Vehicle Description
By 1973, the muscle car era was all but over, but someone forgot to
give the news to the guys over at Dodge. Standing as a low
production year for the E-body Challenger, this cool Sublime Green
hardtop sports a strong 318 under the hood and a classic Mopar
muscle look. If you wanted a new car with true performance DNA
running through its veins, the Dodge Challenger was one of the best
choices in 1973.
This cool Challenger was originally Bright Blue Metallic, which was
pretty subdued for the 1970s, but we like the Sublime Green better,
especially when it's this beautifully done. The Chrysler E-bodies
seem to look best in high-visibility colors, which emphasize their
classic long nose and short deck proportions, and when you hear
this one run, the only possible color it could wear is that
trademark bright green. The later Challengers received cool details
like a performance hood with ram-air type scoops, black vinyl
stripes, and a matching black tail panel with large rectangular
taillights, tying them to the past but giving them a look all their
own. Up front there's a revised grille with turned-down corners
that ties it together with a secondary grille beneath the bumper.
The chrome appears to be new and is extremely nice with no dings or
dents in either of the bumpers, and the stainless trim running the
length of the body is excellent. Man, what a nice Mopar!
Inside, the black vinyl bucket seat interior appears to be largely
new stuff and it's in great shape showing almost no wear. Obviously
things like the seat covers, door panels, and carpets are newer,
and the woodgrained applique on the console is still bright and
clear. A full array of gauges temperature, voltage, oil pressure,
and fuel level, and they're all in crisp and bright shape, ready to
provide the driver with the engine's vitals. The center console is
a bit of a mismatch but serves the right purpose, and the
Challenger is currently with a radio, so the open factory slot
could stand a modern upgrade. The trunk is very spacious, and the
entire trunk compartment has been finished with abrasion-resistant
gray paint so it'll always be tough and resilient.
With a powerful 318 cubic inch V8 augmented with 340 heads under
the hood, this car is quite entertaining to drive. Finished to
stock specs, this one looks highly correct and doesn't show many of
the more common aftermarket additions, aside from an Edelbrock
intake and Holley 4-barrel carburetor. From the air cleaner to the
oil pan, it just looks right, and the block has been bathed in
correct Hemi Orange that looks quite fresh. Sublime Green paint
covers the inner fenders and firewall, becoming a great canvas for
the engine itself. Underneath, it's pretty original, so it's not
detailed for show, but that newer longtube header-fed custom dual
exhaust system sounds amazing and a 3-speed automatic transmission
and 8.75-inch rear make for a durable powertrain combination. Power
steering allow for easy navigation and power front disc brakes
bring the Mopar to an abrupt stop on command. Wheels are flashy
chrome Ridler five-spokes wearing staggered 225/50/17 front and
275/40/17 rear BFGoodrich blackwall radials to complete the '70s
performance look.
Handsome, fast, and stylish, this Challenger is an excellent
opportunity to pick up a restored car with all the looks of some of
the most valuable muscle cars of all time, but for a fraction of
the price. With a potent small block under the hood, it's plenty
fast, too. Give us a call today!