Old-school Hemi Challenger R/T SE Now National Treasure
Dubbed the ‘Black Ghost,’ 1970 Challenger joins 1921 Duesenberg as 2020 inductee into the National Historic Vehicle Register.
Whenever you see a 1970 Challenger these days, they’re usually at the top of their game. Meticulously restored, their owners take pride showing off their rides. Some even decide to send off to the big-tent auction block, hoping to walk away with thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of dollars in their bank account. Either way, it’s certainly rare to see a ’70 Challenger looking like an aged street fighter ready for one final bout.
Luckily for all of us, one such example is now a national treasure. The Historic Vehicle Association inducted into its 2020 National Historic Vehicle Register class a ’70 Challenger R/T SE owned by Godfrey Qualls. This is the story of the “Black Ghost.”
“The Number 28 car in the National Historic Vehicle Register is the 1970 Dodge Hemi Challenger,” said HVA Vice President, Diane Parker. “With a near-perfect combination of options, this is one of the most coveted muscle cars ever built. It has the gator-grain top. It has the Hurst shifter. And it has a Hemi.”
According to the HVA, this Challenger is one of 23 R/T SEs with a Hemi and a four-speed manual built in 1970. With the options Qualls checked off, though, the triple-black stallion is likely the only ’70 R/T SE built like this.
“How many times have you seen a Hemi survivor?” asked Qualls’ son, Gregory. “‘Yeah, your dad used to race down the alleys of Detroit.’ I was like, ‘Really?’ It made me feel good. It made me feel proud.”
Back in the day, Qualls, a Detroit police officer and U.S. Army Green Beret, popped up around industrial roads to throw down against all comers. Then, he’d disappear from the dark of night for weeks at a time, only to return once again to dominate. This power move earned the Challenger its name, “Black Ghost.”
“There are certainly better preserved Challengers that could have been added to the Library’s Register,” wrote Robb Report, “but the organizers felt the wear and tear on the ‘Black Ghost’ is exactly what makes the muscle car so noteworthy.”
Photo: Historic Vehicle Registry
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