Vehicle Description
Here's how to win all the interesting awards at car shows. After all, when was the last time you saw a 1978 Dodge Challenger? And when was the last time you saw such a well-presented survivor from this era that has averaged less than 400 miles annually and is original right down to its sports stripe? Yup, this is one of the most fascinating coupes out there right now.
These second generation Challengers are not at all related to their predecessors. The high horsepower days on heavy metal coupes were gone, and this is a far more sprightly approach. But even if this is a Dodge with a very oriental accent, much of the original spirit can still be seen. That's the factory original paint you're looking at, and it has been so well preserved that the Spitfire Orange seems to carry a feeling of the High Impact color days (Go Mango anyone?) Plus, the pillarless hardtop roof and wraparound rear glass gives this is sporty profile. There are even a few hints borrowed from other places in the Mopar family like the slotted rear window covers from the Chargers and painted grille lines that gave 'Cudas such a cool appearance. We won't pretend this one is from the muscle car era, but it really aged into a nice sense of style. Best of all, this one has been so well preserved, you even still pick up on all the details. The bumpers have a mirror-like shine, the four-spoke wheels look like they have never seen a curb, and the full-length tri-color strip package has the perfect '70s tone.
Step inside to experience a time machine. The plaid inserts in the tan vinyl seats are worth the price of admission alone. The way the side panels coordinate so nicely with this is a design that could have only come from the '70s. And everyone gets to marvel at it in all its glory because there are zero signs of wear. This feature will easily be the hit of any survivor event. But more than just an intriguing and immaculate presentation, when you sit down, this coupe really tells a story of how the Japanese cars were evolving quickly. This captive import from Mitsubishi has a feeling of quality while offering plenty of great features for the era. It starts with a full panel reminiscent of the Rallye gauges available in the first-generation Challengers. Plus, the center console has extras like the factory AM/FM stereo, three-speed automatic transmission, and provisions for air conditioning.
Under the hood, this truly completes the survivor checklist with its original motor. The 1.6-liter powerplant has such a fantastically honest presentation that we're hard pressed to find any major component that has been replaced. Of course, we wouldn't blame you if you decided to add more miles to the ultra low odometer. After all, this has front disc brakes and the nimble handling characteristics that helped make these imports popular. Plus, the motor is a mainstay of the Mitsubishi lineup for decades. So parts availability is rather good even if Dodge never averaged more than 14,000 in annual sales for this generation.
Rare and interesting, you might never find another affordable survivor like this. It even comes with original docs like the owner's manual and even the tilt wheel operation tag. We know you're intrigued, so you might want to hurry before someone else takes home this time capsule. Call today!!!
