Produced from 1970 to 1974, the first-generation Dodge Challenger was the shortest-lived Mopar of the golden era. It also spent only two years on the muscle car market because Chrysler discontinued its high-compression big-block engines in 1971. Despite all this, the Challenger is one of the most iconic performance rigs of the early 1970s.
The Challenger was a big hit in its first year in US showrooms, moving nearly 77,000 units. Sales dropped dramatically to 27,377 examples in 1971, but that's still more than 100,000 cars delivered over two model years. In short, the golden-era Dodge Challenger is anything but rare.
However, this changes when we start considering certain features and drivetrains. Because only a small batch of vehicles were ordered with the high-performance V8 engines. In 1970, for instance, only 6,231 R/T rigs left the assembly line with the big 440-cubic-inch (7.2-liter) RB and 426-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) HEMI powerplants.
The latter is the holy grail of the original Challenger lineage. Because the HEMI option was expensive and people were moving away from high-performance rigs due to expensive insurance rates, only 356 units were sold that year. The convertible takes the scarcity cake, with just nine produced. At the same time, only 60 were also equipped with the Special Edition (SE) package.
How many of these cars are still around? Well, that figure is pretty much a mystery because some HEMI Challengers are still hidden in barns awaiting restoration. Sadly enough, some are also rotting away in junkyards, wrecked beyond recognition, or because the owners don't know what they have. But quite a few 1970 HEMI Challengers have been restored and attend car shows. Some also cross the auction block from time to time and fetch six-figure sums. The HEMI Orange rig you see here is one of those rigs.
Recently endorsed by Mopar expert Dave Wise, this Challenger is a prime example of how a classic muscle car should be restored. Redone to factory-correct specifications, not only does it still wear its HEMI Orange/black color combo, but it also packs a numbers-matching drivetrain. And the latter includes a four-speed manual, the most desirable gearbox paired with the mighty 426.
Speaking of which, of the 287 HEMI hardtops without the SE package, only 137 cars were specified with the pistol-grip shifter and three-pedal setup. This thing is a rare gem, so it's not at all surprising that Hyman LTD. is asking $249,500 for it.
That's a big chunk of cash, but it's by no means out of line. HEMI-powered 1970 Challengers in this condition have been selling for more than $200,000 at auction for a few years now, and some manual cars have even exceeded the $300K mark. But if you still feel it's a bit too much, the seller is receiving offers and considering trades. Hit the play button below for a full walkaround of this beauty.
Ask Ciprian about cars and he'll reveal an obsession with classics and an annoyance with modern design cues. Read his articles and you'll understand why his ideal SUV is the 1969 Chevrolet K5 Blazer. Full profile
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