Vehicle Description
West Coast Classics are proud to present a rare and no expense
spared frame off restored example of this 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T
Hemi Convertible clone with a date correct crate 528c.i. 600+HP
8.6L V8 Hemi Mopar engine matched to an automatic #39;Torqueflite
#39; Hemi transmission with Posi rear end. This particular car was
born with a 318 V8 engine but now boasts a crate 528 Hemi V8 engine
with the date correct 2468330 casting number engine from 1964-71
and a 2881489 original 8 3/4 Mopar 489 Posi #39;Sure Grip #39; rear
end. The 426 RB block was introduced to power the big and heavy
Chrysler, Dodge and Plymouth intermediates and full size cars in
1964. This street Hemi engine was the ultimate big block after the
375HP 440 cid V8. Chrysler was heavily involved with racing at the
time and the Max Wedge engines were doing well on the drag strip
but they were not as competitive on the NASCAR circuits. The Wedge
just could not breathe as well as their competitors and Chrysler
knew that the reintroduced hemispherical combustion chamber
cylinder heads for use on the 426 cid RB blocks was the best design
for producing the most power. Rather than build a completely new
engine from the ground up Chrysler chose to fabricate hemi cylinder
heads and use them on their existing RB engine block. The result
was the 426 Hemi from which Chrysler built a great variety of
hemi-head engines starting in 1964-65.The drag race hemi engines
were different from the circle track engines with each using
different intake setups, internal components and with different
displacements. The drag engines were offered in 415 amp; 426 HP
versions whilst the circle track engine was rated at 400 HP with a
single 4BBL carburetor. Chrysler first used the engine in the most
prestigious NASCAR race of all - the Daytona 500. Hemi powered
Plymouths took the first 3 positions in the 1964 race and although
Ford won 30 races that year compared to Chrysler #39;s 26, it was
obvious that Ford #39;s 427 Wedge days were numbered which resulted
in Ford building its own hemi engine, the 427 SOHC.It should be
pointed out that the 426 Hemi and other engines used in sanctioned
racing were special, low production engines that were never really
intended for use on any street vehicle. Indeed the engines were
only produced for street cars after NASCAR ruled that if either
Chrysler or Ford wanted to race their complex and expensive
hemi-head engines then they would have to build a certain amount of
street cars with these motors and sell them first to the public.
Ford famously declined but Chrysler went ahead and so the legendary
426 street Hemi was born in 1966. Ford eventually did build its own
street hemi, the Boss 429, but not until 1969.This particular car
is the recipient of a full frame off restoration with no expense
spared and boasts a crate 528c.i. 610HP 8.6L V8 Hemi engine matched
to an automatic #39;Torqueflite #39; Hemi transmission and
Posi-traction rear end. The car looks very impressive with the
desirable #39;Shaker Hood #39; and in it #39;s striking #39;Blue
#39; color with a #39;White #39; interior and matching #39;White
#39; power soft top. The car was born as a 1970 Challenger
Convertible with a 318 V8 engine in #39;Bright Red #39; with High
Trim Grade with Bucket seats, full door panels, a #39;White #39;
top, #39;Light Package #39;; amp; the #39;Basic Group #39; which
includes Power steering, left remote mirror, AM #39;Music Master
#39; radio, 3 spd wipers; Center console with woodgrain, chrome
driver side adjustable racing mirror amp; Power convertible top.The
car now has a crate top-of-the-line 528c.i 610Hp 8.6L V8 Hemi
engine with the following specs:Heavy-duty Siamesed Bore Cast Iron
Block with cross-bolted mainsAluminum Cylinder HeadsBlack Cast
Aluminum Valve CoversBreathersStainless Steel 2.25 quot; Intake
Valves and 1.94 quot; Exhaust ValvesHeavy-Duty Single Valve
SpringsPremium Material Valve Stem Seals292 Hydraulic Camshaft -
0.524 quot;/0.543 quot; liftForged Pistons - 4.50 quot; bore,
10.25:1 compression ratioAluminum Dual Plane M1 4-bbl Intake
ManifoldForged Steel Crankshaft - 4.15 quot; strokePrecision Double
Roller Timing Chain and SprocketsChrome Front Cover6-quart Rear
Sump Oil Pan (1970-71 B- and E-body style)Spark Plug
WiresHigh-Performance Electronic Distributor The car has been
restored with great attention to detail as an original 1970
Challenger R/T Hemi Convertible with the crate 528 Hemi V8 engine
being ridiculously powerful and strong with few miles since the
build and with the functional shaker hood. This particular car
drives like a dream, the transmission shifts smooth and the engine
temperature always runs cool. This is one very rare and highly
desirable fully frame off restored example of one of the most
iconic, desirable and outstanding muscle cars of all time, the 1970
Dodge #39;Hemi Challenger #39; R/T Convertible which along with it
#39;s close cousin the 1970 Plymouth Barracuda #39;Hemi Cuda #39;
Convertible, have the highest repute amongst collectors for both
their beautiful lines and simplicity and unsurpassed high
performance at the pinnacle of their development in 1970/71 and
most especially their rarity!In 1968 the entire Chrysler B-body
lineup was redesigned and the Dodge Charger was further
differentiated from the Dodge Coronet models. A new
high-performance package was added, the R/T which stood for
#39;Road/Track #39; and which came standard with the previous year
#39;s 440 #39;Magnum #39; with the 426 Hemi optional. The Chrysler
Corporation began an ad campaign featuring a cartoon bee with an
engine on its back promoting models called the quot;Scat Pack
quot;. The Coronet R/T, Super Bee, Dart GTS, and Charger R/T
received bumble-bee stripes (of two thin stripes framing two thick
ones). The 1968-70 Dodge Charger was, and still is, a styling
sensation when introduced in 1968. The R/T was the extreme sporting
model identified by it #39;s designated XS29 VIN and #39;Scat Pack
#39; bumbleebee striped tail and was comprehensively equipped for
grand touring American style including the competition style gas
filler gap. The Hemi version cost $604.75 in 1968 dollars which
might explain why only 475 such cars were ever sold with only 211
boasting the 4 speed manual transmission (which was a no cost
option!). With these cars Detroit achieved a rare combination of
classic lines, outstanding performance, and better than average
quality control. Unfortunately styling along with performance
deteriorated after 1970 and although the name continued through the
#39;70 #39;s it was never to achieve the cult status and
collectible desirability of this 1968-70 generation.The Dodge
Challenger coupe debuted in 1970 as a near cousin to Plymouth #39;s
third generation Barracuda apart from outer body panels and a 2
quot; longer wheelbase. Too late to do Dodge much good in a
declining pony car market with a rapid sale decline in the this
very first year leaving some now very rare and collectible low
volume R/T and even sportier T/A offshoots built in 1970 only and
created for SCCA Trans Am racing and roughly equivalent to the AAR
#39;All American Racing Team #39; of Dan Gurney #39;Cuda. Even
rarer and more exclusive and now extremely collectible was the
Dodge Challenger Convertible which when it came along with it #39;s
close cousin the #39;Cuda could eventually claim to have the
highest of collector status when in it #39;s ultimate incarnation
and optioned with the Hemi engine! Only 3,173 1970 Dodge Challenger
Convertibles were ever built of which this R/T Replica is one, with
only 1,070 actual R/T Convertibles actually built and with only 9
actual factory R/T Hemi #39;s built which today, at the peak of the
market, could expect to bring well over $1...for more information
please contact the seller.
