1970-74 Dodge Challenger

 

The contestant was delineated  in an exceedingly book concerning Sixties yank cars as Dodge's "answer to the pony and Camaro." 

Introduced in fall 1969 for the 1970 model year, it had been one in every of 2 Chrysler E-body cars, the opposite being the marginally smaller town acanthopterygian. "Both the contestant and acanthopterygian were accessible in an exceedingly staggering variety of trim and choice levels" and were meant "to vie against cars just like the Chevrolet Camaro and Ford pony, and to try and do it whereas giving nearly each engine in Chrysler's inventory." but, the 1970 contestant was "a rather late response to the ponycar wave the Ford pony had started" with its introduction in Apr 1964. In his book Hemi Muscle Cars, Henry Martyn Robert Genat wrote that the contestant was formed within the late Sixties as Dodge's equivalent of the town acanthopterygian, which the acanthopterygian was designed to vie against the pony. The 1964 acanthopterygian was truly the primary automobile during this gaudy automobile phase by many weeks, however was quickly overshadowed by the discharge of the phase shaping pony (the phase being brought up as "Pony Car"). He intercalary that Chrysler meant the new 1970 Dodge as "the most potent ponycar ever," and positioned it "to vie against the Mercury Felis concolor and Shawnee Firebird." Genat additionally noted that the "Barracuda was meant to vie within the marketplace with the pony and Camaro/Firebird, whereas the Dodge was to be positioned against the Cougar" and alternative a lot of luxury-type musclecars.

The Challenger's longer distance, larger dimensions and a lot of luxurious interior were prompted by the launch of the 1967 Mercury Felis concolor, likewise a much bigger, a lot of luxurious and dearer pony automobile aimed toward affluent young yank consumers. The distance, at a hundred and ten inches (2,794 mm), was 2 inches longer than the acanthopterygian, and therefore the Dodge differed considerably from the town in its outer sheetmetal, very much like the Felis concolor differed from the shorter-wheelbase Ford pony. air con and a car window defogger were nonobligatory.

Exterior style was done by Carl Cameron, UN agency additionally did the outside for the 1966 Dodge Charger. Cameron based mostly the 1970 contestant grille off AN older sketch of his 1966 Charger image that was to own a rotary engine engine. The Charger ne'er got the rotary engine, however the contestant featured that car's grille. though the contestant was well received by the general public (with seventy six,935 made for the 1970 model year), it had been criticized by the press, and therefore the pony automobile phase was already declining by the time the contestant arrived. Sales fell dramatically once 1970, and although sales rose for the 1973 model year with over twenty seven,800 cars being oversubscribed, contestant production ceased midway through the 1974 model year. a complete of one hundred sixty five,437 Challengers were oversubscribed over this generation's period of time.

A 1970 contestant R/T 440 wine bottle was featured within the existentialist 1971 film Vanishing purpose. For the 1973-74 season of the television program Mannix the title character drove a 1974 contestant Rallye, that was specially ordered and designed for the show. The automobile had each choice accessible together with the 360 4-barrel engine and therefore the rare manufactory sunshine-roof.

Models

The contender was on the market as a two-door in either a car automobile or a convertible body style, and in 2 models for its introductory year. the bottom model was the "Challenger" with either a I6 or V8 engine, in addition as a "Challenger R/T" that enclosed a 383 displacement unit (6.28 L) V8. The Special Edition or "Challenger SE" that further variety of look, convenience, and luxury things was "available as a model in either the contender R/T or contender." the quality engine on the bottom model was the 225 displacement unit (3.7 L) six-cylinder. the quality engine on the V8 was the 230 bhp (171.5 kW) 318 displacement unit (5.2 L) V8 with a a pair of-barrel mechanical device. For 1970, the nonobligatory engines enclosed the 340 and 383 displacement unit (5.6 and 6.3 L), in addition because the 440 and 426 displacement unit (7.2 and 7.0 L) V8s, all with a typical 3-speed manual transmission, apart from the 290 bhp (216.3 kW) three83 Criminal Investigation Command engine, that was on the market solely with the TorqueFlite transmission system. A 4-speed manual was nonobligatory on all engines except the 225 Criminal Investigation Command I6 and therefore the 2-barrel 383 Criminal Investigation Command V8.
For 1971, the contender line up was changed to incorporate a replacement model, the "Challenger Coupe" with either a I6 or V8 engine, and because the most elementary version it had mounted in position quarter windows and a basic black handwheel with button.

The performance model was the R/T (Road/Track), with a 383 displacement unit (6.28 L) "Magnum" V8, rated at 335 bhp (249.8 kW); three hundred bhp (223.7 kW) for 1971, as a result of a call in compression. the quality transmission was a 3-speed manual. nonobligatory R/T engines were the 375 bhp (279.6 kW) 440 displacement unit (7.2 L) wine bottle, the 390 bhp (290.8 kW) 440 Criminal Investigation Command carton and therefore the 425 bhp (316.9 kW) 426 displacement unit (7.0 L) Hemi. The R/T was on the market in either the car or convertible. For 1970 solely, base car and R/T car models can be ordered with the a lot of luxurious SE specification, including animal skin seats, a vinyl roof, a smaller 'formal' car window, associated an overhead interior console that contained 3 warning lights (door open , low fuel, and seatbelts). The contender R/T came with a Rallye instrument cluster that enclosed a one hundred fifty mph (240 km/h) meter, an 8,000 rate tach, 1972–1974 tach visited seven,000 rate associated an force per unit area gauge. In 1972, the R/T badging was born and these models were referred to as "Rallye", though they were ne'er badged per se. The Rallye model featured a fake brake vent on the fenders. The shaker hood scoop wasn't on the market once 1971.

A 1970-only model was the Dodge contestant T/A (Trans Am) sport homologation automobile. so as to race within the Sports automobile Club of America's Trans yankee Sedan Championship Trans Am, Dodge designed a street version of its racing car (just like Plymouth with its Plymouth 'Cuda AAR) that it known as the Dodge contestant T/A (Trans Am). though the race cars ran a destroked version of the 340, street versions took the 340 associated more a trio of two-barrel carburetors atop an aluminium manifold, making the 340 Six Pack. Dodge rated the 340 Six Pack at 290 bhp (216.3 kW), solely fifteen bhp (11 kW) quite the initial 340 engine (which additionally had constant rating because the Camaro Z/28 and Ford Boss 302 Mustang). The engine really created regarding 320 bhp (238.6 kW). It breathed air through a suitcase-sized air scoop wrought into the stapled down, hinged matte-black fibreglass hood. Low-restriction twin exhaust ran to the stock muffler location, then reversed direction to exit in chrome tipped "megaphone" retailers before of the rear wheels. choices enclosed a TorqueFlite automatic or pistol-grip Hurst-shifted four-speed transmission, 3.55:1 or 3.90:1 gears, furthermore as manual or power-assisted steering. Front disc brakes were customary. The special Rallye suspension used significant duty elements and exaggerated the speed of the rear springs. The T/A was one among the primary U.S. muscle automobile to suit completely different size tires front and rear: E60x15 Charles Goodyear Polyglas within the front, and G60x15 on the rear shaft. The changed chamber elevated the tail enough to clear the rear tires and its aspect exhaust retailers. Thick twin aspect stripes, daring ID graphics, a fibreglass ducktail rear spoiler, and a fibreglass front spoiler were additionally enclosed. the inside was clone of alternative Challengers.

Dodge contracted  Ray Caldwell's Autodynamics in Marblehead, Massachusetts to run the plant Trans-Am team. guided missile Posey drove the No.77 "sub-lime" painted automobile that Caldwell's team designed from a automobile kicked off an area dealer's panopticon floor. once the No.76 was completed mid-season from a chassis provided by Dan Gurney's All yankee Racers, Posey alternated between the 2. each cars ran the ultimate 2 races, with Posey within the #77. Ronnie Bucknum drove the No.76 at metropolis Washington, and Tony Adamowicz drove it at Riverside, California.

The contestant T/A's scored a couple of high 3 finishes, however lack of a development budget and therefore the passing Keith Black 303 c. i. engines LED to Dodge going the series at season's finish. the road version suffered from severe understeer in quick corners, mostly thanks to the smaller front tires. Only 2,399 T/As were created. A 1971 model exploitation the 340 engine with a 4-barrel carburettor was planned and appeared in advertising, however wasn't made since Dodge had left the race series.

The "Western Special" was a version accessible solely to geographical area dealers. It came with a rear-exit exhaust and Western Special identification on the rear decklid. Some examples came with a vacuum-operated trunk unharness. Another late production version was the affordable "Deputy", stripped of a number of the bottom car's trim and with fastened rear aspect glass.

For 1972 the choices lists (both for performance and appearance/convenience items) had been drastically crop. The convertible version (though a sun-roof was created available), most interior upgrade choices (in explicit animal skin seats), comfort/convenience things (in explicit power windows and power seats), and every one the big-block engine choices were gone. The R/T series was replaced by the Rallye series. Engine selections were all the way down to three: the 225 volume unit slant-6, the 318 volume unit V-8, and a performance orienting 340 volume unit V-8 that was equipped with a 4-barrel carb, performance shaft, heads and twin exhausts. All 3 were detuned to lower compression ratios so as to run on leadless fuel, and therefore the power unit ratings were down to replicate the a lot of correct Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) web horsepower calculations. every engine may be mated to a 3-speed manual or automatic drive, whereas the 340 might even be equipped with a 4-speed manual if therefore ordered. The performance shaft ratios were additionally gone aside from a three.55 positive grip that might solely be had with the 340 and therefore the significant duty suspension. The 1972 models additionally received a brand new grille that extended below the front bumper, furthermore as new rear tail-lights. Toward the tip of the 1971 model year a couple of convertibles were created with the 1972 front (grille, lights, etc.) and buttocks (tail lights and their panel). These were specially designed for TV and motion picture studio production use and showed up "Mod Squad", and alternative shows. the sole thanks to ascertain these 1972 contestant convertible is to seem at its fender tag. On the code line which supplies the dealer order variety, that variety can begin with associate "R", that designates "Special Meaning" (in this case, a TV 'special promotions' car). A light was customary.

The 1972 grille and tail-light arrangement was carried over for the 1973 (and 1974) models, and therefore the necessary five mph bumpers were more. whereas the 225 volume unit six-cylinder engine was born, (leaving simply the 2 V-8s), all possibility lists otherwise were carry-overs from 1972. For 1974, the 340 volume unit (5.6 L) engine was replaced by a 360 volume unit (5.9 L) version giving 245 horsepower (183 kW; 248 PS), however the horse automobile market had fallen off and production of Challengers ceased in late Apr 1974. The A/C wasn't accessible with the 3-speed manual.

Cosmetic variations

Although the body vogue remained identical throughout the Challenger's five-year run, there have been 2 notable changes to the front grille. The 1971 models had a "split" grille, whereas 1972 introduced a style that extended the grille (nicknamed the "sad-mouth") at a lower place the front bumper. With this modification to the side, 1972 through 1974 models had very little to no variation. the sole thanks to properly distinguish them is that the 1972s had flush mounted bumpers with no bumper guards, (small bumper guards were optional), whereas each the 1973 and 1974 models had the sticking out "5 mph (8.0 km/h)" bumpers (with a rubber kind filler behind them) in conjunction with giant bumper guards. The 1974 cars had larger rear bumper guards to satisfy the (new for 1974 and on) rear five mph rear impact law. These changes were created to satisfy U.S. laws relating to crash take a look at safety.

The 1970 taillights went all the means across the rear of the automotive, with the backup light-weight within the middle. In 1971, the backup lights were on the left and right rather than the center. The lamp array additionally modified for 1972 forward, with the competitor currently having four individual rectangular lamps.

Collectibility

Although few mourned the tip of the E-body models, the passage of your time has created legends and highlighted the distinctive personalities of each the competitor and also the acanthopterygian. With an occasional total production, likewise as low survivability over the years, any competitor is price a considerable quantity of cash. in an exceedingly historic review, the editors of Edmunds within Line graded these models as: 1970 was a "great" year, 1971 was a "good" one, and so "three more and more lousier ones" (1972–1974). With total sales and production off by 2/3 from 1970, the performance engine 1971 Challengers square measure the foremost rare. Sales and production of the one973 cars (with solely 2 V8s available) truly exceeded 1971 by some 1,700 cars.

Export markets

Dodge Challengers were chiefly made for the U.S. and Canadian markets. curiously, Chrysler formally sold-out Challengers to European nation through AMAG Automobil- und Motoren Ag in Schinznach-Bad, close to city. solely a couple of cars were shipped overseas every year to AMAG. They did the ultimate assembly of the Challengers and reborn them to Swiss specs. There square measure few AMAG cars still alive. From a collector's purpose of read, these cars square measure terribly fascinating. Today, but 5 Swiss Challengers square measure familiar to exist in North America.

Chrysler exported Dodge Challengers formally to France likewise through their Chrysler France Simca operation, since Ford sold-out the pony in France with success in tiny numbers. However, solely a couple of Challengers were exported and Chrysler finally gave up the concept of marketing them in France.

Engines

Engine selections by Chrysler enclosed the following:

    C: 225 cubature unit (3.69 L) Slant vi I6: 1970–71 one hundred forty five bhp (108 kW) SAE gross, 1971-72 a hundred and ten bhp (82 kW) SAE internet
    G: 318 cubature unit (5.21 L) LA V8 (2-barrel mechanical device, single exhaust): 1970-71 230 bhp (172 kW) SAE gross, 1971 one hundred fifty five bhp (116 kW) SAE internet, 1972-74 one hundred fifty bhp (112 kW) SAE internet
    H: 340 cubature unit (5.6 L) LA V8 (4-barrel mechanical device, twin exhaust): 1970-71 275 bhp (205 kW) SAE gross, 1971 235 bhp (175 kW) SAE internet, 1972-73 240 bhp (179 kW) SAE internet
    J: 360 cubature unit (5.9 L) LA V8 (4-barrel mechanical device, twin exhaust): 1974 245 bhp (183 kW) SAE internet
    J: 340 cubature unit (5.6 L) LA V8 (3 × 2-barrel carburetor): 1970 290 bhp (216 kW) SAE gross, employed in T/A
    L: 383 cubature unit (6.28 L) B V8 (2-barrel mechanical device, single exhaust): 1970 290 bhp (216 kW) SAE gross, 1971 275 bhp (205 kW) SAE gross, 1971 one hundred ninety bhp (142 kW) SAE internet
    L: 383 cubature unit (6.28 L) B V8 (4-barrel mechanical device, twin exhaust): 1970 330 bhp (246 kW) SAE gross (likely 240 bhp (179 kW) SAE net)
    N: 383 cubature unit (6.28 L) B V8 wine bottle (4-barrel mechanical device, twin exhaust): 1970 335 bhp (250 kW) SAE gross, 1971 three hundred bhp (224 kW) SAE gross, 1971 250 bhp (186 kW) SAE internet
    U: 440 cubature unit (7.2 L) Rb V8 wine bottle (4-barrel carbureted): 1970 375 bhp (280 kW) SAE gross, (Charger R/T solely in 1971 370 bhp (276 kW) SAE gross, 305 bhp (227 kW) SAE net)
    V: 440 cubature unit (7.2 L) Rb V8 carton (3 × two-barrel carburetor): 1970 390 bhp (291 kW)/490 lbf·ft (660 N·m) SAE gross, 1971 385 bhp (287 kW) SAE gross, 1971 330 bhp (246 kW) SAE internet
    R: 426 cubature unit (6.98 L) Hemi V8: 1970-71 425 bhp (317 kW)/490 lbf·ft (660 N·m) SAE gross, 1971 cost accounting an additional US$1,228 with only a few sold-out.

SAE gross horsepower ratings were tested with no accessories, no filter, or open dyno headers. In 1971, compression ratios were reduced in performance engines, except the 426ci and also the high performance 440ci, to accommodate regular gas. The compression magnitude relation would be reduced on the high performance 440ci beginning in 1972. 1971 was the last year for the 426ci hemi.
Production numbers 
1970 = 76,935 *includes two,539 T/As
 car I6: nine,929
 car V8:. 39,350*
        Sports car I6: 350
        Sports car V8: five,873
        Convertible I6: 378
        Convertible V8: two,543
 car R/T: thirteen,796
        Special Edition car R/T: three,753
        Convertible R/T: 963
    1971 = 26,299
 car I6: one,672
 car V8: eighteen,956
        Convertible I6: eighty three
        Convertible V8: one,774
 car V8 R/T: three,814
    1972 = 22,919
 car I6: 842
 car V8: fifteen,175
 car V8 Rallye: eight,123
    1973 = 27,930
        Note: All models were V8-powered hardtops
    1974 = 11,354
        Note: All models were V8-powered hardtops

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