1 of 158: 1970 Dodge Challenger SE 4-Speed
UPDATE 07/28/2022: We’ve seen a few recent cases where a seller has fallen foul of a non-paying buyer, making me wonder whether that might be the case with this rare 1970 Dodge Challenger SE. Its previous listing indicates that it sold for $10,800, although it has reappeared here on eBay with the same seller only days later. I must thank Barn Finder Larry D for spotting this beauty for us. The location and other details remain unchanged, with bidding racing to $8,100 in a No Reserve auction.
07/22/2022: The Challenger was Dodge’s new “pony car” in 1970, sharing the new E-body platform (but no sheet metal) with the revised Plymouth Barracuda. This version is the SE or Special Edition, produced with a smaller rear window than the standard Challenger. Built with a 383 V8 (which is gone) and a 4-speed manual, this SE was a low production car, especially when finished with the “Hi-Impact” color, Go Mango (it was called Vitamin C over at Plymouth). This car has a ton of rust and will need a lot of attention (and a big budget) to be restored to its former vigor. Located in Assonet, Massachusetts, this one family-owned car is available here on eBay.
Dodge got to the pony car wars late in the game, about the time that demand, in general, had peaked. With its shiny new body, the Challenger outsold its revamped corporate cousin by some 60% (77,000 copies vs. 48,000 copies), but sales for both would quickly taper off as the insurance companies and a rising interest in reducing emissions would begin to take hold. Some 6,200 Challenger SEs rolled off the assembly lines in 1970, but with the 383 cubic inch V8, 4-barrel carburetor, and 4-speed manual transmission, only 158 were so ordered. Add to that the Go Mango paint job on the seller’s car, and the number built may be countable on both hands.
We’re told this is a one-owner car that has been sitting since 1986, likely outdoors, given the amount of sun damage and rust. The appeal of the car is dampened by the fact the original 383 has been replaced by a period-correct 340 small-block, so the automobile will never be numbers-matching. But the tranny and rear-end are said to be original. This car has the smaller back window that was unique to the SE, but I’ve never understood why that was a good idea. It was hard enough to see out of the backs of these cars with the larger C-pillars, so a smaller rear window didn’t help any and didn’t add anything (IMO) in terms of looks.
A lot of sheet metal work will be needed to right this car, particularly on the driver’s side. And there is evidence of rust on the undercarriage as well. Add new floors, rails, rocker panels, hood, and more to the shopping list. Though not all of it’s pictured, we’re told 100% of the chrome trim, especially for that back window, is coming with the car. It was a well-optioned automobile when first ordered, with a Rallye dash, overhead console, rear defroster, chrome mirrors, and other assorted doodads. The matching interior looks as though it will need as much attention as the body, The car should roll onto a trailer with no issues, and paperwork dating back to 1973 is included in the transaction.
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Comments
What shame that this rare ’70 Challenger SE was allowed to get to this state of disrepair especially considering that it has remained in the same family since new.
This,,,was the junk that adorned practically every gas station parking lot in the late 70s in northern climates. They weren’t this “Holy Grail” of automobiles status they’ve obtained today, just a rusty beater that guzzled gas and cost a fortune to insure. $ 500 bucks wouldn’t buy it. I’d sure like to meet these “mystery bidders”, and give them a piece of my mind, dag nabit. I know, they don’t want to hear from a “fossil” like me, with big riches in mind. Enjoy it now, shills, in 10 years, if current trends continue, and there’s every indication they will, nobody is going to want to engage in this foolishness.
Now, off to the grocery store to see the markups from last week,,,
I’ve seen some supermkt items recently go down in price – even meat – also ck the circular b4 you go for sales/specials/coups. & gasoline by me went from almost $5 down to $4.25 a gallon in the last several weeks.
But what will never go down in price are restaurant & fast food prices. Just avoid those. No more 2 for $2 big macs.
Have you checked the sticker prices on new plastic “colorless” only-fully-loaded video “cars” lately, the few the dealers have left on their lot? & then they are marked up 5 to 10 grand or more by the dealer – even on the smallest vehicles with 4 cylinders.
I’m actually a little disappointed they’re not bidding more. I don’t know if it’s some kind of personal issue but I love to see people waste money now. I’d like to see this thing hit 20 – 25k. They’re going to do it until the economy tanks. So why not derive some entertainment out of it?
** I once owned a 1970 Challenger in the same color combination, only with the 318. It was rusty and I paid 700 bucks for it.. These are unibodies and rust can cause serious safety issues, and is very difficult to fix properly, and extremely expensive. Ended up dumping mine off to a friend.
Your comment applies to over 50% of the cars here. Someone sees a car they have a history with and it tugs at them. Just watched a 69 Cougar sell for $26,000. That was the car my best friend drove. I wanted to call him to get in on the bidding. For me, it was a 70 Challenger 383 R/T convertible that was Moms but it was my teenage car. Candy apple red, white interior, white top. If I saw it here, I’d be bidding. You say something’s over-priced while others see potential or just plain desire to bring back something that means a lot to them and their happiness. I’m okay with that
Well get in on this one then! It’s only at 10.3k, which is a travesty given rusty Mopar pricing lately. A bargain (relatively)!
$10.8k. That’s the best everyone could do?? Booo! Anyway, if it was you Don C, good luck with your restoration! I will feel your pa…I mean adventure!
Excellent comment DonC! If your into this hobby to make money, it’s really not a hobby then. I do it for the love of the cars, not the money I could make (or lose) by flipping it.
“Mister…I’m sorry – I’ll get off of your lawn now”.
(I just had to give you a bad time about your post)
Someone with a fat wallet will have to get this back on the road. Its ashamed that one family had this car & let this happen .
The mystique of the rusted out big money Mopar’s, continues.
Do you only look at Mopar posts ? Every rat bag dragged out of the woods Mustang and Camaro is also selling for big bucks, and many of them are just run of the mill models ! I can see where a limited number built car could get big bucks, but how many 289 Mustangs were built ? Unless you’re just a Mopar hater , you should hope that someone will restore another rare model car.
I’m a Packard fan. So there….
Same as the crusty rotted out piles of s#@t Chevys and Fords Big “D”
I don’t remember. Were pony cars harder to ensure, or just those with the big engines? A slant six or 318 Challenger really is nothing more then a Valiant with a new suit of clothes. Was it insurance companies gouging on all pony cars because they could because of the image or were they fair to a car with a reasonable engine? Why is this car so much more valuable then any other Challenger? Do little boys lay in bed at night dreaming of the day when they will own a rare 1 of 5 car, or do they dream of just a nice car. We need to get the crazy dollar signs out of peoples eyes and bring this hobby out of the clouds and back to earth.
It’ll take a painful whack and a loud thud for that to happen. The first punch that’ll send it spinning around will be the economy tanking and people become less free spending. Then the growing electrification push will deliver quick and painful jabs to the body. Then the knock out blow will come as Baby Boomers rotate out of driving age. People live longer than they used to, especially affluent people who buy these, but that’ll happen eventually. 5-10 years is my guess.
There’s that kewl all orange interior again! & this car has a 4 speed!
Superior-to-original made in the USA orange carpeting will be available soon – supposedly …
https://www.classicindustries.com/product/1970/dodge/challenger/parts/me604521.html
Good thing here the dash & console just needs cleaning.
We all seem to know someone who knows someone who has a rare classic that they are letting rot into the ground.
24 years ago I knocked on the door of a home right along a major highway with a 1970 RT/SE, original blue paint/stripes, 383 mag, which at that time was sitting maybe 4 inches off the ground. The door was quickly slammed in my face. Last year, the car now on the ground, same spot, home falling apart and junk cars all around it, again the door slammed in my face.
Must have got his first and only kiss in that car I guess and doesn’t want to forget it.
I hope it was more than a kiss!
Regardless of how much it deteriorated in that 24 years, it is worth a lot more today. Financially, they made a good move, but they better decide to sell it soon because the window is closing.
we had a 71 340 shaker. pistol grip. Hemi orange. SE small window. tinted glass all around. idiot pal threw a M80 bomb on 4th. of July. blew out the back window! expensive replacement back in the 80’s settled for a non tint. car didn’t have AC. who cared! was pretty rusty. bondo job was good. we were getting out of MOPARS. Kawis’ were us! sold the car. when they hooked it to the tow truck the frame cracked. anyway; he got complete drive line with a Dana 4;11. broke even(pun) i guess?
What ocean was this car pulled from. LOL
Now I understand why I backed up my ’73 Charger over a huge bridge abutment in the parking lot of 3 Rivers Stadium one evening at a Pirates game. Had to have been that small SE back window. Car never was quite the same after that.
I feel better now !!!
Howard, you’ve been beating the “prices are gonna tank any day now” drum for 10 years now. When’s that gonna happen?
$10,800 for this POS? Doesn’t look like prices are tanking to me.
All the R/T stuff except for the hood, emblems, and the ‘S’ in the vin. A rather odd combination, intelligently assembled, I’d guess, to get around the surging insurance rates at the time. Risky project for a do it yourselfer with this much rot.
The only things worth saving are the wheels.
Non-matching numbers why so much money for so much rust lol it looks like a full divorce car the amount of time you will spend in the garage…
I would love to acid dip the chassie just to see the full story.