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Dodge Challenger (1st Generation)

Dodge Challenger (1st Generation)
Vehicle Model

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The first generation Challenger was produced for model years 1970-1974.

Magazine covers include:  GTR Newsletter (Febraury 2014 - Vanishing Point 1971 model)

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History

The following section is an excerpt from Wikipedia's Dodge Challenger page on 14 June 2016, text available via the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

The Challenger was described in a book about 1960s American cars as Dodge's "answer to the Mustang and Camaro." Introduced in fall 1969 for the 1970 model year, it was one of two Chrysler E-body cars, the other being the slightly smaller Plymouth Barracuda. "Both the Challenger and Barracuda were available in a staggering number of trim and option levels" and were intended "to compete against cars like the Chevrolet Camaro and Ford Mustang, and to do it while offering virtually every engine in Chrysler's inventory." However, the 1970 Challenger was "a rather late response to the ponycar wave the Ford Mustang had started" with its introduction in April 1964. In his book Hemi Muscle Cars, Robert Genat wrote that the Challenger was conceived in the late 1960s as Dodge's equivalent of the Plymouth Barracuda, and that the Barracuda was designed to compete against the Mustang. The 1964 Barracuda was actually the first car in this sporty car segment by a few weeks, but was quickly overshadowed by the release of the segment defining Mustang (the segment being referred to as "Pony Car"). He added that Chrysler intended the new 1970 Dodge as "the most potent ponycar ever," and positioned it "to compete against the Mercury Cougar and Pontiac Firebird." Genat also noted that the "Barracuda was intended to compete in the marketplace with the Mustang and Camaro/Firebird, while the Dodge was to be positioned against the Cougar" and other more luxury-type musclecars.

The Challenger's longer wheelbase, larger dimensions and more luxurious interior were prompted by the launch of the 1967 Mercury Cougar, likewise a bigger, more luxurious and more expensive pony car aimed at affluent young American buyers. The wheelbase, at 110 inches (2,794 mm), was two inches longer than the Barracuda, and the Dodge differed substantially from the Plymouth in its outer sheetmetal, much as the Cougar differed from the shorter-wheelbase Ford Mustang. Air conditioning and a rear window defogger were optional.

Exterior design was done by Carl Cameron, who also did the exterior for the 1966 Dodge Charger. Cameron based the 1970 Challenger grille off an older sketch of his 1966 Charger prototype that was to have a turbine engine. The Charger never got the turbine, but the Challenger featured that car's grille. Although the Challenger was well received by the public (with 76,935 produced for the 1970 model year), it was criticized by the press, and the pony car segment was already declining by the time the Challenger arrived. Sales fell dramatically after 1970, and though sales rose for the 1973 model year with over 27,800 cars being sold, Challenger production ceased midway through the 1974 model year. A total of 165,437 Challengers were sold over this generation's lifespan.

A 1970 Challenger R/T 440 Magnum was featured in the existentialist 1971 film Vanishing Point. For the 1973-74 season of the TV show Mannix the title character drove a 1974 Challenger Rallye, which was specially ordered and built for the show. The car had every option available including the 360 4-barrel engine and the rare factory sunroof.

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Photographs

	Photo ©2007 Bill Crittenden Barrington, Illinois Cruise Night:  July 19, 2007 View photo of Dodge Challenger - 3,252KB
	1970 Photo by "Morven" Garden Grove, California May 14, 2004 View photo of 1970 Dodge Challenger - 81KB Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no Invariant Sections, no Front-Cover Texts, and no Back-Cover Texts. A copy of the license is included in the section entitled "GNU Free Documentation License".
	1970 340 Four-Barrel From the private museum of Greg & Kathy Mosley Photo ©2008 Bill Crittenden View photo of 1970 Dodge Challenger 340 Four-Barrel - 3,041KB
	1970 340 Four-Barrel From the private museum of Greg & Kathy Mosley Photo ©2008 Bill Crittenden View photo of 1970 Dodge Challenger 340 Four-Barrel - 4,028KB
	1970 340 Four-Barrel From the private museum of Greg & Kathy Mosley Photo ©2008 Bill Crittenden View photo of 1970 Dodge Challenger 340 Four-Barrel - 3,082KB
	1970 340 Four-Barrel From the private museum of Greg & Kathy Mosley Photo ©2008 Bill Crittenden View photo of 1970 Dodge Challenger 340 Four-Barrel - 4,154KB
	1970 340 Four-Barrel From the private museum of Greg & Kathy Mosley Photo ©2008 Bill Crittenden View photo of 1970 Dodge Challenger 340 Four-Barrel - 4,732KB
	1970 340 Four-Barrel From the private museum of Greg & Kathy Mosley Photo ©2008 Bill Crittenden View photo of 1970 Dodge Challenger 340 Four-Barrel - 3,298KB
	1970 340 Four-Barrel From the private museum of Greg & Kathy Mosley Photo ©2008 Bill Crittenden View photo of 1970 Dodge Challenger 340 Four-Barrel - 3,461KB
	1970 340 Four-Barrel From the private museum of Greg & Kathy Mosley Photo ©2008 Bill Crittenden View photo of 1970 Dodge Challenger 340 Four-Barrel - 3,445KB
	1970 R/T 340 Six Pack Photo ©2013 Bill Crittenden 2013 Muscles for Muscles Car Show View photo of 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T 340 Six Pack Convertible - 3.9MB
	1970 R/T 340 Six Pack Photo ©2013 Bill Crittenden 2013 Muscles for Muscles Car Show View photo of 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T 340 Six Pack Convertible - 3.1MB
	1970 R/T 340 Six Pack Photo ©2013 Bill Crittenden 2013 Muscles for Muscles Car Show View photo of 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T 340 Six Pack Convertible - 5.8MB
	1970 R/T 340 Six Pack Photo ©2013 Bill Crittenden 2013 Muscles for Muscles Car Show View photo of 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T 340 Six Pack Convertible - 3.3MB
	1970 R/T 340 Six Pack Photo ©2013 Bill Crittenden 2013 Muscles for Muscles Car Show View photo of 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T 340 Six Pack Convertible - 3.3MB
	1970 R/T 440 Six Pack in Panther Pink Photo ©2010 Bill Crittenden 2010 Muscle Car & Corvette Nationals View photo of a 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T - 3,587KB
	1970 R/T 440 Six Pack in Panther Pink Photo ©2010 Bill Crittenden 2010 Muscle Car & Corvette Nationals View photo of a 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T - 4,048KB
	1970 R/T 440 Six Pack in Panther Pink Photo ©2010 Bill Crittenden 2010 Muscle Car & Corvette Nationals View photo of a 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T - 3,058KB
	1970 R/T 440 Magnum Photo ©2012 Bill Crittenden for $48,000 at the Mecum 2012 Fall Premier Auction View photo of 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T 440 Magnum - 3.5MB
	1970 R/T 440 Magnum Photo ©2012 Bill Crittenden for $48,000 at the Mecum 2012 Fall Premier Auction View photo of 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T 440 Magnum - 3.5MB
	1970 R/T 440 Magnum Photo ©2012 Bill Crittenden for $48,000 at the Mecum 2012 Fall Premier Auction View photo of 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T 440 Magnum - 3.8MB
	1970 R/T Built by Kim Gableson Photo ©2009 Bill Crittenden December 2009 Meeting of C.A.R.S. in Miniature View photo of 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T Model - 3,534KB
	1970 R/T Built by Kim Gableson Photo ©2009 Bill Crittenden December 2009 Meeting of C.A.R.S. in Miniature View photo of 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T Model - 3,289KB
	1970 R/T Built by Kim Gableson Photo ©2009 Bill Crittenden December 2009 Meeting of C.A.R.S. in Miniature View photo of 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T Model - 3,628KB
	This model won "Pick of the Show" Photo ©2010 Bill Crittenden 2010 Muscle Car & Corvette Nationals Model Car Show View photo of 1970 Dodge Challenger Model, 3,511KB
	The Parts Tree, December 2009 Cover 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T by Kim Gableson View The Parts Tree December 2009 Cover - 269KB
	Modified 1970 R/T Photo ©2008 Bill Crittenden 2008 Lakemoor Dollars For Scholars Car Show View photo of 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T - 6,134KB
	Modified 1970 R/T Photo ©2008 Bill Crittenden 2008 Lakemoor Dollars For Scholars Car Show View photo of 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T - 4,276KB
	Modified 1970 R/T Photo ©2008 Bill Crittenden 2008 Lakemoor Dollars For Scholars Car Show View photo of 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T - 3,654KB
	Modified 1970 R/T Photo ©2008 Bill Crittenden 2008 Lakemoor Dollars For Scholars Car Show View photo of 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T - 3,124KB
	Modified 1970 R/T Photo ©2008 Bill Crittenden 2008 Lakemoor Dollars For Scholars Car Show View photo of 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T - 3,782KB
	Modified 1970 R/T Photo ©2008 Bill Crittenden 2008 Lakemoor Dollars For Scholars Car Show View photo of 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T - 5,579KB
	Modified 1970 R/T Photo ©2008 Bill Crittenden 2008 Lakemoor Dollars For Scholars Car Show View photo of 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T - 4,061KB
	Modified 1970 R/T Photo ©2008 Bill Crittenden 2008 Lakemoor Dollars For Scholars Car Show View photo of 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T - 3,698KB
	Modified 1970 R/T Photo ©2008 Bill Crittenden 2008 Lakemoor Dollars For Scholars Car Show View photo of 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T - 3,796KB
	Modified 1970 R/T Photo ©2008 Bill Crittenden 2008 Lakemoor Dollars For Scholars Car Show View photo of 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T - 3,304KB
	1970 T/A Six Pak Unrestored Original Photo ©2011 Bill Crittenden The Cars Time Forgot Car Show View photo of 1970 Dodge Challenger T/A Six Pak - 2,197KB
	1970 T/A Six Pak Unrestored Original Photo ©2011 Bill Crittenden The Cars Time Forgot Car Show View photo of 1970 Dodge Challenger T/A Six Pak - 1,501KB
	1970 T/A Six Pak Unrestored Original Photo ©2011 Bill Crittenden The Cars Time Forgot Car Show View photo of 1970 Dodge Challenger T/A Six Pak - 2,152KB
	1970 T/A Six Pak Unrestored Original Photo ©2011 Bill Crittenden The Cars Time Forgot Car Show View photo of 1970 Dodge Challenger T/A Six Pak - 2,028KB
	1970 T/A Six Pak Unrestored Original Photo ©2012 Bill Crittenden 2012 The Cars Time Forgot View photo of 1970 Dodge Challenger T/A Six Pak - 4.3MB
	1970 T/A Six Pak Unrestored Original Photo ©2012 Bill Crittenden 2012 The Cars Time Forgot View photo of 1970 Dodge Challenger T/A Six Pak - 3.7MB
	1970 T/A Six Pak Unrestored Original Photo ©2012 Bill Crittenden 2012 The Cars Time Forgot View photo of 1970 Dodge Challenger T/A Six Pak - 2.2MB
	1970 T/A Six Pak Unrestored Original Photo ©2012 Bill Crittenden 2012 The Cars Time Forgot View photo of 1970 Dodge Challenger T/A Six Pak - 3.7MB
	1970 T/A Six Pak Unrestored Original Photo ©2012 Bill Crittenden 2012 The Cars Time Forgot View photo of 1970 Dodge Challenger T/A Six Pak - 3.4MB
	Modified 1970 Built by Larry Filmore Photo ©2011 Bill Crittenden C.A.R.S. in Miniature February 2011 Meeting View photo of 1970 Dodge Challenger Model - 3,032KB
	Modified 1970 Built by Larry Filmore Photo ©2011 Bill Crittenden C.A.R.S. in Miniature February 2011 Meeting View photo of 1970 Dodge Challenger Model
	Modified 1970 Built by Larry Filmore Photo ©2011 Bill Crittenden C.A.R.S. in Miniature February 2011 Meeting View photo of 1970 Dodge Challenger Model - 3,138KB
	1971 Indianapolis 500 Pace Car Built by Bob Deneen Photo ©2011 Bill Crittenden C.A.R.S. in Miniature February 2011 Meeting View photo of 1971 Dodge Challenger Indianapolis 500 Pace Car, 3,271KB
	1971 Indianapolis 500 Pace Car Built by Bob Deneen Photo ©2011 Bill Crittenden C.A.R.S. in Miniature February 2011 Meeting View photo of 1971 Dodge Challenger Indianapolis 500 Pace Car - 2,897KB
	1971 Indianapolis 500 Pace Car Built by Bob Deneen Photo ©2011 Bill Crittenden C.A.R.S. in Miniature February 2011 Meeting View photo of 1971 Dodge Challenger Indianapolis 500 Pace Car - 2,935KB
	1973 Rallye 340 4V Photo by "Hnatiw" View photo of 1973 Dodge Challenger Rallye 340 4V - 141KB
	Photo by "Morven" View photo of Dodge Challenger - 608KB Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no Invariant Sections, no Front-Cover Texts, and no Back-Cover Texts. A copy of the license is included in the section entitled "GNU Free Documentation License".
	Photo ©2009 Bill Crittenden The Cars Time Forgot Car Show View photo of Dodge Challenger - 3,706KB
	Photo ©2009 Bill Crittenden The Cars Time Forgot Car Show View photo of Dodge Challenger - 3,931KB
	Photo ©2009 Bill Crittenden The Cars Time Forgot Car Show View photo of Dodge Challenger - 4,225KB
	Photo ©2009 Bill Crittenden The Cars Time Forgot Car Show View photo of Dodge Challenger - 2,953KB
	Photo ©2009 Bill Crittenden The Cars Time Forgot Car Show View photo of Dodge Challenger - 3,828KB
	Photo ©2009 Bill Crittenden The Cars Time Forgot Car Show View photo of Dodge Challenger - 3,780KB
	Photo ©2011 Bill Crittenden Richmond Cruise Night: June 3, 2011 View photo of Dodge Challenger - 468KB
	Photo ©2011 Bill Crittenden Richmond Cruise Night: June 3, 2011 View photo of Dodge Challenger - 969KB

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Documents

Date	Document Name & Details	Documents
30 December 1970	NHTSA Recall 71V004000 1971 Dodge Challenger, 1971 Dodge Charger, 1971 Dodge Coronet, 1971 Plymouth Barracuda Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum National Highway Traffic Safety Administration	Recall Page - 1 page

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Merchandise

Type & Item #	Name	Details
Model Kit - AMT 6466	'70 Dodge Challenger R/T	1:25 scale
Model Kit - AMT 6568	"Yankee Challenge"	1:25 scale drag race modified 1970
Model Kit - AMT 38392	'70 Dodge Challenger R/T	1:25 scale
Die Cast - Hot Wheels J3270-1716	'70 Dodge Challenger HEMI	2006 First Editions, small scale, purple w/black
Die Cast - Hot Wheels M6995-A519	'70 Dodge Challenger Hemi	Hot Wheels Stars, small scale, short card, dark red w/silver stripe
Die Cast - Hot Wheels T9996-09GN	Green Lantern: '71 Dodge Challenger	2011 New Models, small scale, orange w/black

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