1970 Dodge Challenger
E-body · First year of the Challenger. E-body shared with Plymouth Ba... · Mopar's pony car — launched at peak muscle car era
Highly Collectible
Production & Overview
Total Production
83,032
Original MSRP
N/A
Assembly Plants
Hamtramck, MI
Wheelbase
110 inches
Body Styles
Hardtop · Convertible
Curb Weight
3,402 lbs
Notable Packages & Production
Challenger R/T — R/T
Road/Track performance package
2-3x base
19,938
produced
Challenger T/A — T/A
Trans-Am homologation — 340 Six Pack only
4-6x base
2,399
produced
Hemi Convertible — Hemi Convertible
Rarest desirable Challenger — only 9 Hemi convertibles believed to exist
20-40x base
9
produced
Available Engines
Slant-6 225ci — inline-6
Base six — rarely ordered
145 hp
LA318 318ci — V8
Base V8
230 hp
LA340 340ci — V8
High-revving small block — T/A engine. Excellent power-to-weight ratio.
275 hp
383 383ci — V8
Standard R/T engine
335 hp
440 440ci — V8
Magnum 440 — optional R/T engine
375 hp
440+6 440ci — V8
440 Six Pack — three Holley 2-barrels. Very desirable.
390 hp
426 Hemi 426ci — V8
Street Hemi — most valuable Challenger variant. Only 287 Challenger convertibles built with Hemi.
425 hp
Buyer Checklist
⚠ Clone warning: Non-matching Hemi reduces value 50-70%. T/A matching numbers critical.. Always verify with cowl tag, engine stamp, and registry before purchase.
Decode fender tag — verify all codes match claimed options
Check VIN position 5 for engine code — J = 426 Hemi
Inspect all floor pans and trunk floor for rust
Check E-body-specific rust areas — lower A-pillars and floor pan edges
Verify T/A side exhaust pipes are original — many replaced
On Hemi — verify head casting numbers match
Look for broadcast sheet under carpet
Inspect convertible frame and top mechanism for rust
Verify Rallye instrument cluster if claimed
Check body panel gaps — E-body panels are expensive to replace
Known Problem Areas
Floor pan rust — particularly front floor and firewall junction
Lower A-pillar rust — E-body specific weakness
Clone Hemis and R/Ts — very common
T/A exhaust and hood identification — many fakes
Hemi Orange paint fading and repaints
Body panel availability — more limited than B-body Charger
What Drives Value
↑ Increases Value
426 Hemi — documented matching numbers
Hemi convertible — ultra rare
T/A package — documented
440 Six Pack
High-impact colors (Plum Crazy, Sublime, Go Mango)
4-speed manual transmission
Convertible body
↓ Decreases Value
Clone Hemi or R/T
Rust in A-pillars or floor structure
Non-original paint
Automatic on Hemi car
Restoration Overview
Difficulty
Medium-High
Parts Availability
Good — improving but some E-body panels difficult
Driver Quality Cost
$22,000 – $48,000
Show Quality Cost
$65,000 – $160,000
Key Suppliers
Year One · Classic Industries · Legendary Motorcar
Pop Culture & Legacy
Vanishing Point (1971) — white Challenger is one of cinema's most iconic car roles
Death Proof (Quentin Tarantino) — featured prominently
Consistently cited as most beautiful E-body Mopar design
Other Dodge Challenger Years