Original 383: 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T Convertible
Better late than never. That saying could easily have been coined for the 1970 Dodge Challenger. It represented the company’s entry into the pony car market, although its appearance on showroom floors in late 1969 came years after Ford set the segment benchmark with its Mustang range. However, the wait was worthwhile, especially for those ordering cars like this ’70 Challenger R/T Convertible. Combining a perfect blend of stunning looks and exceptional performance, they have developed into some of the most desirable Mopar classics in the modern market. This Challenger doesn’t merely look good, because its numbers-matching drivetrain gives it performance to match. I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Mitchell G. for spotting a Dodge that you might be crazy to, er, dodge!
I have always liked the styling of the First Generation Challenger and its Plymouth Barracuda cousin. Chrysler produced what I believe to be one of the most attractive vehicle ranges with these E-Body classics, giving the cars a muscular stance that promises to deliver exceptional performance. The seller has been this Convertible’s custodian for over twenty years, and the sparkling Bright Red paint and lack of rust support their claim that it has always been garage-kept. The panels are laser-straight, and some readers will have spotted the Shaker hood. This is a later addition, but the seller supplies the original for those wishing to recapture this Challenger’s “factory” appearance. The Black soft-top fits as tight as a drum, and the Rallye wheels look excellent. With no visible glass or trim issues, this Convertible appears to be off on the right foot. The news only seems to get better from there.
Dodge offered the 383ci V8 as its entry-level engine in the Challenger R/T. However, it represented a very respectable starting point for those seeking a muscle car. It generates 335hp and 425 ft/lbs of torque, with this car feeding those ponies to the road via a three-speed TorqueFlite transmission. This may have been the most sedate variant within the R/T range, but it is hard not to be impressed with its ability to lay down a 14.7-second ¼-mile ET. Not only is this 1-of-692 R/T Convertibles produced in 1970 with the 383, but purists will welcome the news that it is numbers-matching. That probably isn’t as significant for those seeking a driver-grade classic as it is for those considering the long-term investment potential, but most readers will agree that it is welcome news. Frustratingly, the seller supplies no information on how this R/T runs or drives, but it would be fair to expect positive news for any car within this one’s price range.
Assessing this Challenger’s interior condition is virtually impossible. The only supplied shot is best viewed through binoculars, although a few things are obvious. This car features Black vinyl trim, bucket seats, and a console. There is no air conditioning, but it appears there are speakers cut into the door trims. That suggests there is an aftermarket stereo, although it is unclear whether there are any further additions beyond the fuzzy dice. The seller describes the interior as beautiful, which I interpret to mean that it presents as superbly as the exterior.
Dodge produced 18,512 examples of the Challenger R/T in 1970, but only 936 buyers selected the Convertible. That makes this a relatively rare vehicle in a “big picture” sense, which will appeal to many enthusiasts. The seller has listed the Challenger here on Craigslist in Providence, Rhode Island. Their price of $95,000 isn’t pocket change for most people, but there will inevitably be enthusiasts willing to throw caution to the wind to own the classic of their dreams. If you harbor those dreams, are you finding this Challenger irresistible? I will understand fully if you do.
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Comments
Mopar convertible w 383 and Torq-flite. Follow the sunshine to the nearest highway ☀️ 🛣 😎
The big blue oval!
I’m a sucker for E-bodies with the shaker hood, but the go-wing will always look tacked on, no matter what.
At least it appears to be the correctly styled Go Wing, unlike the aftermarket ones that are usually added on..
Beautiful car.
💯 Tim, rather see a luggage 🧳 rack on the trunk, or nothing at all.
Good luck getting 95k! Seller needs to find one of those Barrett Jackson millionaires for that selling price. Nice Mopar though…..
Talking with an old friend last Sunday. He offered to trade me a nice but, rough 70′ R/T Convert. red with black stripe 383 auto no shaker/wing. For my 69′ Red GTO 3spd manual with 200k miles on it. This was back in 2002. We are both kicking ourselves for not making the trade. he still hates mopars and I didn’t care too much for that GTO. When I changed my mind a few months later he had sold the R/T to a mutual friend. Who did a little work and flipped it again. It’s now a Hemi clone. I sold the GTO to a nice guy who restored it.
Well, at least the two cars came out for the better. But, we both just got money and wish we had made the trade to this day.
O comments on how it drivers because he probably hasn’t driven it.
This doesn’t look like factory paint much too nice for that.
The more I’ve looked at the pictures of this car and thought about it, there are several paint irregularities on it. You’re absolutely right, Hamtramck Assembly couldn’t lay down paint with anywhere close to that kind of shine (no one could with the available materials in 1970). Also, that rear transverse stripe isn’t right, whether it’s painted or a decal. From the factory they were painted, not a decal, and both the black and white stripes were glossy, not matte as on this car. Furthermore, it’s not out of the question that this car may even have had a color change. The shaker on this car could have been body color on a Bright Red Challenger (the only color for which that was the case), but I don’t remember if all FE5 cars got a matching shaker or if there was an option for either body color or Argent. If the red shaker was automatically installed when a shaker was ordered on an FE5 car, then either the shaker and hood were added later or the car has been color changed.
I’m suspicious of the engine, as well. It may be the lighting, but that engine should be Hemi Orange, and this one appears to be very close to matching the car.
Agree with you the engine looks like body color and look at exhaust manifolds they have been restored. I would say this car has been restored to certain degree at least engine removed and detailed and car resprayed. It is no way original.
Looks like Paul is trying to fund his 401k. For that kind of jingle he could at least painted the hood scoop black to match the painted stripes on the rear.
The shaker is likely as it was when it left the factory if it was originally ordered on this car, as a Satin Black shaker wasn’t available in ’70, although it was for ’71. The reason that I say “likely” is that there was only one case where the 1970 shaker wasn’t automatically Light Argent (a textured silver), as it is on this car. Ironically, the one opportunity for something other than an Argent shaker that year was if the car was painted FE5 Rallye Red/Bright Red, as this car is, but I don’t remember if the FE5 cars ordered with a shaker automatically got the body colored shaker or if it was Argent, as this one is, unless a red shaker was specified.
I don`t get all the nitpicking negative comments. Obviously restored car. The ad says shaker was added. Engine to me looks orange. This car looks beautiful with whatever color was chosen for the shaker.
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