Their goal was the smallest possible car that could handle a big-block Hemi V8. Their project would become the famous third-generation Plymouth Barracuda and a brand new Dodge. The engineers agreed to use the B-Body firewall and dash, which set the windshield and door seam height.
Then they shortened the wheelbase: Dodge opted for inches, and Plymouth shaved their wheelbase down to With the major design points decided, Carl Cameron created an aggressive, iconic exterior for the Challenger. At launch, Dodge offered an unprecedented number of ways to customize your Challenger.
Body styles included the hardtop coupe, the two-door convertible, or the Special Edition SE coupe. Base-model Challengers came with a Slant-6 engine. Optional engines included the V8, the V8, the popular Magnum V8, and the legendary Hemi engine. The Hemi was a huge engine with wedge-shaped combustion chambers, but with relatively low compression and only horsepower. The churned out horsepower.
The standard transmission was Dodge's 3-speed manual transmission, while the TorqueFlite automatic was optional. The larger V8s were available mated with a 4-speed manual transmission. The Challenger SE featured a vinyl-covered roof, leather and vinyl bucket seats, and a smaller rear window. It was decorated with SE medallions and an overhead console with door-ajar, seatbelt, and low-fuel warning lights. To compete in the Trans-America championship, Dodge needed to sell their race-ready drivetrain in a TransAm homologation car.
First-generation Challengers were only produced until But ever since, they have been gaining popularity. Several one-of-a-kind Challengers have fetched record prices at auctions.
In the early s, muscle cars were considered good project vehicles but a poor choice for collectors. Then a 4-speed Plymouth Hemi 'Cuda convertible--one of only two produced, and the only one with its original engine--went to auction.
It was the first muscle car to command a price tag of over a million dollars. After the headline-grabbing Cuda sold, its rare Challenger cousins began climbing in value as well. Finally, in Dodge launched a new retro-styled Challenger. The marketing and popularity of the new car drove prices of the few remaining first-generation Challengers even higher. Even more rare are the units powered by a cubic-inch HEMI engine. With inspiration pulled from the Dodge Demon , the new Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye is an incredibly fast and powerful sedan that is perfect for the car enthusiast with a family to haul around.
With the Charger's wide-body style making it look aggressive, its bite matches its bark. Offered in both convertible and hardtop versions, this old-school muscle Mopar shares the Chrysler E-body platform with the third-generation Plymouth Barracuda. This marks the first initial racing year for the '70 Challenger. The car was also available as a hardtop. With a massive wing out back, the car looked like a Charger that was ready to take flight.
After its last race in Charlotte in , the Charger Daytona was retired as a race car, but varying engine options were available during its production run. And that sums up our list of special edition Challengers and Chargers to ever roll off Dodge's assembly line in the Motor City. From classic muscle to new-school powerhouses, you can't go wrong with any of these amazing Mopar models.
Motorious has a massive database of Knowledge Base articles about the Dodge Challenger and Dodge Charger, check it out here. Sep 9, — 7 min read. One of the most celebrated cars of all time, the Dodge Challenger was a catalyst for development for its successors and competitors. Launched in , it was this vintage beast that started it all and laid down the foundation of the Challenger series for years to come. The Challenger was made available in 3 variant models, namely the two-door hardtop, the Special Edition two-door hardtop, and the convertible.
It was launched around 6 years after the Ford Mustang made its debut, as a late response to the iconic Ford car. Its two main competitors were the Mercury Cougar and the Pontiac Firebird.
Designed by Carl Cameron, the Dodge Challenger was aimed at the young American buyers who craved pony cars - a longer wheelbase, larger dimensions, and luxurious interiors. It featured a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout. At inch, the Challenger's wheelbase length was substantially longer compared to most of its rivals. With a length of mm and a height of mm, the Challenger's dimensions felt just about perfect. The Special Edition hardtop version of the challenger hit the ground running with car lovers admiring the luxurious amenities on offer.
The interior console overhead contained three light signals representing low fuel, seat belt, and door ajar warnings.
The impeccable features and luxurious amenities on offer meant that all versions of the Challenger were a massive hit among automobile lovers. Safe to say, it was the ultimate pony car from the golden era. As the name suggests, it was a racing homologation car of the Dodge Challenger.
The front of the car sported E60x15 Goodyear Polyglas tires and the rear was equipped with G60x15 tires. The makers included thick dual side stripes, bold ID graphics, a fiber-glass ducktail rear spoiler, and front spoiler while crafting this vintage racing model.
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