was a dented roller it would be the perfect candidate to become a late-model hemi-powered Pro-Touring beast. However, in such complete condition, I cannot endorse that. Whoever added the R/T badges should be… well you know. I knew a dirt track racer who ordered all the IROC bits (ridiculously expensive factory wheels and everything) for his new V6 Camaro in the ’90s. He said he knew he would “get in trouble” with the IROC motor and just wanted a V6 IROC. So that’s one way this happens.

    Like 0
  10. Avatar Dean

    Sheeper

    Like 0
    • Avatar whippeteer

      Definitely a Sheep in Wolf’s clothing.

      Like 0
  11. Avatar David

    The Slant Six was like a tractor motor, alot of power in the low end. If you put a plow on the front end, great for clearing the drive-way come winter! Ha

    Like 0
    • Avatar Leon

      When the valves were out of adjustment motor kinda sounded like a diesel

      Like 0
      • Avatar Rabbit

        Nah. More like a sewing machine. I loved all my 225’s, & I’d certainly leave this one alone. Way high on the price, tho. Somebody’ll do exactly what the seller suggests & ruin it with a V8.

        Like 0
    • Avatar Superdessucke

      The Slant 6 was the same motor in the Valiant that the mystery truck terrorized in the film “Duel.” It was very very slow. The 318 was a big step up in performance and didn’t cost much more. I do not have the production numbers but I highly doubt that very many of these were made with the six. I bet 75% or more had the 318.

      Like 0
      • Avatar billy

        I would have swore one shot in the film showed V8 badges on it, was there more than one car used for production? A friend recalls an under the hood shot with a slant six. Hmmmm??? Either way, that film was dumb. Even with a slant six, he could have out run and out handled (for sure) that stupid truck.

        Like 0
      • Avatar Dean

        Duel..that goes back a ways. I remember reading the short story in Playboy my junior year….1971 :|

        Like 0
      • Avatar billy

        Hey Dean, Playboy was pretty hard to come by when we were 16, good for you! Another thing the kiddos today take for granted, how easy it is for them to see things they are not supposed to see. Of course, I am sure you only read that mag for the articles, just like me. AND, Hugh did toss in a few items about cars too, so my comment here is now fully acceptable for this site!

        Like 0
      • Avatar Old Car Guy

        I had both a ’65 Dodge Coronet 318-auto(3,150lbs) and a ’67 Dodge Dart slant 6-auto(3,000lbs). No power anything on both. The ’67 Dart wasn’t that much smaller or lighter than the ’65 Coronet. The slant six didn’t give much away to the 318 in performance. Both cars were in similar condition and about the same mileage. Now a 1970 slant six with ps and air in a heavy body(3,900lbs), I can see a real difference in performance vs a V8.

        Like 0
      • Avatar Troy S.

        I love that movie! That truck was nasty looking!

        Like 0
      • Avatar billy

        Old Car Guy, Seems to me, a 70 with a 6 was under 3200# and about a hundred more with a 318. Maybe the big blocks weighed a lot more, but not the standard engines. Now, the Challenger body, though based on the rear half of the light weight Valiant was itself about a hundred pounds more then a Dart, due to the beefy front end for placement of the big blocks if wanted, so better performance if you went with a Duster of Dart. Of course 100# is really not too much of a sacrifice to get that sexy body. Isn’t that so, Michael?

        Like 0
  12. Avatar Superdessucke

    32 beans seems like a lot to pay for a plain jane low-option 6-cylinder. I owned a Go Mango Orange ’70 with the 318 2bbl and white vinyl roof back in the mid-1980s. I paid 400 bucks for it. It was a bit rusty and I recall thinking it was nothing special. It wasn’t particularly fast or fun to drive. I sold it for about what I paid for it not too long after I bought it.

    I guess this one reflects the Mopar Madness that has developed since then. I wouldn’t buy it – I’d pay a few bucks more for a Golf R or a Civic Type-R – but it’ll be interesting to see if this sells in this price range.

    Like 0
    • Avatar billy

      Yes, as much as I love this car bringing back memories of my youth, a new performance car would be a much better buy all around.

      Like 0
  13. Avatar John H from CT

    Agree with previous comments. At this price and condition it should have a 318. IMO overpriced.

    Like 0
  14. Avatar whippeteer

    There are lots of go fast goodies that were and are available for the /6. Start there and surprise people!

    Like 0
    • Avatar billy

      The only real improvement for a 225 is a 2 barrel carb. 10-20 HP depending on how much you free up the exhaust. You can do all sorts of other things, but then it takes away the allure of the great slant six. That would be a nice improvement here is with that old time air compressor, you need that much extra HP to make up the difference when it kicks in. My old 318 used to bog down when I ran mine in my 1970 Plymouth Satellite, so a 225 would really labor under the strain. I sure wouldn’t run the air around town with it, maybe just on the highway.

      Like 0
  15. Avatar flmikey

    The BIN price has been lowered to 30K…I agree with JJ that this car will bring 20K…and did anyone else notice the heater core has been bypassed? Very nice find, guys….

    Like 0
    • HoA Howard A Member

      Hi flmikey, I did. Classic heater core repair. The green Charger had the same thing. THAT wouldn’t fly in the Badger.

      Like 0
  16. Avatar Boss351

    IMO way to much for a low option six cylinder car, even if it is the can’t kill slant six that was one of the best power plants designed by Chrysler.

    Like 0
  17. Avatar BRAKTRCR

    Outstanding engine!! Beautiful car!!! The problem is, they just don’t belong together. Kinda like a 6 banger Chevelle. I think I can accept a 60’s Mustang with a 6, but not this car. It needs the 440/727.
    Yep, I saw Vanishing point… in the Drive-in. Trying hard not to say, “Those were the da…. Oh nevermind.

    Like 0
  18. Avatar Leon

    Everybody scrapping the slant for big blocks. Someday the original slant 6s will become valuable originals. Does any mfr make an inline 6 anymore ?? Besides cummins diesel of course

    Like 0
    • Avatar Derek

      BMW make very nice straight sixes.

      Like 0
    • Avatar billy

      Don’t think so. Price is very subjective and emotion plays a big part of that price, just like today’s stock market,it is quite irrational. The six was a great engine, but unless you owned one and have fond memories, it will never rev up your adrenaline like a potent V8, hence, the smaller price.

      Like 0
  19. Avatar 86 Vette Convertible

    Beautiful just as it sits. A little high in price IMO but still beautiful. If I was going to mess with it, I’d see if it was possible to set it up like an AAR Cuda mechanically. I would save everything and only do it if it was possible to return it to original configuration someday and only if you butchered absolutely nothing to accomplish it. I have to admit though, with one this original it would be really hard to turn that first wrench in a changeout of the drive train. As was stated, it’s only original once, better to find a shell and build it up than tinker with this one IMO.

    Like 0
  20. Avatar Dogfather

    $32000? I will buy a used SRT8 for that instead. The seller should leave the 70 original and sell it for a fair price,half of the current asking price

    Like 0
  21. Avatar Dan

    If the original owner is now 92 that means when he bought this he was 45….guess is hot rodding days were over….but them ole slant 6’s ran very well…..or the ole lady wouldn’t let him buy a 440 car….I was only married once and to a great gal, but she would NEVER have dictated to me what I bought…..she put up with big block chevelles, camaros, Z-28’s and a few fast Mopars..corvettes…….good woman…..shoulda kept her…..LOL…

    Like 0
    • Avatar billy

      Maybe she left you because your hobby left her bankrupt. I can’t help but thinking that if you had settled down with a Yugo, you would still be happily married, just like me.

      Like 0
  22. Avatar Bruce Fischer

    The price is way too high. My old boss had one with a 6 banger in it and would let me drive it .She had a lot pep for a slant six. I would keep it that way. Bruce.

    Like 0
  23. Avatar Rustytech Member

    Nice car, and nice drivetrain for a driver with today’s gas prices. This price is CRAZY! For that price the V8 drive train should be included, and installed! Personally I’d want it just the way it sits. P/s minus the RT badges, don’t want to get embarrassed the first time There’s a Camaro or Mustang in the next lane!

    Like 0
  24. Avatar KevinR

    Agree with the crowd on this being priced too high.

    If it was mine, I would remove the R/T badges immediately and look into swapping the wheels to some steelies (maybe police steelies) with dog dish hubcaps. The Slant Six would definitely stay in place.

    My Dad’s ’69 Coronet hard top also had a Slant Six in it, so I guess I’m inclined that way. I went to high school with people who had 6 cylinder Camaros, Firebirds and Mustangs too.

    Like 0
  25. Avatar 3457fl

    I’m sorry but for 30 K would you not take all the crap off the floorboards and take some nice shots?

    Like 0
  26. Avatar Joe M

    I think the 6 should be left where it is. This seems like a rare survivor to me. It may not have survived in this condition if was an 8. Leave this one alone, it’s a time capsule. The price seems a little optimistic to me though.

    Like 0
  27. Avatar lawrence

    Howard….take a break….

    Like 0
    • HoA Howard A Member

      lawrence,,,knock it off,,, I’m a member and I’m here to stay. If you have something to say regarding the featured vehicles, we’d love to hear it, but there’s no place here for personal attacks. I believe that was one of the rules.

      Like 0
      • Avatar billy

        Excuse me, but what did Howard sy wrong? Howie, I liked your ad you placed.

        Like 0
  28. Avatar Chebby

    Neat specimen, but a stupid price for a great-grandma Mopar.

    I drove a 1970 Dart once and without the emissions burden the six was pretty lively. The way I’d go with this is keep the six but add the Hyper Pak 4-bbl manifold and headers, and a turbo or supercharger. Sleeper indeed!

    http://www.slantsix.org/articles/turbo-article/turbo-article.htm

    Like 0
  29. Avatar Jubjub

    As much as I love an RT or TA Challenger, they are so classy without the stripes, scoops and spoilers. A testament to great design.
    I don’t mind the Magnum 500s. I noticed the fender turn signals too. Wonder if they were added or just odd original equipment.

    And as great and practical as they are, a late model Challenger simply lacks the once in a lifetime, uncompromised, million dollar looks of these originals.

    Like 0
  30. Avatar Dick

    From the owner; 1970 Challenger nice unrestored NOT a barn find it was garage kept clean. I thought this was a Barn Find Site?

    Like 0
  31. Avatar Troy S.

    I think the 340 was the smart choice for performance, plenty of zip and a more balanced weight distrubution then say a 440 or 426 hemi. I get WHY people ordered the boring 6 cylender, but I wonder how many of those people really wished they could get one of stronger V8’s. I guess everybody is entitled to think what is interesting.

    Like 0
    • Avatar billy

      I feel the 318 really was the sweet spot, though many a lad fooled his insurance agent with a 340, and also embarrassed many a big block Ford and Chevy too. Trouble with the 340 was ya needed premium gas and it went through a lot of it too. I drove a few 340 Dusters back in the day and I found them to be too much fun to stay out of trouble, glad I never bought one. You are right about the handling, no comparison, big blocks are for the drag races, small blocks rule the road. (same for the great slant six!)

      Like 0

Leave a Reply to Howard A Cancel reply

RULES: No profanity, politics, or personal attacks.

Become a member to add images to your comments.

*

Get new comment updates via email. Or subscribe without commenting.