1970 Dodge Challenger for Sale Challenger RT SE factory 4 speed

 

1970 Dodge Challenger for sale. This car is a very rare combination of options. This Dodge Challenger is a complete, turn key, ready to race car, as well as many more original parts and items that go with the car. The 1970 Dodge Challenger was the first year of the Dodge E-body pony car, muscle car, models. Please read on for all of the included parts, in addition to the car itself. The car is ready to race as it sits and it could be put back into street car operation with a little work. I have owned this car since 1980 and it has been stored inside since I purchased it and it only goes outside for racing, car shows or when being washed. The car is seldom raced more than a few times a year.

Many people consider the 1970 Dodge Challenger as the best of the series. I am certainly biased, but I tend to agree. The E-body Dodge Challenger was made from 1970 through 1974. The Dodge Challenger name was used again in the early 1980s, but it was a 4 cylinder import for Dodge.

Now, the Dodge Challenger has returned as of the 2008 model year. You can see many styling features of the original 1970 Challenger in the 2008 Dodge Challenger and newer models.

Sorry the car has been sold but I am keeping this page up to share a bit of the history of the car and so that this information may be helpful to others interested in the 1970 Dodge Challenger

1970 Dodge  Challenger Racing

This Dodge Challenger RT SE was featured in the December/January 1993 issue of Mopar Muscle magazine and has been in the Year One Mopar catalog every year since 1997. The car is also in the current CP Pistons Automotive Racing Pistons Catalog on the Mopar 440 pistons page heading.(I think it is still in there, have not looked at a current Year One catalog for a while) The car also appeared in the NHRA National Dragster and the IHRA Drag Review papers on multiple occasions.

The Challenger was restored and upgraded in many areas. The body is still all the original sheet metal except for the valence panels which where both replaced with brand new Dodge Mopar parts in the early 1980s. There is some minor rust coming through in the lower rear quarters. All of the undercoating was removed and the underneath painted with black frame epoxy. The engine compartment was totally stripped and re-painted the original color. The body was re-painted the original color, and new stripes and vinyl top where installed. (The stripes are not on perfectly straight) All of the suspension was removed and rebuilt, and painted before re-assembly. The complete brake system was rebuilt and has the smaller lighter weight drums and brakes in place. The carpet was replaced with the original type molded black carpet. NOS Mopar door sill plates where installed with the carpet. The front seats where recovered in vinyl, and back seat is still original and is in good condition as it has not been in the car since 1980, it has been stored inside since it was removed. All of the area inside the car, under the carpet, under the headliner, was all cleaned and painted during the restoration. A new radiator was installed as well as all new hoses on the cooling and braking system. The bumpers have never been re-chromed and they are showing their age. The front grill is all original and is the paint is fading but is in very good condition other than that.

This 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T is a factory 383, 4 speed car with both the R/T (road and track) and the SE (special edition) packages. What makes this car unique and rare is the combination of both of these option packages on the same Challenger, and then on top of that the car was equipped with a manual transmission (the majority of the R/T SE cars you do see are automatic trans cars) and then further, this car has manual brakes and manual steering (it is even more rare to find a SE package equipped car, with all manual options and no AC) It is a Rally dash car and all of the factory gauges still work. The clock will run but sticks a little. The tach may still work. It used to work but I had to quit using it when I went to the MSD ignition system as that will not drive the stock tach properly. It was still working when I stopped using it. The dash pad is cracked but the rest of the dash, the glove box (new glove box insert was installed during the restoration), instrument cluster, etc. is in nice shape.

Here is some more info on the car as it originally came from the factory. The items that have been changed are noted below the chart in the additional info.

Additional info on this 1970 Dodge Challenger For Sale

The car is currently set up for drag racing. It is turn key ready to go. As it sets now it is ready to race in either full electronics bracket racing classes, or by undoing one plug and removing a panel holding the electronics you are now ready to go foot brake race. The car was originally set up to run NHRA or IHRA stock eliminator and the car can be returned to condition to class race with a few simple changes. The stock intake, and front passenger seat need to be put back on the car, and a battery mounted in the stock location, and you are ready to go class racing. All of the wiring is still in place to put the battery back up front. I have spent a lot of time and money on the chassis and suspension and the car is very consistent, even with the legal size 30" x 9" Stock Eliminator tires on it.

While the car was set up to race, it was done so that it could be put back into street use with a minimum of work. At one NHRA divisional points race at VMP the tech inspector checking the car made a comment about the car looking more like a show type restoration than a drag car. At that event the car ran 3 tenths under the NHRA G/S index.

Here is a list of some of the HP and racing parts and improvements that are part of the car now.

383 engine, built to NHRA stock eliminator specs, best possible work, engine is true legal for stock class and has run a best time of 11.92 in the 1/4 mile in NHRA G/S at a weight of 3690 pounds. This was with the 4 speed trans. Too much in the engine to list, feel free to ask any questions you may have.

J.W. Performance 727 full race, trans brake equipped reverse pattern automatic transmission with deep pan and trans cooler.

B&M Pro stick reverse pattern shifter with HD cable, not the flimsy cable that comes with these shifters stock, but the optional HD one

Dana 60, best of everything, Strange axles and spool, 5/8" wheel studs, steel billet main caps, etc.

Custom driveshaft with billet yoke.

Tri-city competition leaf springs

Custom Made Koni adjustable rear shocks. These where custom made by Koni specifically for this Challenger.

Race front torsion bars and adjustable shocks

MSD 7AL ignition with MSD Pro power coil and 2 step, MSD electronic pick up distributor. This is a 440 length distributor, with the appropriate adapter to use in the 383 engine, so this distributor can be used in a B or RB block.

Digital Delay Crossover Plus delay box with 4 stage timer, part #1014-SCR

Hooker headers coated race headers

Fiberglass T/A hood assembly and light hood springs (NHRA IHRA Legal, T/A replica, uses hinges and has proper cowl openings and grille mesh.)

Rare Mopar original air cleaner base for single 4 barrel carb to hood

Battery moved to trunk, and rear master electrical switch. The original wiring is in place up front to allow easy connection of a battery back in the original location. The master disconnect switch is on a custom panel below the rear bumper. It was not stuck through a hole drilled in the rear panel of the car.

Tach, digital water temp gauge, SW electric fuel pressure gauge.

Holley Blue fuel pump and regulator with mechanical fuel pressure gauge mounted on regulator

3/8" steel fuel line, all new from in tank pickup to carb

Custom made fuel cool can

Solid engine mounts

Trans cooler, thermostatically controlled electric cooling fan on radiator

Moroso electric water pump drive

Roll bar and subframe connectors

Weld Pro Star wheels and Stock Eliminator legal 30 x 9 x 15 Radial Slicks

RJS 5 way roll bar mount safety harness

Drive shaft loop

 

When I first started preparing this car to run in NHRA and IHRA stock eliminator competition, I removed and stored away many of the original parts on the car. The following original Dodge Challenger parts are part of this sale, and go with the car to the buyer.

original broadcast sheet
original ID tags off carpet and seat
original VIN number matching engine block, this block is still as produced, it has not been machined on, and has not been damaged.
original 4 speed transmission This transmission has been converted to slick shift operation the case has the matching VIN number, the internals could be easily replaced with standard shift parts if you want to put the car back on the street
original front passenger seat (has had new padding installed and new vinyl cover installed)
original rear seat
original intake manifold
original 8 3/4 rear axle housing
original heater box, was working fine and not leaking when removed from car for racing

 

The spare tire as shown in the photo of the trunk does not come with the car, it was in place to add weight to make class weight when the photo was taken.

The way the roll bar is currently installed it would not be easy for a larger driver to get in the car. If you are above average size you would probably want to move the main hoop of the roll bar further to the rear. All of the roll bar sections where welded onto steel plates, which where in turn welded to the car, so it is easy to cut the roll bar out if you want to make changes, or remove it for street use.

This 1970 Dodge Challenger is for sale for $22,500 including the extras listed above. The car is available for local pick up only, I will not ship. This is to insure that the buyer sees and inspects the car before accepting the vehicle. I have heard far too many horror stories of cars being damaged in shipment, so the buyer will need to arrange for pick up and transportation of the car to its new home.