1970 Dodge Challenger R/T Convertible

[Matt Harwood]

As I've said, I'm not really a muscle car guy, but these awesome Mopars keep showing up in our showroom, each better than the last. The latest is this bright blue 1970 Challenger R/T convertible. It's got just 59,000 or so original miles and a numbers-matching 383 cubic inch V8. It is mostly original save for a repaint a few years ago, a detailed engine compartment, and what I have to believe is a newer convertible top, but otherwise is very nicely maintained, not totally restored. The paint is two-stage urethane, so it's a lot shinier than the original enamel and the white bumblebee stripe on the tail is buried under the clear for a smooth look and feel. The fender tag says that the bumblebee stripe was originally black, but that doesn't make much sense with the white interior and blue bodywork, but I guess it's possible. Panel fit is just the way the factory did it, as the car was not blown apart for the repaint and there's original B5 Blue paint in some of the more remote areas. Excellent chrome and stainless, all of which appears original, but the emblems are so bright and crisp that I'm guessing they've been replaced.

The white bucket seat interior is completely original, including the seat covers, door panels, and carpets, and it's really remarkably well preserved. It's only a little discolored, which is inevitable over time, but the seats are still firm and supportive and the back seat looks completely untouched. It has a full set of Rallye gauges in the woodgrained dash, but the tach is not working because of a modern distributor. The factory Music Master AM radio is still in the dash, the Slap Stick shifter moves through the gears easily, and the power top folds easily without any wrestling to latch it. I'm impressed by how well-designed Chrysler convertible tops are, as this one drops completely below the body line where it vanishes under a white boot. The trunk is rust-free, featuring original floors and quarters, as well as a new mat and complete jack assembly. There is no spare, but the car does come with a complete second set of 18-inch Boyd Coddington wheels, if you're into bling.

I have personally verified that the 383 cubic inch engine is the original, numbers-matching piece and it runs superbly. The owner believes it has been rebuilt, and he's only driven it about 5000 miles in the 10 years that he's owned it, so it's still quite fresh. It certainly runs well, starting almost instantly, idling without a fuss even when it's cold, and the smooth torque of the big block is hard to resist. The engine bay is correctly detailed with proper engine paint, hoses and clamps, and a Magnum air cleaner and except for the modern MSD billet aluminum distributor, it's quite stock. Underneath, it's totally original so it's a bit crusty, but there's no critical rust beyond some surface scale on the cast iron parts. A new Flowmaster dual exhaust system was installed two summers ago and it gives the car a pretty nasty bark that seems to suit its personality. It's a little loud, but this is not a car that you're going to be sneaking around in, anyway.

A super clean, ready to enjoy Challenger R/T convertible with a good pedigree. A few years ago, these were $90,000 cars, but they've cooled quite a bit since then. We're asking $64,900 which is competitive with, say, a 1969 Camaro SS396 convertible, and I think I like the Challenger's look a little better. And we're always open to reasonable offers. Thank you for looking!

Edited February 25, 2015 by Matt Harwood (see edit history)

[Matt Harwood]

And with the shiny bling-bling wheels.