Collector Car Corner – 1970-1974 Dodge Challengers are the rarest of pony cars 

Q: Greg, I’m a big fan of the pony cars from the 1960s and early 1970s. I know the Dodge Challenger is one of the rare ones, so can you give your opinion of this car? It was only built for a few years. Also your opinion from back then on pony cars? Thanks, Jack L., retired and living in Daytona Beach, Fla. 

A: Happy to Jack. With the popularity of collector cars growing by the day, Chrysler deserves an extra pat on the back for not only re-introducing the Dodge Challenger as a modern, retro offering back in 2010, its initial short run of just five years from 1970 to 1974 with the initial Challenger deserves a closer look.

Because the other pony cars had a big head start, the Dodge Challenger appeared pretty late in the muscle/pony car era. Ford Mustang and Plymouth Barracuda led the way in 1964, while Pontiac Firebird and Chevy Camaro joined the fray in 1967. Although Mustang had a “full run” right on through 2021 and is poised for more great years ahead, both Firebird and Camaro stalled out after 2002. Camaro took an eight-year breather, and returned in 2010 with its current offerings. Poor Pontiac was eliminated from GM manufacturing, joining Oldsmobile as GM discontinued vehicles. 

The other pony cars of note were AMC’s Javelin/AMX, where from model year 1968 to 1974 sold well and today is gaining in popularity. Mercury’s Cougar was pretty much a Mustang clone, and sold very well from 1967 to 1973. In 1974, Cougar left the Mustang chassis platform and grew into intermediate car status. 

However, when comparing actual production numbers, each of the competitors produced way more cars than that lone, rare, first generation Dodge Challenger.    

Prior to 1970, the streets were filled mostly with aforementioned Firebirds, Javelins, Cougars and the many Mustangs, Barracudas and Camaros. Yet when 1970 arrived, Dodge took the class by storm and since that day, the first generation Challenger is one of the most popular pony cars ever built. Its appearance in the hit movie “Vanishing Point” solidified its popularity, and by the end of production only 165,437 first generation Challengers were produced. 

The Plymouth Barracuda deserves extra note, and is another of Chrysler’s pony car success stories. It, appeared the same year as the Mustang in ‘64 on a Valiant platform until 1970, when it re-appeared alongside the new Challenger albeit in a two-inch shorter wheelbase. Available as both A-Body platform (Valiant) from 1964 to 1969 and then the E-body ‘Cuda / Barracuda / Challenger from 1970 to 1974, it is also one of the most popular street cruisers ever especially in E-body 440 and 426 Hemi ‘Cuda dress.

Although the Challenger survived in name only as a compact car from 1977 to 1983, it would be 25 years until the next “real Challenger” appeared in 2008. It also was closest to the original in the looks department in style and performance when compared to Mustang and the new 2010 Camaro.  

Mechanically, today’s Challenger in R/T or Hellcat dress can’t be compared to the first generation in any manner, except outward looks. Its modern drivetrain, suspension, brakes and computerized accessories are really out of this world and very comfortable to drive. As for performance, the 707-horse Hellcat and 840-horse Demon models can run the quarter mile in the nine to 10-second range, which is amazing. Yet when we turn the clock back to the numerous different styles offered from 1970 to 1974, the Dodge Challenger is a most respected pony car, especially when equipped with the 426 Hemi or a 440 Six Pack.

Looking through the first year of sales in 1970, Challenger sold a surprising 76,935 units. However, the majority of the production included the Slant-6, 318 V8 and 340 V8 varieties while just 18,512 were delivered in R/T livery, which necessitated either 383, 440 or 426 Hemi V8 power. Not to be forgotten is the ’70 T/A Challenger, with Six-Pack 340 small block power and a favorite of collectors. Only 2,539 were sold.

In 1971, things were starting to change a bit due to gas concerns and upcoming government mandates. The V8s were back, some in lower compression form like the R/T’s 383 Magnum, which went from 335 horses in 1970 to a lower compression 300 in 1971. The only available 440 was the Six Pack, which lost 5 –horsepower to 385. Everything else was the same, including the 425-horse 426 Hemi.

From 1972 to 1974, if you were a horsepower fan, everything changed. All of the big blocks were gone, replaced by a 360-small block as the most powerful 1974 offering at 245 horses. In 1972 and 1973, the 340 V8 was still available along with the 318, the latter the only V8 to appear in all five years of Challenger’s first generation. These 318s came in 230 horse and then a 150 horse versions the last two years. 

Many Challenger owners made their lower horsepower 1972 to 1974 models what we call “tribute editions” of former R/T varieties. The addition of a 383, 440 or 426 Hemi is an easy engine swap.     

Notable, too, is MOPAR’s dedication to muscle cars. The Dodge Charger, introduced in 1966, has gone through seven generations in groups of 1966 to 1978; 1982 to 1987; 2006 to 2010; and 2011 to present. Notable is that many 1980s Chargers were not full size or intermediate vehicles, but today, the 4-door Charger is one of the MOPAR group’s top muscle cars in Hellcat and other Hemi powered dress.

But when it comes to rare, nothing comes close to the first generation Challenger in production numbers and current popularity. Thanks for your letter.

(Greg Zyla is a syndicated auto columnist who welcomes reader comments or questions on collector cars at greg@gregzyla.com or at 303 Roosevelt St., Sayre, Pa. 18840.)