Vehicle Description
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.