Preferred year for Challenger?

[Ghoste]

So with three platform styles and and numerous engineering changes, which year of Challenger do you think tops the list and why?
I had always liked the 70 models based on styling and the number of variations you could order up from TA homolgation to Hemi convertible to slant six etc.  But I'm sitting here with a brochure on my desk for the new Challenger and I really wonder if maybe in the grand scheme of things that it isn't the best one they've ever made?

[resq302]

No hemi challenger convertibles were ever made from the factory.  Now you might have been able to get a hemi cuda convert from the factory though.

[Ghoste]

There were 9 in 1970.

[maxwellwedge]

No hemi challenger convertibles were ever made from the factory.  Now you might have been able to get a hemi cuda convert from the factory though.

Huh? My friend owns the last one ever made - a "Canadian" 4-speed.

12 total - 5 sticks, 4 auto's and three Canadian shipped. One year only - 1970. Maybe you meant none in '71?

[Ghoste]

I didn't know about the three export ones mawellwedge, do you ahve a trans breakdown on them?

[maxwellwedge]

Well I know that one was a stick, another an auto and the third one escapes me at the moment. 

[Nacho-RT74]

new gen. cause looks more like a Cuda on sides ( sorry I don't like the mid body line on it )

[jaak]

I picked '70

Jason

[71ChallengeHer]

What do year do you think I picked ?    Cause 71 has the best looking grille.    I do like the 70 taillights a little bit better .

[69bronzeT5]

Kind of weird for this topic to pop up considering I JUST finished watching the Vanishing Point remake. I picked '70 for sure.

[resq302]

No hemi challenger convertibles were ever made from the factory.  Now you might have been able to get a hemi cuda convert from the factory though.

Huh? My friend owns the last one ever made - a "Canadian" 4-speed.

12 total - 5 sticks, 4 auto's and three Canadian shipped. One year only - 1970. Maybe you meant none in '71?

The biggest engine you could get in a 70 challenger convertible was the 383.  The cuda conv. you could have gotten a 440 or hemi as the biggest engine.

[Belgium R/T -68]

I voted for the -70 because of the taillights and the grille (sorry Jackie) or because that's the one I have.

Concerning productionnumbers there were 3070 R/T convertibles made in 1970. Opposite to the charger the challengers were offered with
the 383 as smallest engine in the R/T. Will check up the breakdown of the 3070 but I sure know about the 9 Hemi verts and that
moore 440 sixpacks then 440's were made. No Hemis in-71.

Per

[maxwellwedge]

No hemi challenger convertibles were ever made from the factory.  Now you might have been able to get a hemi cuda convert from the factory though.

Huh? My friend owns the last one ever made - a "Canadian" 4-speed.

12 total - 5 sticks, 4 auto's and three Canadian shipped. One year only - 1970. Maybe you meant none in '71?

The biggest engine you could get in a 70 challenger convertible was the 383.  The cuda conv. you could have gotten a 440 or hemi as the biggest engine.

You are thinking '71 Challenger convertibles - which there was a 383 as the largest engine. There were no 71 Challenger R/T convertibles. In 1970 there were 1,070 Challenger R/T convertibles. 684 - 383 4bbl, 163 - 440-4bbl (I own one), 99 - 440-6Pack and 12 Hemi's.

[moparstuart]

the is a real 70 hemi challenger convert here in town , the car should be lime but he owns a hemi  hard top also to match in purple

[moparstuart]

 

[maxwellwedge]

My friends car...

[maxwellwedge]

My 440 R/T rag (with air).

[vancamp]

No hemi challenger convertibles were ever made from the factory.  Now you might have been able to get a hemi cuda convert from the factory though.

Huh? My friend owns the last one ever made - a "Canadian" 4-speed.

12 total - 5 sticks, 4 auto's and three Canadian shipped. One year only - 1970. Maybe you meant none in '71?

I rode in a 70 R/T hemi convertible
back in the early 90's that was gold with white interior and black top the owners sold it during a divorce and i have never seen it again, it was a automatic car
The biggest engine you could get in a 70 challenger convertible was the 383.  The cuda conv. you could have gotten a 440 or hemi as the biggest engine.

You are thinking '71 Challenger convertibles - which there was a 383 as the largest engine. There were no 71 Challenger R/T convertibles. In 1970 there were 1,070 Challenger R/T convertibles. 684 - 383 4bbl, 163 - 440-4bbl (I own one), 99 - 440-6Pack and 12 Hemi's.

[71ChallengeHer]

Kind of weird for this topic to pop up considering I JUST finished watching the Vanishing Point remake. I picked '70 for sure.

Thanks, Cody     

[maxwellwedge]

Most of mine are '70's but I do have a '71 that gets love too.

[Chris G.]

My 440 R/T rag (with air).

That white/blue is great looking!

[69bronzeT5]

Kind of weird for this topic to pop up considering I JUST finished watching the Vanishing Point remake. I picked '70 for sure.

Thanks, Cody    

Yours is my favorite '71

[moparstuart]

My 440 R/T rag (with air).

just one more reason i'm moving up north , has the adoption papers come through yet ?   

[41husk]

I prefer the 70

[Brock Samson]

'70    nuff said.

[Foreman72]

70...all the way...

[DavidSL]

I've no experience driving ANY Challenger, so my choice is purely aesthetic - but I'm going '70 for the same reason as a lot of other people, Vanishing Point. I didn't know Challengers existed before I saw this movie not that long ago, to be honest - and it could well be the starting point for my appreciation of muscle cars.

Yes, I know you didn't ask for my life story, but you got it anyway... 

[RusTy/SE]

The 1970 model year. Even though i have a 440 R/T SE Challenger 'in the process', those which left the factory with the A66 package are the best all-around examples of that model assembled, given the quality of the day.

[maxwellwedge]

My 440 R/T rag (with air).

That white/blue is great looking!

Thanks! - It is a sharp combo for sure!

[maxwellwedge]

My 440 R/T rag (with air).

just one more reason i'm moving up north , has the adoption papers come through yet ?  

There go the hinges on my beer fridge!

A couple other 70 survivors...

[Brock Samson]

Q:
did the ses come with the taller bumper guards or was that a seperate option?..

[maxwellwedge]

Q:
did the ses come with the taller bumper guards or was that a seperate option?..

The purple SE in the above pick didn't come with front bumper guards - they are optional. The black car has front guards but they were dealer added. Every Challenger I have ever seen takes the same front guards. Or....are you asking about rear guards?

[Brock Samson]

 Yes, Thanks! The pic above had the taller front guards and i was wondering if they were a similar deal to the late build '69 Chargers B.G.s we were discussing... I noticed it was an SE.
Was there an SE option in '71 I don't recall ever seeing one?. 

[maxwellwedge]

There were no "JS29" '71's as a unique model like in 70......Not sure if there was a separate SE "Axx" package similar to the A47 package.  

OK - Found it - Code A78   1971    Formal Roof Package. Vinyl Roof, Formal Rear Window, SE Nameplates, Formed Headlining, Functional Overhead Consolette. I guess the only difference is the non "29" body designation, leather front seats, carpet on door panels and the lack of the tail panel trim panel.

[TheGhost]

I'll be different and say 72, because of the taillights, the vents on the fenders on the Rallye models, and there's just something about that "sadmouth" grill that I like better than the 70-71 grills.

[Rolling_Thunder]

Honestly I love the 70's but I find the 71 a little more appealing - no idea why - I would almost call them equals - but the tail lights and grille on the 71 are a little more unique...     

[Scaregrabber]

I'm okay with the 70 or 71 Grilles, however the backup light in the middle on the 70 and the 70 longitudinal R/T stripes send the 70 into the top position for me.
I really 74's as well, they look the same as a 72 or 73 but I like the one year 360 deal.

Sheldon

[472 R/T SE]

The 1970 model year. Even though i have a 440 R/T SE Challenger 'in the process', those which left the factory with the A66 package are the best all-around examples of that model assembled, given the quality of the day.

I like the way you think. 

A shaker hooded '70 Challenger, don't get much better than that. 

[69bronzeT5]

Mike, I love that car more and more everytime I see it! Do you still have it?

[TiMopar]

There were no "JS29" '71's as a unique model like in 70......Not sure if there was a separate SE "Axx" package similar to the A47 package. 

OK - Found it - Code A78   1971    Formal Roof Package. Vinyl Roof, Formal Rear Window, SE Nameplates, Formed Headlining, Functional Overhead Consolette. I guess the only difference is the non "29" body designation, leather front seats, carpet on door panels and the lack of the tail panel trim panel.

I own a 71 V-code Challenger R/T with the A78 Formal roof. It does not have 'SE' nameplates on it, nor as you say the leather seats, door carpet. I believe the 70 SE's had additional bright trim along the top of the doors and rear of the hood, which I don't think the 71 A78 cars had; certainly mine does not. Years ago MCG did a big 'expose' on 71 A78 cars and subsequently carried an article on a blue V-code car in Canada, which also lacked any 'SE' designation.

[tan top]

like love  them all  70-74  , but would like   white 70 hemi & a 4 speed  aka vanashing point    ..also  had a ideas  for a good few years in wanting to restore  a 74 also   

[chargergirl]

My first car was a Challenger, orange with black up the middle of the hood. She is somewhere in Maui hopefully restored. Bought her for $350 back then. Loved that car but didn't know anyone that would fix it. Left her with a friends boyfriend who loved her too. I wish I knew Mark then...we would still have the car!

[DavidSL]

like love  them all  70-74  , but would like   white 70 hemi & a 4 speed  aka vanashing point    ..also  had a ideas  for a good few years in wanting to restore  a 74 also   

Not to be an ass, but I believe in the original Vanishing Point the Challenger had a 440 Magnum. It was only in the TV remake that they gave it a Hemi.

Unless of course you mean the remake, in which case, to each their own...

[greatwn73]

I guess I'll be the only one saying 74 but I'm biased. Couldn't afford a 71 , so I'm building this one.

[maxwellwedge]

There were no "JS29" '71's as a unique model like in 70......Not sure if there was a separate SE "Axx" package similar to the A47 package. 

OK - Found it - Code A78   1971    Formal Roof Package. Vinyl Roof, Formal Rear Window, SE Nameplates, Formed Headlining, Functional Overhead Consolette. I guess the only difference is the non "29" body designation, leather front seats, carpet on door panels and the lack of the tail panel trim panel.

I own a 71 V-code Challenger R/T with the A78 Formal roof. It does not have 'SE' nameplates on it, nor as you say the leather seats, door carpet. I believe the 70 SE's had additional bright trim along the top of the doors and rear of the hood, which I don't think the 71 A78 cars had; certainly mine does not. Years ago MCG did a big 'expose' on 71 A78 cars and subsequently carried an article on a blue V-code car in Canada, which also lacked any 'SE' designation.

Yup - Forgot about the trim - does yours have the front valance trim? I was quoting Galino Groovy's book on the contents on the package so it could be inaccurate. I had a 70 V-Code Shaker RT/SE which I sold to a buddy, still have the 70 Hemi RT/SE.

[greenpigs]

1971

[Brock Samson]

  Thanks for the additional info.. I forgot about the extra back of hood and valance trim on the '70, what was the deal with the big trim at the front corners on the '71?.. and also the '71 elastomeric front bumbers? was that togeather or seperate?.. 
Still much prefer almost any '70 over a '71 but the details are getting hazy in my old age, as i was 13 in '70...

[71ChallengeHer]

  Thanks for the additional info.. I forgot about the extra back of hood and valance trim on the '70, what was the deal with the big trim at the front corners on the '71?.. and also the '71 elastomeric front bumbers? was that togeather or seperate?.. 
Still much prefer almost any '70 over a '71 but the details are getting hazy in my old age, as i was 13 in '70...

They were seperate options.

[Magnumcharger]

1970....for this reason:

[Troy]

1970....for this reason:

Oops! So I tried to remove the pic with the nekkid chick but got the wrong one so both ended up deleted.

Troy

[tan top]

like love  them all  70-74  , but would like   white 70 hemi & a 4 speed  aka vanashing point    ..also  had a ideas  for a good few years in wanting to restore  a 74 also   

Not to be an ass, but I believe in the original Vanishing Point the Challenger had a 440 Magnum. It was only in the TV remake that they gave it a Hemi.

Unless of course you mean the remake, in which case, to each their own...

very true  dave  was 440 in the original ,  still would have a elephant motor in mine , by saying vanishing point , as would have a challenger thats like that EW1 no vinyl black interior & a 4 speed 
did not go much on the remake , none of the challengers in the film had the hemi , the under hood shot in the film where kalwolski  is putting the air cleaner back on , they used a charger for the under hood shots

[Magnumcharger]

1970....for this reason:

Oops! So I tried to remove the pic with the nekkid chick but got the wrong one so both ended up deleted.

Troy

How 'bout I put a bra on her?

[maxwellwedge]

Hey - What did I miss? 

[Magnumcharger]

Hey - What did I miss? 

nekkid motorcycle-riding chick from Vanishing Point.....very small boob pic....obviously too much for prime time viewing!

[Brock Samson]

THAT REALLY GRINDS MY GEARS!!!     

[Magnumcharger]

Here the pics are again...without boobie...

My favorite year for Dodge Challenger, 1970.

[Troy]

Yeah well, I opened it at work - probably like a lot of others since Mondays and Tuesdays are the busiest days and noon-7 are the busiest times. Either way, no nudity.

Troy

[Magnumcharger]

Yeah well, I opened it at work - probably like a lot of others since Mondays and Tuesdays are the busiest days and noon-7 are the busiest times. Either way, no nudity.

Troy

I can still see her bum!

[maxwellwedge]

Was that a spray-on bra?

[69bronzeT5]

Nice bra Robin!

[Magnumcharger]

Was that a spray-on bra?

The bra only exists in your mind.....

[DavidSL]

very true  dave  was 440 in the original ,  still would have a elephant motor in mine , by saying vanishing point , as would have a challenger thats like that EW1 no vinyl black interior & a 4 speed 
did not go much on the remake , none of the challengers in the film had the hemi , the under hood shot in the film where kalwolski  is putting the air cleaner back on , they used a charger for the under hood shots

Ah thanks tan top, I didn't know that. I'll be honest, my info about the Hemi in the remake came from unknown sources, I read about it rather than saw it first hand - I've seen bits and pieces, but the original doesn't need to be 'retold'.

That is an awesome car, I'm with ya on that. If I had the money (which I hope to have in the next couple of years) and find a numbers matching '70 R/T with a 440 Magnum, it's mine. Of course, that's gonna require quite a bit of cash. My Challenger would HAVE to be that car, nothing else would do me. Ok, yeah, a Hemi would do me, but I just couldn't let myself settle for anything less than a 440 Magnum. Oh, and no stripes for me, it would need the little R/T emblems that got stuck on the side of the car. I know, I know, good luck in finding one, right?