Vintage 1973 Challenger Rallye Is Ready for Your Garage
Lesser-loved classics are a perfect type of car to buy if you need old sheet metal and V8 power.
There’s certain vintage cars that always get our hearts pumping a little faster. Cuda AAR’s, 440 six packs, etc. But sometimes the price of those cars is just a little bit outrageous. So why not get a lower priced example that isn’t as popular? For example, this 1973 Dodge Challenger Rallye.
We spotted this Challenger over on ClassicCars.com. With the Rallye “A57” code, you’ll get more than just looks. Hemmings says you’ll also get a beefier suspension, too. Upgraded torsion bars, upgraded leaf springs, and additional sway bars keep body motion in check. Car control is cemented by Wide Oval F70-14 rubber. Rallye gauges are included inside, and this one has the optional 340 four barrel V8 which saw a 90 horsepower advantage over the 318 cubic inch V8.
Going with a 1973 model means you will sacrifice some horsepower. The 340’s of this era were pumping out 240 horsepower. It was down a bit from previous years due to smaller valves in the cylinder head, and lower compression all to meet emissions laws. This might indicate why the car is available at a more attainable price, but we all know the 340 is a workhorse, and a reliable long-lasting engine, too. If costs are a concern for your vintage vehicle, this should put you at ease.
One thing about classics that have been been subject to emissions restrictions is that they offer options for the owner. The owner can go period-correct and keep things original, or retrofit period-correct parts to bump horsepower numbers back where they belong. Or, they could go all the way to extremes without cutting up a rare and desirable pony car. At DodgeForum, we like the ones that keep things mostly original, but with mild performance enhancements here and there. After all, a 340 four-barrel sounds best when un-corked.
A quick search of Hemmings shows that prices are in the $30,000-$40,000 range for clean examples like this one. But interestingly, they weren’t all that common. Most of the ’72 and newer models had been the recipient of a resto-mod rebuild of varying flair.
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