The 1970 Dodge Challenger Is a Legendary Muscle Vehicle

Dodge’s midsize muscle car was designed as a “Challenge” to the Mustang and Camaro pony cars. They got it right. This tough-looking automobile commands attention with its sculpted body. This menacing Challenger surely packs a punch, especially when equipped with the famed Hemi V8s.

The Dodge Challenger is still a very desirable classic muscle car. We’ve updated this article with information on its current used car market value so that purchasers may get an estimate of how much their ideal automobile would cost.

The Dodge Challenger caught Hollywood’s attention and was made the star of the 1971 film Vanishing Point. In the Trans-America Championship, the Challenger had modest racing success. Despite the great press, the first Dodge Challenger arrived late to the pony car party and did not sell as well as Dodge had intended. Furthermore, future pollution rules would limit the first-generation Challenger’s lifespan to only four years. The total number of early Challengers produced was only 165,437.

Read on to learn more about how the 1970 Dodge Challenger came to be, what makes it one of the best muscle cars of all time, and how a series of sad events has caused the price of these masterpieces to skyrocket sky high.

The 1970 Dodge Challenger was an unpopular car when it was first debuted, but it is now recognized as a rare collector’s car. The first-generation Challengers were built until 1974. They have, nevertheless, grown in popularity since then. Vintage Challengers have continued to feature in films such as Quentin Tarantino’s Death Proof, 2 Fast 2 Furious as well as The Bucket List.

At auctions, several one-of-a-kind Challengers have commanded record prices. Muscle cars were regarded good project cars in the early 2000s, but a terrible choice for collectors. Then a 4-speed Plymouth Hemi ‘Cuda convertible went up for auction, one of just two made and the only one with its original engine. It was also the first muscle vehicle to sell for more than a million dollars. That automobile was sold for $3.5 million again in 2014. Following the sale of the headline-grabbing Cuda, the value of its rare Challenger cousins began to rise as well. A unique Challenger was even accepted into the National Historic Vehicle Register.

Eventually, Dodge introduced a new retro-styled Challenger in 2008. The new car’s marketing and popularity drove up the price of the few surviving first-generation Challengers.