“Win on Sunday, sell on Monday.” That was once the mantra adopted by many vehicle manufacturers as they clamored for motorsport success. However, the move towards a growing number of control components across various sedan-based categories has made that approach less relevant. This belief was strongest in the late 1960s and early 1970s, spawning cars like this 1970 Dodge Challenger T/A as a homologation model for the highly competitive Trans Am Series. This Challenger is a largely original survivor that presents well as a driver-grade classic. It will draw attention wherever it goes, and with so little required to achieve perfect presentation, it would leave its new owner to choose between preservation and restoration. The T/A is listed here on eBay in Stanwood, Michigan. Bidding currently sits below the reserve at $55,300.
Some paint shades find favor when a vehicle is shiny and new, becoming less desirable with time. One color that has avoided that fate is Plum Crazy. It was popular in 1970, and any car from that era wearing that hue will draw attention today, like moths to a flame. The first owner selected that color, with the seller believing that what we see on the Challenger today is largely original. They admit it isn’t perfect, and there is evidence of some prior touch-up work. However, this classic still presents well if potential buyers seek a high-end driver. The photos indicate that this car retains its T/A-specific items like the fiberglass hood, spoilers, stripes, and exhaust outlets in front of the back wheels. The original Window Sticker confirms the first owner chose the rear window louver as a factory-fitted item. The panels are straight, and the only potential issue requiring attention is an area with a couple of minor bubbles just forward of the rear wheels. The trunk pan shows evidence of repairs and fresher paint, but the remaining steel is original and rock-solid. The glass is excellent, the bumpers are new, and the Challenger rolls on its original and spotless 15″ Rallye wheels. The seller includes this YouTube video. It provides a detailed walkaround, offering a clear view of every aspect of this beauty.
Lifting the Challenger’s hood brings us face-to-face with a numbers-matching 340ci V8. The T/A received the Six-Pack induction system, allowing this motor to produce 290hp and 345 ft/lbs of torque. Dodge made 2,399 examples of the Challenger T/A, with 1,410 buyers selecting the three-speed TorqueFlite transmission. Power front disc brakes were integral to the package, but the Window Sticker and Broadcast Sheet confirm the first owner added a 3.55 rear end and power steering. Performance figures are all you might expect, with this car capable of covering the ¼-mile in 14.8 seconds. Interestingly, the manual version was only marginally faster, with an ET of 14.7 seconds. The listing shows an odometer reading of 36,125 miles. Whether that figure is genuine is unknown, but the seller includes a complete ownership history. That might allow the winning bidder to undertake some detective work to uncover the truth. Otherwise, this classic runs and drives well, with the engine feeling strong. Potential buyers should consider it a turnkey proposition.
Summing up this Challenger’s interior condition is pretty straightforward. It is spotless. The seller confirms it received a retrim in its correct Black vinyl, and the presentation is hard to fault. The speaker grille in the dashtop might be slightly warped, and the wheel rim exhibits wear. Otherwise, the remaining items almost appear factory fresh. I can spot an aftermarket gauge mounted under the dash near the driver’s right knee, but that is the only visible addition. The original owner ordered this classic with a console, the “Slapstick” shifter, and an AM radio. This Challenger retains those items, and everything works as it should.
This 1970 Dodge Challenger T/A hails from a genuinely great period in automotive history. Fuel was cheap, and manufacturers were deeply committed to motorsport competition and success. It is unlikely to be repeated, meaning we will never again see homologation specials. This car has attracted twenty-four bids, and I’m surprised the total isn’t higher. However, the time remaining on the listing means there is scope for the tally to rise. I expect the price to top $60,000 comfortably, but by how much is pure speculation. What do you think the sale price will be?
Nice car, hideous color. On the track, this would have been a four speed and a 305(?).
Yeah, the track cars had special 340s de-stroked to 305ci. The production T/As, like this one, shared some of the race car hardware, but with the 340 displacement.
Come on man, a 305 in a Mopar? just stop
305 was max cubic inch for trans am racing. And single 4bbl.
One of the most sought after colors, Plum Crazy Purple!
As Clint Eastwood said in Gran Torino—“ain’t she sweet”?
Same here,
“Automatic?”
“Man, what a waste of machinery”
Its a crying shame indeed Frank.
I’d attach that Torq-flite to a 3.91 anti-slip ⚙️ and blast off 🚀
I had a ’70 –340 Swinger 4 bbl/standard . Believe me—all you need is a 3:55 to 1 axle with limited slip & race slicks for racing–slicks even needed for street racing
4 speed and 426 hemi
At last year’s pure stock drags there were three 340s that outran the slowest hemi. The only smallblock in the top 20 was a 340 which finished 8th. Huge bang for the buck in a 340.
One of the best colors ever on a Mopar! For the aging buyer population, the auto is perfect. Probably a god investment, there will never be a lot of these out there. I’d guess mid $70’s as a number, far out of my league..
This is a #2 car that really needs some details corrected. Wrong bolts in carbs, wrong finishes in other places, spray paint apparently on parts of undercarriage, inside trunk is not body and shows rust, etc etc. Could be brought up a notch for not much money if the body isn’t all bondo but the big$ for these is in really correct cars. Agree $70K likely top.
They said it was a driver. Unless you want to bring it to shows and spend $50 for a $10 trophy, just drive the thing. Some guys don’t care if a bolt is wrong BUT you shouldn’t be paying for a show car when it isn’t.
What made these motors hot, they aren’t just 340’s with a six pack, they are forged cranks rods, X- heads with adjustable rockers, cam and highrise ram style manifold. Rated at 290 hp, really 340-345 hp. And 6,500-6,700 red lines.
Keeping the the carbs in sync and timing right they were a great motor. But, I’d take a 70.5 Z/28 LT1 M22 12 bolt over this car any day
I think anybody in their right mind would take the Z28 with the 302. It would turn about 7500 RPM’s. But it was not a street friendly motor. Turning less than 4000 RPM’s was a problem. But it was really a race engine.
Love the color and the louvers. Pistol grip would have been nice but it’s still a cool car.
Love the look of Challengers in person. For some reason in person they just look lower and wider more so than in pics. In T/A form the rear of the car is a bit higher than the non-T/A cars and just adds to the cool stance.
I owned a ’70 AAR ‘Cuda (a Plymouth version of the same car as this Challenger with the same drivetrains and many of the little nuances). I chose an automatic because I preferred the Torquflite rather than the Chrysler 4-speed. I think the 3:55 rear was standard gearing with the automatic with a 3:91 option. The TF was really nice combo in this car and my preference over the Mopar 4-speed with this setup. I’m not sure that the TF wasn’t often quicker than the 4-speed but that all depended on other things.
I also owned two Z-28s (also bought new…), a ’69 4-speed and a ’70 automatic …and a ’68 Road Runner 4-speed 383. Each of the three pony cars had its own personality and was great in its own way. The RR was of course a very different car only mentioned because of my preference (then) for a TF.
Despite the Plum Crazy which was a hot color, IMO this car is worth owning for someone seeking some small block sorta super pony car fun.
I meant to add that this Challenger looks like it may not have the smaller front wheel/tire combo (GT E60 x 15 in. (Front); G60 x 15 in. (Rear) ) that was stock on the AAR and this model. Can’t tell from the pictures. For what it’s worth…
The Federal government wants to control every aspect of our lives yet they allow people to be raped by uncontrollable muscle car prices. Hard to believe that there was a time when these same cars couldn’t even be given away!