As strange as it may sound, sometimes I feel badly for the guys with numbers-matching show cars. See, the guy who owns this bright Hemi Orange 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T tribute can go out and spin the tires, add a few horsepower-building parts, and generally have a great time with his car without worrying about "investments" and future owners getting picky. Better yet, you can own this car for a fraction of the price of one whose only major difference is the numbers stamped on the engine block. Totally nuts, right?Painting a car Hemi Orange means that keeping a low profile is pointless and every kid with a hopped-up Honda is going to rev his engine at you. The bright paint is only as good as the sheetmetal underneath, and the good news is that this car seems to hail from a warm place, so rust is a non-issue. Good gaps and assembly that was far more careful than the assembly line guys could spare the time to achieve make this Challenger stand out. It was originally Limelight Green, which is another high-impact color, but the color change to orange was thorough enough that you really have to look to find the evidence. A black padded roof helps with the intimidating look, and it's in excellent shape with no signs of trouble underneath. Then there are the brightly chromed bumpers, full-width taillights that are bright and clear, and, of course, the black hood treatment, grille, and side stripes that make the R/T look downright predatory, with or without the bright orange paint.The black bucket seat interior is quite possibly original, and while some things are showing minor signs of age, most of it is in very good condition. Since this was originally a 6-cylinder car, it isn't all loaded up with goodies, but there is a familiar Rallye steering wheel, big round gauges, and a pistol-grip shifter for the 4-speed manual transmission. Additional gauges hang below the dash in the usual spot, and you'll be pleasantly surprised by the condition of soft parts like the door panels, dash pad, and headliner, and even the carpet is in great shape with no threadbare spots. There's an AM/FM/iPod/Bluetooth head unit in the dash feeding a pair of big 6x9 speakers on the rear package shelf, so you can bring today's tech and entertainment with you. Open the trunk and you'll find a correct mat and the pattern of undercoating on the quarters suggests that these are not replacement pieces. Nice!The engine is a 318 cubic inch V8 topped by an Edelbrock intake manifold and matching 4-barrel carb. It wears Hemi Orange paint on the valve covers, which really splashes against the satin black engine bay and many of the details are nicely done. There's a chrome air cleaner for some dress-up as well as a set of long-tube headers with a fresh dual exhaust system that sounds great. The original TorqueFlite is gone, replaced by a 4-speed manual that makes a huge difference in cruising and performance. The 318 is a great choice, transforming this into a car you can drive anywhere, anytime, especially with highway-friendly gears in the 8.75-inch rear. Correct Rallyes are the right choice and wear 215/70/14 front and 235/60/14 rear tires that give it an awesome rake.This is a very reasonably-priced entry-level Mopar with an awesome look and plenty of performance. Forget investments and discover what muscle cars are really about: fun! Call today!
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