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Dodge Challenger
Dodge Challenger, Bring us your dream Challenger and we will create it in to a living reality. The latest trends we know em, breaking the mold we can do it! Setting the standard is what we live for ! As seen we are getting ready to build the ultimate custom Mopar ! Stay Tuned for pictures as the project progresses!
C O R E - V A L U E S We know from experience that the key to creating a great Mopar Car building business is an intense focus on the values that guide its people's actions. These are our Core Values and Beliefs. We respect our people and believe that qualified individuals who are treated with respect and given responsibility respond by performing the best workmanship possible. We require complete honesty and integrity in everything we do. We insist on giving our best effort when building your Challenger project. Clarity in understanding our mission, our goals and what we expect from each other is critical to our success. In all our dealings we will strive to be professional and fair. More then once you have probably thought, who should I choose to build my project? Should I trust my project to a facility thousands of miles away? Obviously Quality and Trust is imperative. As you look through our website and browse the sections you will see a very organized facility with rarely seen details and quality techniques being performed on many different types of projects. The reason we build Mopars to this level is that we only build these specialized rides for customers who are going to keep their dream ride for a long time, perhaps the remainder of their life and then pass it on to that special family member that will enjoy it with the same passion! When building your Challenger ride with this criteria we are building for the long haul and no tiny detail gets left undone. We know that this type of customer will be waxing and inspecting their pride and joy for many years and we want them to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that they received the Ultimate workmanship on their Mopar project. If you have any questions about your project please call us at 210-695-5151 and we will be glad to answer them. We believe in revealing our workmanship to prove our knowledge and integrity to our customers. Our standard setting techniques have been published hundreds of times in major magazines and publications. We arrange transport all over the USA for your convenience. We appreciate your business and we thank you for choosing us to build your Dodge Challenger ! Sincerely, Jeff Lilly Dodge Challenger HistoryThe first Challenger was the division's late entrant to the pony car market segment in the United States, launched for the 1970 model year. It was based on the similar Plymouth Barracuda's new E-body, though the wheelbase, at 110" was two inches longer and had substanitally different outer sheetmetal than its Plymouth cousin. Exterior design was done by Carl "CAM'" Cameron, whom also did the exterior for the 1966 Dodge Charger. For the 1970 Challenger grille, CAM' based it off of an older sketch of his of a 1966 Charger prototype that was designed to have a turbine engine. The Charger never got the turbine, but the Challenger got that car's grille. Although the Challenger was well-received by the public (with 80,000 sales in 1970 alone), it was criticized by the press, and the pony car segment was already declining by the time the Challenger arrived. Challenger production ceased after the 1974 model year, only having lasted five years; performance dropped off dramatically after the 1971 models. About 165,500 Challengers were sold over this model's lifespan. Three models were offered: Challenger Six, Challenger V-8 and Challenger R/T. Challengers could either be hardtops, coupes, or convertibles (through 1971 only). The standard engine on the base model was the 225ci. six-cylinder. Standard engine on the V-8 was the 230 hp 318ci 2 barrel (2v) carburetor. Optional engines were the 340ci, 383ci, 2v and 4v, all with a 3 speed manual transmission, except for the 290hp 383ci 2v, which was available only in the torqueflight automatic transmission. The 4 speed manual was optional on all engines except the 225ci six cyl and 383 ci 2v V-8. The performance model was the R/T (Road/Track), with a 335 hp 383ci Magnum. Standard transmission was a 3 speed manual. Optional R/T engines were the 375 hp 440ci Magnum, the 390hp 440ci Six-pack (3x2v) and the 425 hp 426 Hemi. available in both body styles; both standard and R/T hardtops could be ordered as the more luxurious SE specification, which included leather seats, a vinyl roof, a smaller 'formal' rear window, and an overhead interior cosole that contained three warning lights (door ajar, low fuel and seatbelts). The R/T Challengers came with a Rallye instrument cluster which included a 150 mph speedometer, an 8000 rpm tachometer and an oil pressure gauge. The convertible Challenger was available with any powerplant except for the 340-6, as well as in the R/T and SE trim levels. In 1972, Dodge dropped the R/T badging and now called it the "Rallye". Other options, as well as engines and a manual transmission, included steeper rear axle ratios, a limited-slip differential, and a shaker hood scoop were gone for 1972. A 1970-only model was the Dodge Challenger T/A (Trans Am) racing homologation car, which used a specially tuned 290 hp Six-Pack version of the 340 in³ (5.6 L) engine, topped with a giant hood scoop on a fiberglass hood. 'Megaphone' exhaust outlets were fitted in front of the rear wheels. These cars came standard with front and rear sway bars to enhance handling. Different-sized tires were fitted front and back, with very fat rubber (G60-15) on the rear and power font disc brakes. The T/A came standard with a rear ducktail spoiler and could be fitted with a front spoiler as well. The "Western Special" was version available to west coast dealers. It came with a rear-exit exhaust system and Western Special identification on the rear deck lid. Some examples came with a vacuum operated trunk release. Another late production version was the Challenger "Deputy". By 1972, all big-block engines were gone, maximum power was down to 240 hp, and production ceased in mid-1974. For obvious reasons, the 440 and the 426 Hemi engines were considered the most desirable, and nowadays command sizeable premiums over the smaller engines. Although the body style remained the same throughout the 5 year run, there were two notable changes to the front grille. 1971 models had a more stylized "split" grille, and the final manipulation coming in 1972, with the incorporation of the "sad-mouth" design. With this change to the front end, 1972 through 1974 models had little to no variation. The only way to properly distinguish said models is by the front and rear "bumperettes" which exponentially increased in size during each consecutive year. These changes were made to meet US regulations regarding crash test safety. The 1970 taillights went all the way across the back of the car, with the backup light in the middle of the rear. In 1971, the backup lights were on the left and right instead of the middle. The taillight array also changed for 1972 onwards, with the Challenger now having four individual lamps similar to the mid-size Mercurys of the time. Collector's valueAs the Chrysler E-body line reaches legendary proportions, so too do the prices to buy them. 1970 and 1971 models tend to generate more attention from potential (and usually deep pocketed) buyers, as the performance and style options had not yet been toned down. However, with the popularity of these vehicles on the increase, coupled with the number of useable and restorable Challengers being on the decrease, many collectors have begun looking towards the later models to create their own customizable dream machines. Indeed, many "clones" of the more visceral 1970 and 1971 Challengers have been created by using 1972 through 1974 donors; The front and rear grilles/bumpers on these vehicles are easily interchangeable. However, the tail panel is not so easy to change, since the 1970 and 1971 tail panels are quite different from the 1972 to 1974 models. Today they are considered one of the most sought-after muscle cars of all time. The rarity of specific models and combinations today is primarily the result of low buyer interest and production at the time. ProductionEnginesEngine choices included the following:
Performance
Serial numbersex. JS27R0B100001
Quantities1970 Model Year = 76,935 *includes 2,399 T/A's
1971 Model Year = 26,299
1972 Model Year = 22,919
1973 Model Year
1974 Model Year
Colors
Light Gold Metallic-FY4, Plum Crazy (purple)-FC7, Sublime (green)-FJ5, Go-Mango(orange)-EK2, Hemi Orange-EV2, Banana (yellow)-FY1
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
Light Blue-HB1, Bright Blue Metallic-HB5, Bright Red-FE5, Light Green Metallic-GF3, Dark Green Metalic-GF7, Eggshell White-GW1, Black-TX9, 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
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
Yellow Blaze-KY5, Golden Fawn-KY4, Parchment-HL4, Bright Red-FE5, Eggshell White-EW1, Black-TX9 Second generation (1978-1983)The Challenger name was revived in 1978 for a version of the early Mitsubishi Galant Lambda coupe, known overseas as the Mitsubishi Sapporo and sold through Dodge dealers as a captive import, identical except in color and minor trim to the Plymouth Sapporo. Although mechanically identical, the Dodge version emphasized sportiness, with bright colors and tape stripes, and the Plymouth on luxury with more subdued trim. Both cars were sold until 1983, until being replaced by the Conquest and Daytona. The car retained the frameless hardtop styling of the old Challenger, but had only a four-cylinder engine and was a long way in performance from its namesake. Nevertheless, it acquired a reputation as a reasonably brisk performer of its type, not least because of its available 2.6 L engine, exceptionally large for a four-cylinder. Four-cylinder engines of this size had not usually been built due to inherent vibration, but Mitsubishi pioneered the use of balance shafts to help damp this out, and the Challenger was one of the first vehicles to bring this technology to the American market; it has since been licensed to many other manufacturers. |
