Pink Panther 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T Is a Cute Mopar With a Big-Block Punch

Even though it arrived late to the pony car party, the Challenger was an instant hit. It looked aggressive and was available with anything from the entry-level Slant-Six to the legendary 426-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) HEMI V8. And like many Mopars of the era, it was offered with a selection of flashy High Impact colors.

The 1970 model year palette included quite a few fetching hues. Plum Crazy is arguably the most iconic, but Sublime, Go Mango, Top Banana, and HEMI Orange also made the Challenger stand out against the competition. The Challenger also arrived just in time to catch Panther Pink, a Spring color available only for a few months that year.

Not surprisingly, the bright shade of pink wasn't exactly popular at the time. Rendered as too feminine for a muscle car, Panther Pink found its way on only 340 Challengers in 1970. That's less than 0.5% of the total production and a figure that makes Panther Pink Challengers incredibly rare today.

Sure, the color is still controversial, but some collectors pay big bucks to own authentic Panther Pink cars. The example you see here is not a factory original, but it's just as spectacular as the real deal, thanks to a spotless paint job. And any owner who chooses to trade HEMI Orange for Panther Pink deserves a place in the spotlight as far as I'm concerned.

That's right, this 1970 Challenger left the assembly line in HEMI Orange, a High Impact color Chrysler launched in 1969. It's identified by code EV2, which is visible on the fender tag. This Challenger is also a fully-fledged R/T ordered with the 440-cubic-inch (7.2-liter) RB V8. It is a relatively rare rig in its original setup (only 2,802 hardtops were made).

But its HEMI Orange and stock 440 days are long gone. Not only refinished in Panther Pink, but this Challenger is now a nasty hot rod riding on drag-style rear wheels and hiding a beefed-up mill under the hood.

The Mopar still relies on a 440-based unit, but it's an Indy Cylinder Heads powerplant loaded with race-spec components. The company advertises its RB-based engines at more than 550 horsepower, so this Challenger will definitely smoke a 426 HEMI car at the drag strip. And the roll cage inside the cabin tells me this Mopar sees the race track regularly.

Speaking of the interior, the owner went with a delicious two-tone finish by adding pink inserts on the front bucket seats and the rear bench. That's a candy-like layout you won't see on a stock 1970 Challenger. I guess it's all cute and lovable until that big V8 starts screaming. Just how I like them golden-era Mopars!