1969 Dodge Challenger 6.3L V8 3MT RWD (330 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Nothing screamed more pony-car than the Challenger in 1970, even though it was the last call for the golden era of the muscle cars.

Dodge had to do something to keep its edge on the market in the pony car segment. Ford had already upgraded the Mustang with the Mach 1 and the Boss versions, Chevrolet already launched the second generation of the Camaro, and AMC gained customers with the AMX. But Dodge had a secret weapon: the Challenger. It launched in 1970 and was available with a wide choice of engines and options. Its price was decent, and the look said it all. It had all the ingredients to become a sales winner, and it was for a short period of time. And then, the increasing prices of insurance, the oil crisis, and the restrictive pollution norms in California killed the entire muscle-car segment and, along with it, the pony cars as well. Dodge continued production on the Challenger’s first generation until April 1974, but it had to drop the towel after selling almost 170,000 units.

The car’s exterior resembled the one imagined by the 1966 Charger prototype. Its recessed grille and the quad-headlight design were fresh. A chromed surrounding adorned the grille, while a chromed metallic bumper neatly integrated into the car’s bodywork was attractive. Furthermore, on the lower side of the apron, the Challenger was available with a pair of round fog lamps.

From its profile, the low-slung roofline and the coke-bottle styling of the rear fenders looked elegant and sporty at the same time. Furthermore, the side rear windows could be lowered, which led to a faux-cabriolet look, typical for a two-door hardtop. The automaker installed chromed flush door handles and mirrors and adorned the front fenders with the Challenger nameplate. At the back, the car featured a full-width taillight, interrupted in the middle only by an illuminated plaque that sported the Dodge word on it. Depending on the version, a dual exhaust came peaking under the rear valance, below the chromed bumper.

Inside, Dodge installed a modern dashboard where a four-dial instrument panel fitted with nine gauges, including a trip odometer, fronted the driver. The two front bucket seats were separated by a center console, which housed the gear stick lever and a storage compartment. An unusual feature of the vehicle was noticed on the SE grade, an overhead consolette mounted on the roof inside the vehicle. In the back, a large bench seat could accommodate three passengers, although the floor was crossed by the transmission tunnel.

Dodge launched the car in 1970 with a choice of nine engines, ranging from a 225 slant-six to the mighty 426 V8 HEMI. The Challenger boasted numerous technical features such as power front disc brakes, heavy-duty torsion bars on the R/T version with the 340 cid V8. All versions could be equipped with a three-speed manual on the floor, while later, the automaker added a three-speed automatic or a four-speed manual for selected versions.