Rotisserie Restored Challenger Convertible 472 Dual Quad HEMI V8 5 Speed PS Disc

Dodge Challenger 1970 Description

SUMMARY

Ground-up restoration completed in 2012
472 cubic inch Mopar Performance Hemi / 550 horsepower
Tremec 5-speed manual transmission
Custom Viper Orange Pearl paint / Power Haartz Stayfast top
Featured in Mopar Action Magazine / Winner of First in Class at the Carlisle Mopar Nationals
Our sale includes restoration photos and a copy of the car's magazine feature
Custom Budnik wheels
Customized interior / Modern audio
Modified suspension / Power steering / Power disc brakes
Chrysler 8.75-inch rear axle / Sure Grip differential / 3.91 gears

Want some incredible, Hemi-powered MoPar muscle? Want it in a package that doesn't require red ropes and a car bubble? Well, as the old saying goes: "Car culture starts where the assembly line stops". And now that more and more authentic, numbers-matching Hemi cars are being confined to private collections, enthusiasts are filling the void with creations like this killer Challenger resto-mod. The beneficiary of a recent, professional restoration, this award-winning drop-top wraps a 472 cubic inch Mopar Performance Hemi in Viper Orange Pearl aesthetics that'll turn heads and drop jaws wherever the car goes. If you've always dreamed of owning a storied Hemi muscle car, but don't want the inherent stress that comes with authenticity, here's the perfect solution!

BODYWORK/TRIM

Claiming a First in Class at the Carlisle Mopar Nationals, this vivid Dodge is the beneficiary of a high quality, ground-up restoration that was completed by Rennecker's Collision and Restoration of Barry, Illinois. The build began with a solid, 318-powered fuselage, which was thoroughly stripped, lovingly sanded and massaged to a level that's much nicer than showroom condition. With that body correctly aligned, and its intimidating, slab-sided ambiance fully reconstructed, smooth Viper Orange 2-stage was doused with extra pearl and dressed in subtle black trimmings. And today this razor-sharp E-Body sits as an ultra-straight, fully detailed reminder of just how great Detroit truly is!

Wearing lines that originated on Chrysler designer Carl Cameron's famous Charger Turbine Concept, this classic cruiser makes a distinctly MoPar styling statement from virtually every angle. At the front of the car, a 1970-exclusive grille hangs a flashy "Challenger R/T" script between HID headlights, halogen parking lamps, a straight bumper and factory chin spoilers. Behind that grille, a familiar shaker hood, complete with a black scoop, "426 HEMI" badges and a small fratzog emblem, founds smoked glass beneath power Haartz Stayfast cloth. At the sides of that hood, prominent fenders hang flush door handles and chrome-trimmed marker lamps below body-matched sport mirrors and a stylish 'pit stop' fuel filler. And at the back of those fenders, a stainless-trimmed valance props a simple spoiler on body-width, "DODGE" branded taillights, a second straight bumper and correct, quad-outlet exhaust tips.

ENGINE

When building a resto-mod, it's both tempting and easy to find a wrecked LX or LY car, jerk its modern, Gen III Hemi and call your project done. While that's a smart and reliable way to enjoy any classic, it kind of kills the authentic experience of owning a true, old school pavement pounder. Under the hood of this hot drop-top, you'll find a killer Mopar Performance Hemi that, thanks to porting, polishing, balancing, blueprinting and a massive 472 cubic inch displacement, makes a whopping 550 horsepower! At the top of the monster motor, proven Edelbrock 625s sip Sinclair through fresh stainless fuel lines. At the base of those carbs, a Hemi Orange intake props a familiar points distributor between black "Mopar HEMI" valve covers and Pentastar-branded breathers. At the sides of that intake, fire travels via eight Mopar 8mm plug wires, which snake around ceramic-coated TTI headers. Those headers are fed by a high quality Comp cam. That cam is spun, along with a polished high output alternator, by machined March pulleys. All that spinning is cooled by a beefy Wizard radiator, which fronts four quick-spinning puller fans. And, like the motor itself, the car's smooth, orange engine bay is highly detailed and exceptionally impressive, from its "472 HEMI" branded master cylinder all the way to its Chrysler-branded washer reservoir.

DRIVETRAIN/SUSPENSION

In 1970, if you were a true car guy, the only transmission you wanted in your Challenger was a factory-issued 4-speed. And the tough Tremec 5-speed beneath this cool convertible's floors is figuratively and literally an extension of that clutch slammin', gear grindin' good time! Naturally, that high performance drivetrain feeds a proven 8.75-inch rear end, which spins a Sure Grip differential around big, 3.91 gears. Those gears push a fully rebuilt suspension that now benefits from tubular control arms, welded subframe connectors, small lowering blocks and beefy sway bars. Turns come courtesy of modern power steering, and four discs and hydroboosted calipers provide the stops. As with the body of the car, 'clean' is the name of the game where solid floors are nice enough to be shown, but, thanks to thick undercoating, not so vulnerable as to be a point of stress if Mother Nature decides to rain on your 1-car parade. At the center of those floors, a large-diameter, true-dual exhaust system swirls spent gases in to an X-shaped crossover and polished Magnaflow mufflers. And at the corners of those floors, custom Budnik wheels twist 225/45ZR17 BF Goodrich g-Force T/As in front of 285/40ZR18 BF Goodrich g-Force T/As.

INTERIOR

Grab a seat in this great looking Challenger and you'll find a familiar black interior that's detailed with tasteful wood accents and bright stainless trim. The first thing you'll notice is the car's firm bucket seats, which feature comfortable pleats on top of straight frames and fresh foam. The second thing you'll notice is fade-free carpet, which rides between thick Dynamat insulation and stainless-trimmed foot pedals. And the third thing you'll notice is a custom console, which centers a TKO Pistol Grip shifter between small power window switches, LED-lit Mercury Milan cupholders and a 7-inch JVC stereo and DVD player that's Bluetooth-capable and MP3-compatible. At the sides of the car, vinyl-wrapped panels hang custom aluminum trim plates above traditional door hardware. At the front of the car, a vinyl-wrapped dash frames clean Chrysler Rallye Gauges. At the back of the car, a fully restored trunk features deep-seated storage space. And in front of the driver, a classy Flaming River steering wheel laps a tilting Flaming River column.

OUR SALE INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTATION

A book of restoration photos
A copy of the car's feature in the August, 2014 edition of Mopar Action Magazine

Fully sorted and ready to cruise, this impressive Challenger is a refreshing take on the traditional Hemi premise. With legendary power, a classic driving experience and killer looks, it's the kind of car that'll have you thanking yourself with every walk to the garage. Are your ready to experience one of the hottest muscle cars on the planet? Your MoPar is waiting!