For Sale: 1970 Dodge Challenger in Charlotte, North Carolina

SUMMARY

Professional, ground-up restoration completed in 2014 / Restored with many NOS components

Awarded Concours Gold at the 2014 Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals / 955 out of 1,000 points

Original 426 cubic inch Hemi V8

Original A727 TorqueFlite 3-speed automatic transmission

Correct Bright Blue Metallic paint / Correct R/T sport stripes / Correct Black top

Correct Black leather interior / Many factory options

Sale includes: Broadcast Sheet / Two Galen's Tag Service inspections / Galen's Registry paperwork

Correct 8.75-inch rear axle / Correct 15-inch Rallye wheels

Correct power steering / Correct power front disc and rear drum brakes

1 of only 59 1970 Challenger R/T SEs / 1 of only 4 1970 Challenger R/T SEs built for Canada

"Success is the sum of many small efforts" seems a very succinct quote to describe this world class Dodge. For starters, the car backs a spotless restoration with an original Hemi/3-speed drivetrain. Those top-notch mechanicals propel 1 of only 59 1970 Challengers, and 1 of only 4 Canadian-spec cars, fitted with both R/T and SE equipment groups. As expected, that pairing creates a rich list of options that culminates with things like power windows, a rare 8-track player and a 6-way driver's seat. Naturally, that provenance has been confirmed through an original Broadcast Sheet and two official Galen's Tag Service inspections. And in 2014, all that prestige was tempered with Concours Gold honors from the Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals. Striving to own one of the coolest blue chip MoPars on the planet? Here's the chance to achieve your goal!

HISTORY/APPEARANCE

According to the original Broadcast Sheet that's included with our sale, this Challenger was initially purchased as part of a fleet order in a 'not recommended' combination of black vinyl and white side stripes. While it's interesting that a Hemi car, equipped with rare options like deluxe seatbelts, power windows, a rear window defogger, power steering, power brakes and an 8-track player, would be included in a fleet order, we're guessing the company that submitted the order probably spec-d this beast for an executive. At any rate, by 1975, the coupe was sitting on a used car lot with 96,500 miles on its clock. That's when Ron Brewer of Ontario, Canada purchased the car as a fun daily driver. After about 2 years of miles and smiles, the Hemi began burning a bit of oil. So, Ron decided to set it aside and start planning a full restoration, which is where our vintage photos pick up. Ron had removed the front of the car, stored its engine indoors and purchased many fresh parts when, unfortunately, he was involved in a pretty serious motorcycle accident. The Challenger remained in disarray until December of 2013, when the present owner purchased the entire project and began a professional, ground-up restoration that culminated in a polished, world class appearance.

That reboot, featured in 'under construction' articles in the March, 2014 and January, 2015 issues of MoPar Collector's Guide, created a well-aligned profile that's finished in correct Bright Blue Metallic 2-stage, correct R/T sport stripes and a correct vinyl top. At the front of that fuselage, a 1970-exclusive grille hangs a brash "Challenger R/T" badge between pristine headlights, an SE-spec valance, amber parking lamps and an SE-spec bumper. Behind that grille, an R/T-spec hood, complete with correct "426 HEMI" emblems and bold "D O D G E" lettering, founds clean glass, complete with a correct SE backlight and colorful fratzog emblems, beneath SE-spec belt moldings. At the sides of that hood, sculpted doors hang flush-fit handles and an optional sport mirror between fresh rocker trim, ornate "Challenger" scripts, fresh marker lamps and a stylish 'pit stop' fuel filler. And at the back of the car, a stainless-trimmed SE valence centers body-width taillights and more "D O D G E" lettering between a second "Challenger R/T" badge, a second SE-spec bumper and correct, quad-outlet exhaust tips.

ENGINE

Toss this coupe's blistered hood and you'll find an original, 426 cubic inch Hemi V8 that hangs a familiar 2468330 casting number over a matching partial VIN. As Dodge's top option for power hungry gearheads, Chrysler's legendary elephant block utilized cast iron heads, an oversquare bore, a forged steel crank, forged steel rods, forged aluminum pistons and a hydraulic cam to twist stout 10.25 to 1 compression into a stated 425 horsepower and 490 lb./ft. of torque. All that high performance hardware spins in a glossy, Hemi Orange block that hangs attractive, Organisol-coated valve covers over correct, low-restriction exhaust manifolds. A perfect mixture of fuel and air is supplied by dual 4-barrel carburetors and a correct aluminum intake. Compression gets sparked by Chrysler Electronic Suppression cables, which are snapped onto a traditional points distributor. Charge comes courtesy of a proven MoPar red cap battery. Combustion is cooled by a big, 26-inch radiator that's fitted with pliable Chrysler hoses via old school squeeze clamps. Visually, the car's vivid engine bay is both clean and correct. And naturally, details like factory decals, a Chrysler voltage regulator, and a tagged and rebuilt brake booster have all been professionally restored or completely replicated.

DRIVETRAIN/SUSPENSION

By 1970, most street racers knew that an automatic transmission wasn't necessarily a performance handicap. And today, these proven gearboxes consistently pull down numbers that are just as fast, or faster, than the best row-it-yourself strip warriors. Behind this Challenger's big V8 you'll find an original A727 TorqueFlite that hangs a matching partial VIN opposite a correct assembly stamp. Naturally, that high performance drivetrain feeds a proven 8.75-inch rear end. That axle rolls on a factory-spec suspension that's fitted with lucid power steering. Exhaust travels through large-diameter pipes that center an H-shaped crossover in front of factory replacement mufflers and rear-mount resonators. Power-assisted disc and drum brakes provide the kind of quick and reliable stops that perfectly counter traditional, 15-inch Rallye wheels and requisite F60-15 Goodyear Polyglas GTs. And items like a new fuel tank and fresh shocks keep the car safe and road-ready.

INTERIOR

Grab a seat in this awesome coupe and you'll find a fresh Black interior that, in addition to sporting correct R/T and SE trim, is chock-full of desirable equipment. The first thing you'll notice is a pair of slick leather buckets, which feature optional 6-way adjustment for the car's driver. The second thing you'll notice is a wood-trimmed console, which founds a short Slap Stick shifter on clean, fade-free carpet. And the third thing you'll notice is a stylish, wood-trimmed dash, which frames correct Rallye instrumentation above an optional 8-track player. At the sides of the car, wood-trimmed door panels hang cool chrome handles and small lock tabs in front of optional power windows. At the top of the car, a tight headliner frames an SE-spec consolette. In front of the driver, a muted steering wheel mixes good form with great function. And at the back of the car, a lighted trunk sandwiches a correct jack and Space Saver spare tire between a fresh decal and correct mat.

PROVENANCE

In addition to an original Broadcast Sheet, our sale includes two Galen Govier inspections that decode this storied MoPar's fender tag as follows:

E74: 426 cubic inch Hem...for more information please contact the seller.