First Generation Dodge Challenger

First Generation Dodge Challenger - The Challenger is depicted in a book about American cars of the 1960s as Dodge answers against Mustang and Camaro. Introduced in the fall of 1969 for the 1970 model, it is one of two Chrysler E-body cars, the other being a slightly smaller Plymouth. Barracuda.

"Both Challenger and Barracuda are available in staggering quantities of trim levels and options" and are intended to compete with cars like the Chevrolet Camaro and Ford Mustang, and do so while offering virtually any engine in Chrysler inventory. "However, the 1970 Challenger is" a somewhat late response to the Ford Mustang waves ponycar has started "with its introduction in April 1964.

In his book Hemi Muscle Cars, Robert Genat writes that Challenger was conceived in the late 1960s as the Dodge equivalent of Plymouth Barracuda, and that Barracuda was designed to compete against the Mustang.

The 1964 barracuda was actually the first car in this segment of sporty cars for a few weeks, but was quickly overshadowed by the release of the segment Mustang (the so-called "Pony Car").

First Generation Dodge Challenger

He added that Chrysler wanted the new Dodge in 1970 as "the most powerful ponycar ever," and positioned it "to compete with Mercury Cougar and Pontiac Firebird." Genat also noted that "Barracuda is meant to compete in the market with Mustang and Camaro / Firebird, while Dodge is positioned against Cougar" and other more luxurious types.

The longer Challenger steering wheel, bigger dimensions and more luxurious interiors are driven by the launch of the 1967 Mercury Cougar, as well as a larger, more luxurious and more expensive bang for its affluent young American buyers.

The wheelbase, at a distance of 110 inches (2,794 mm), is two inches longer than the Barracuda, and Dodge is different from Plymouth in its outer sheetmetal, just as Cougar differs from the Ford Mustang's close range.

AC and rear window defogger are optional. With 1971 being the only exception, the front ends of both cars differed from each other because the Challenger had four headlamps and Barracuda had only two (although also had four in 1971); This setup is similar to how the 1967-73 Mustang and Cougars looks, as well as the 1967-69 Camaro and Firebirds.

1970

The exterior design was performed by Carl Cameron, who also performed the exterior for the 1966 Dodge Charger. Cameron based the 1970 Challenger grille from a 1966 Charger prototype sketch that had a turbine engine. Charger never got a turbine, but Challenger featured the car's grille.

Although the Challenger was well received by the public (with 76,935 produced for the 1970 model), it was criticized by the press, and the car segment of the bangs had declined by the time Challenger arrived. Sales fell dramatically after 1970, and although sales increased for the 1973 model year with more than 27,800 cars sold, Challenger production stopped in the middle of the 1974 model. A total of 165,437 Challengers were sold over the lifetime of this generation.

1970 Dodge

The 1970 R / T 440 Magnum Challenge featured in the 1971 Vanishing Point existentialist film. For the 1973-74 season of the TV show, the Mannix title character drove the 1974 Challenger Rallye, which was ordered and built exclusively for the show. The car has every option available including a 360 4-barrel engine and a rare sunroof plant.