The convertible 1970 Challenger is a rare pony Mopar, with almost 4,000 units of all trims and powertrain options assembled.
Among these, the 426 Hemi is the Holy Grail, with just twelve of these legendary cars rolling out the assembly facilities.
Three of them made it north of the border in Canada, while the other nine dominate the classic cars market with seven-figure ear tags.
The vast majority of the ragtop 1970 Challengers were powered by the trusty 318-cube (5.2-liter) V8 – 2,157 orders came for the famous Chrysler small-block motor.
Production for the 1970 model year started in August 1969, and the all-new automobile was set to make its official debut on September 25, 1970.
Less than a month into the new model's assembly, a 318-powered Challenger with a convertible top rolled off the line on August 29, 1969.
It spent the next 18 years with its original owner; in 1988, it was handed over to another Mopar enthusiast from Arizona. The second caretaker enjoyed the car until 2003 when he took it to an auction and got $22,000 for it.
The buyer was living in Minnesota at the time but eventually moved to The Grand Canyon State in 2016. Sadly, his retirement to the arid zone wasn’t a long-lived endeavor – in 2018, he left Planet Piston and went to have a word about big-blocks with the cherubs.
However, during his ownership, the low-key 318 convertible became a rowdy muscle machine with a monstrous V8 in it.
Three years after he got the car, he spent 23,257 dollars and 23 cents on a full overhaul that concluded with a shaker hood, 535 cubic inches, dual four-barrel carburetors, 606 horsepower, and 635 lb-ft (614 PS, 861 Nm).
Did I leave something out? Oh, yeah – the hemispherical heads of the big-bore cast iron 426-cube (seven liters) block.
Correct, this is a stroked 426 Hemi from Mopar Performance with 4.5 inches (114.3 mm) of piston travel and a 4.35-inch bore (110.5 mm). 8.8 Hemi liters is what the original Challenger R/T 426 Hemi would have pledged allegiance to.
The Minnesota man kept the original three-speed Torqueflite gearbox. Still, he ditched the factory rear in favor of something that would withstand the monster torque.
He threw in a Dana 60 high-performance 9.75-inch Sure Grip rear with a 3.54 gearing. He refreshed the livery in its factory-applied Top Banana hue.
He added some personal touch-ups, like the R/T badging on the grille, front fenders, and decklid.
The chassis, suspension, drivetrain, and brakes were updated. USTC Motorsports frame connectors handle the extra torque, and super stock rear leaf springs and correct torsion bars upfront should keep it sharp on track.
This sleeping ogre comes with power steering and brakes (front discs, rear drums). Speaking of power, the ragtop is also electrically operated and still works.
The High-Impact Mopar rides on 15-inch American Racing AR 61 aluminum wheels shod in M/T drag radials (P275/60R on the rear, Cooper Cobra P 235/60 15 on the front).
The Mopar-head didn’t drive the one-of-none Challenger into the ground, putting less than 2,000 miles (3,200 km) on the new 535-cubic-inch Hemi powerhouse.
In January 2023, around five years after the owner’s passing, his widow sold the 61,168-mile (98,440 km) convertible to a fellow Arizona enthusiast.
The man paid the asking price of $75,000, then slammed a five-speed to better suit the BF Goodrich drag radials but didn’t crack the whip on the rubbers, either.
The mean, humble-looking Challenger now shows 62,153 miles (100,026 km) on the clock, and it has moved to Ferndale, Washington after the 2023 change of hands.
It’s also looking for a new owner, one who’s willing to cough up 105,000 bucks (plus the 5% buyer’s fee imposed).
So far, the only offer made stands at $85,000 – a far more down-to-earth price than what an original 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T Hemi would be rated at.
Allegedly, the car runs and drives impeccably, with no overheating issues – even under the scorching Arizona sun.
The vehicle has been driven in various parades and performed flawlessly – but I suspect it didn’t involve high-revving passes over the proverbial 1,320 feet.
We don’t know if the current owner – and seller – considered the possibility, but it sure would look nice lined up alongside one of its third-gen supercharged Challenger descendants.
