Dodge Challenger

Vanishing Point Challenger

Background:

While Plymouth was one of the first Makes to introduce a Pony Car with its 1964 introduction of the Barracuda, its sister division Dodge, had to wait until 1970 for its first Pony Car -- the Challenger. While both the Dodge and Plymouth Pony Cars of 1970-1974 were E-Bodies, the Challenger had a wheelbase 2" longer, mostly for it to compete with the more luxurious Mercury Cougar.

From 1978 to 1982, Dodge sold the 4-cylinder Mitsubishi Sapporo through its dealers as the Challenger, and Plymouth sold a virtually identical car through its dealers as the Sapporo.

With Pony Cars making a come back a few years ago, Dodge brought back the American Challenger, after a 34 year absence. Like Ford with the Mustang, and Chevrolet with the Camaro -- the Challenger has a retro look to it, having a close resemblance to the Challenger of the early 70s.

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History:

Model Predecessor

The Challenger is the first and only Pony Car for Dodge

Model Successor

The Challenger is the first and only Pony Car for Dodge

Export Versions

The export versions were basically the same as the domestic version. For a brief period they were sold in France through Simca, and a version was assembled in Switzerland to Swiss standard by AMAG. Both version are very rare today.

Related Models

Competition

Ford Mustang
Chevrolet Camaro
Pontiac Firebird
Mercury Cougar

Year by Year Changes, Production Numbers, and Cost:

1970

Body Styles

Sub Models

Production Numbers

1970 = 76,935 *includes 2,539 T/As
- Hardtop I6: 9,929
- Hardtop V8:. 39,350*
- Sports hardtop I6: 350
- Sports hardtop V8: 5,873
- Convertible I6: 378
- Convertible V8: 2,543
- Hardtop R/T: 13,796
- Special Edition hardtop R/T: 3,753
- Convertible R/T: 963

Available Colors

Light Gold Metallic-FY4,
Plum Crazy (purple)-FC7,
Sublime (green)-FJ5,
Go-Mango(orange)-EK2,
Hemi Orange-EV2,
Banana (yellow)-FY1,
Light Blue Metallic-EB3,
Bright Blue Metallic-EB5,
Dark Blue Metallic-EB7,
Rallye Red-FE5,
Light Green Metallic-FF4,
Dark Green Metallic-EF8,
Dark Burnt Orange-FK5,
Beige-BL1,
Dark Tan Metallic-FT6,
White-EW1,
Black-TX9,
Cream-DY3,
Panther Pink-FM3

Platform

E-Body

Engines

C: 225 cu in (3.7 L) Slant 6 I6: 145 bhp
G: 318 cu in (5.2 L) LA V8: 230 bhp
H: 340 cu in (5.6 L) LA V8: 275 bhp
J: 340 cu in (5.6 L) LA V8 Six-Pack: 290 bhp 1970 *T/A ONLY
L: 383 cu in (6.3 L) B V8: 290 bhp and 330 bhp (246 kW) 1970-1971
N: 383 cu in (6.3 L) B V8: 335 bhp 1970-1971
U: 440 cu in (7.2 L) RB V8: Available in Magnum 4-barrel carbureted form 375 bhp 1970-1971
V: 440 cu in (7.2 L) RB V8 Six-Pack: (3 × 2-barrel carburetors) 390 bhp 1970-1971
R: 426 cu in (7 L) Hemi V8: 425 bhp costing an extra US$1,228 and very few sold. 1970-1971

Transmissions

Length, width, height, wheelbase

Length 191.3 in
Width 76.1 in
Height 50.9 in
Wheelbase 110.0 in

1971

Body Styles

Sub Models

Production Numbers

1971 = 26,299
- Hardtop I6: 1,672
- Hardtop V8: 18,956
- Convertible I6: 83
- Convertible V8: 1,774
- Hardtop V8 R/T: 3,814

Available Colors

Light Gunmetal Metallic-GA4,
Light Blue Metallic-GB2,
Bright Blue Metallic-GB5,
Dark Blue Metallic-GB7,
Dark Green Metallic-GF7,
Light Green Metallic-GF3,
Gold Metallic-GY8,
Dark Gold Metallic-GY9,
Dark Bronze Metallic-GK6,
Tan Metallic-GT5,
Bright Red-FE5,
Bright White-GW3,
Black-TX9,
Butterscotch-EL5,
Citron Yella-GY3,
Hemi Orange-EV2,
Green Go-FJ6,
Plum Crazy-FC7,
Top Banana-FY1

Platform

E-Body

Engines

C: 225 cu in (3.7 L) Slant 6 I6: 145 bhp
G: 318 cu in (5.2 L) LA V8: 230 bhp
H: 340 cu in (5.6 L) LA V8: 275 bhp
J: 340 cu in (5.6 L) LA V8 Six-Pack: 290 bhp 1970 *T/A ONLY
L: 383 cu in (6.3 L) B V8: 290 bhp and 330 bhp (246 kW) 1970-1971
N: 383 cu in (6.3 L) B V8: 335 bhp 1970-1971
U: 440 cu in (7.2 L) RB V8: Available in Magnum 4-barrel carbureted form 375 bhp 1970-1971
V: 440 cu in (7.2 L) RB V8 Six-Pack: (3 × 2-barrel carburetors) 390 bhp 1970-1971
R: 426 cu in (7 L) Hemi V8: 425 bhp costing an extra US$1,228 and very few sold. 1970-1971

Transmissions

Length, width, height, wheelbase

Length 191.3 in
Width 76.1 in
Height 50.9 in
Wheelbase 110.0 in

1972

Body Styles

Sub Models

Production Numbers

1972 = 22,919
- Hardtop I6: 842
- Hardtop V8: 15,175
- Hardtop V8 Rallye: 8,123

Available Colors

Light Blue-HB1,
Bright Blue Metallic-HB5,
Bright Red-FE5,
Light Green Metallic-GF3,
Dark Green Metallic-GF7,
Eggshell White-GW1, Black-TX9,
Honeydew-GY4,
Light Gold-GY5,
Gold Metallic-GY8,
Dark Gold Metallic-GY9,
Dark Tan Metallic-GT8,
Light Gunmetal Metallic-GA4,
Medium Tan Metallic-GA4,
Super Blue-GB3,
Hemi Orange-EV2,
Top Banana-FY1

Platform

E-Body

Engines

G: 318 cu in (5.2 L) LA V8: 230 bhp (172 kW) 1970-1974
H: 340 cu in (5.6 L) LA V8: 275 bhp (205 kW) 1970-1973

Transmissions

Length, width, height, wheelbase

Length 191.3 in
Width 76.1 in
Height 50.9 in
Wheelbase 110.0 in

1973

Body Styles

Sub Models

Production Numbers

1973 = 27,930
- Note: All models were V8-powered hardtops

Available Colors

Black-TX9,
Dark Silver Metallic-JA5,
Eggshell White-EW1,
Parchment-HL4,
Light Gold-JY3,
Dark Gold Metallic-JY9,
Gold Metallic-JY6,
Bronze Metallic-GK6,
Pale Green-JF1,
Dark Green Metallic-JF8,
Light Blue-HB1,
Super Blue-TB3,
Bright Blue Metallic-GB5,
Bright Red-FE5,
Top Banana-FY1,
Light Green Metallic-GF3

Platform

E-Body

Engines

G: 318 cu in (5.2 L) LA V8: 230 bhp (172 kW) 1970-1974
H: 340 cu in (5.6 L) LA V8: 275 bhp (205 kW) 1970-1973

Transmissions

Length, width, height, wheelbase

Length 191.3 in
Width 76.1 in
Height 50.9 in
Wheelbase 110.0 in

1974

Body Styles

Sub Models

Production Numbers

1974 = 11,354
- Note: All models were V8-powered hardtops

Available Colors

Yellow Blaze-KY5,
Golden Fawn-KY4,
Parchment-HL4,
Bright Red-FE5,
Deep Sherwood Metallic (Green)-KG8,
Eggshell White-EW1,
Black-TX9,
Light Blue-HB1

Platform

E-Body

Engines

G: 318 cu in (5.2 L) LA V8: 230 bhp (172 kW) 1970-1974
J: 360 cu in (5.9 L) LA V8: 245 bhp (183 kW) 1974

Transmissions

Length, width, height, wheelbase

Length 191.3 in
Width 76.1 in
Height 50.9 in
Wheelbase 110.0 in

1978 - 1983

The Forgotten Challengers

In 1978, Chrysler partnered up with Mitsubishi to sell their small coupe sold overseas as the Sapporo through Dodge as the Challenger. Plymouth sold virtually the same car (with a silver grill instead of the Challenger's black grill, and in different body colors) through its dealers. These cars came with an unusually large (for the era) 2.6 liter 4 cylinder engine. Mitsubishi had pioneered smoothing out the larger displacement 4-cylinder engines with its balanced crank shafts. The Challenger and Plymouth from this era had brisk performance, when compared to other 4-Cylinder Sport Coupes of the same era.