1970 Dodge Challenger 383 R/T

Highlights

Matching numbers - confirmed by factory documentation
Two build tags because there was not enough space on one tag
Comes with a rare factory build sheet and full options list detailing its enviable original specifications
Huge specification sheets with every single option available at the time
Three former registered keepers, all MoPar enthusiasts
Recent £15,000 underside refurbishment
Every single thing on this car is functional even down to the factory options and works just like it left the factory

The Appeal

For those seeking the quintessential American muscle car, this 1970 Dodge Challenger 383 R/T is as good as they come... A MoPar dealer demonstrator in period, this matching numbers Challenger comes equipped with every conceivable option from its striking 'Plumb Crazy' purple paintwork and white interior to its ultra-rare 'Rim Blow' steering wheel, all-round electric windows, six-way adjustable driver's seat and even cruise control which was unheard of!

Moreover, you only have to take one look to realise that this is a cherished example, benefitting from judicious maintenance, a full bare metal respray while still in the US and most recently, a comprehensive underside refurbishment amounting to no less than £15,000. Suffice it to say, this 6.3-litre slice of American Pie ticks all the right boxes, both for its enviable factory specifications and its impeccable condition.

We mustn't forget to mention what makes a 383 R/T truly special - and the clue's in the name - that's the 383 cu in (6.3-litre) 'Magnum' V8 which hides under its seemingly endless bonnet... Sending around 335 all-American horsepower to the rear wheels via a three-speed automatic transmission, it only takes a hint of throttle to light up the white-letter BF Goodrich tyres and coax a guttural roar from its quad tailpipes. If you're the sort of person who cares about MPG, this perhaps isn't the car for you.... Brash, bold, and iconic, this is a car that doesn't do anything quietly, and it's all the better for it.

Accompanied by its factory build sheet and full options list, confirming its status as a matching numbers vehicle and verifying the originality of its numerous optional extras. With only three former registered keepers, all MoPar enthusiasts, we're content that this American classic has everything going for it.

History and Paperwork

Built in 1970 for the US Domestic market
The paperwork confirms that this is an original dealer demonstrator
Previously based in California
One owner, in the US, from 1971 until 2005
Imported to the UK in 2014
Three former registered keepers, all MoPar enthusiasts
Comes with rare factory build sheet and full options list
Currently indicates 9,402 miles on a five-figure odometer
The vendor can't confirm this mileage and believes it may have been reset earlier in the car's life
Recent £15,000 underside refurbishment, confirmed by accompanying invoices
Exempt from road tax and MOT testing

With a substantial collection of paperwork evidencing the thousands of pounds spent by its most recent UK owner and providing a fascinating account of its life in America, there's ample reading material for this Challenger's next owner to examine. Besides a wealth of invoices, we also find copies of the original factory build sheet, full options list and even one of its old registration certificates from California.

The Condition

A truly superb example inside, out and underneath
Boasts an older bare metal respray, carried out to a superlative standard
No signs of corrosion or notable blemishes
The panel fit is excellent
Deep shine to the paintwork
Colour-matched wheels shod with BF Goodrich tyres
Following a recent £15,000 refurbishment, the underside presents impeccably
Impeccably preserved white vinyl upholstery
Woodgrain fascias in very smart order
All instruments are clean and easy to read

Factory paint, trim and equipment specifications are as follows:

'Plumb Crazy' purple paintwork
Power windows
Vinyl roof (no longer fitted)
High trim white seats (buckets up-front)
Six-way adjustable driver's seat
AM radio with stereo 8-track cassette
Six speakers with dash-mounted balance control
Body sill, drip rail and belt mouldings
Rallye instrument cluster - with rev counter - Tick Tack Tock
Woodgrain console
Rear window demister
Heating and air conditioning
'Rim Blow' steering wheel
Collapsable spare tyre
Plus another entire sheet of options

It's hard to believe this car is more than fifty years old. Thanks to a high standard of paintwork restoration and preservation, it's shining like an amethyst and, to an enthusiast, is likely twice as beautiful. That aggressive, sweeping shape and unashamedly '70s 'Plumb Crazy' purple paintwork is enough to capture anybody's eyes, and we can't imagine the attention it'll get out on the road. Having undergone a full bare metal respray while back in the US, it presents beautifully and has been very well looked after ever since. The underside is now so clean that if this car were ours, we'd fit mirrors to the garage floor...

The interior is highly original from its striking white upholstery to its 8-track tape player which appropriately, is pre-loaded with the Eagles' Greatest Hits. We're sure Don Henley's dulcet tones and Joe Walsh's slick guitar riffs sound epic through the Dodge's six-speaker system which is reportedly in full working order, along with the dash-mounted fader. Other rare items include a six-way adjustable seat for the driver and the eminently desirable 'Rim Blow' steering wheel. Original appointments such as the Rallye instrument cluster, which includes a rev counter (Tick Tack Tock), denote you're in a top-spec model. In short, this interior feels very special.

The Mechanics

6.3 litre (383 cu in) 'Magnum' V8
Three-speed 727 automatic transmission
Equipped with cruise control - almost unheard of for a muscle car of this era
Produces around 335 HP in standard tune
Power disc brakes
New stainless steel 3" dual crossover exhaust system into 40 series "Flow Master" boxes, costing over £2,500
Fully functioning auto choke system

Having been fully rebuilt, this car's Magnum V8 is in fine fettle and still providing that characteristic burble at idle and an unrelenting roar at full chat. We're assured that there's ample performance to play with - by which we mean more than enough to put an ear-to-ear grin on your face and embarrass a few modern 'performance' cars at the traffic lights.

We've no reports of any leaks or mechanical issues, and it's clear the engine bay has benefited from a great deal of care and attention. All looks original, which is a testament to the fastidious maintenance this car has always received.

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