Slideshow: This B7 Beauty Can Be Yours Through Russo and Steele

It’s Real. And it’s Spectacular…

Replica. Clone. Phantom. Tribute. These are words used by people to put an artful spin on the fact that—no matter how perfect it may seem—their car is nonetheless not the real thing. But even if it isn’t completely ersatz, there’s another layer of obfuscation: “NOM” (non-original motor), “date-coded,” “factory-style,” and the rest. Sadly, for owners of the real thing, this excuse-making is so pervasive that most people assume it’s a fake or don’t appreciate their car—THIS car, offered at Russo and Steele’s Newport Beach sale—for what it is: a 100 percent real-deal bad-ass four-speed Super Track Pack 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T 440 Six Pack.

Original Numbers-Matching Magic

When this B7 (Dark Blue Metallic) beauty left the assembly line under her own power she sported a 440 cubic inch big block V8 topped by a trio of two-barrel carburetors (aka the “Six Pack”.) It put its prodigious power—hilariously underrated by the factory at a claimed 390 horses—to the rear tires via a four-speed manual transmission and Dana 60 4.10 rear-end gear (the Super Track Pack ratio). If you wanted the hottest setup Dodge offered but decided against the pricey “Hemi,” this was it. And the car in review today is exactly as I just mentioned.

>>Join the conversation about this B7 1970 Challenger right here in the Dodge Forum.

Pistol Grip Perfection

Not to besmirch the reputations of the fine folks who manned (and womanned) the Challenger assembly line in 1970. But thanks to a crazy-comprehensive “no expense spared rotisserie restoration” using born-with, N.O.S. (new old stock, aka 1970s-made and never used), and date-coded (same, but used) parts, this vehicle is better built now than ever before. Now, I can’t say that things like the Tick Tok Tach, Pistol Grip shifter, and the like were there since Day One as I haven’t seen the build sheet(s) or fender tag(s), but the latter—and the Dana tag—are said to be “included”.

>>Join the conversation about this B7 1970 Challenger right here in the Dodge Forum.

So Clean You Better not Eat off it

Nothing illustrates the thoroughness of this restoration like this image. It’s immediately clear that it’s completely and correctly redone, obsessively so, right down to the factory markings used on its assembly line. In addition to the Dana 60 “pumpkin” (differential housing, at left) and its enclosed 4.10 gears, this car features the born-with power front disc brakes that completed the Super Track Pack option. It’s not surprising that this car would garner praise and awards at any car show it attended, though the grammar of the auction listing regarding this—"Mulitple award-winner ”—is less than clear on this point.

>>Join the conversation about this B7 1970 Challenger right here in the Dodge Forum.

Absolutely no Excuses

Would I have resisted the temptation to add Slotted Rallye wheels and a Shaker hood to this car because I love the way they look? I don’t know. Given that only 1,936 440 Six Pack Challengers were made—in all colors and configurations—going as-original would be the “right” thing to do. But given that this car failed to sell with a high bid of $75,000—and median price for the model is $97,500, with an all-time high of $124,200—it didn’t “move the metal” as they say. But if you appreciate the effort that went into this car—and the near-flawless results—it’s still for sale. You have until July 8th to contact Russo and Steele and work out a deal. 

>>Join the conversation about this B7 1970 Challenger right here in the Dodge Forum.

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