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There are precious few companies that have touched the American psyche as Dodge has, and there may be a reason why. Dodge is known to be an automobile maker that exists at the cross-section of affordability and performance, a nexus that combines elements of the American dream and common sense. Not wanting to be confused with its American counterparts Chevy and Ford, Dodge managed to infuse this nexus with its own unique attitude, one exemplified by the early 1990s slogan taken from Thomas Paine: Lead, follow, or get out of the way.
America's unique needs and recent history have impacted Dodge very directly. The original Charger and Challenger vehicles kept the Detroit automaker busy within the industry for years. After some time, the vehicles were retired as the company went in another direction. The Dodge Magnum made its debut early on, as well, although the design was very different from both the Charger and Challenger. It, too, was retired.
The Magnum was revived from 2005 to 2008. The original Challenger and Charger were then reinvented in recent years. The rebirth of the Charger and Challenger vehicles from previous models sent a ripple of excitement through the classic muscle car enthusiast population, but the Magnum was also well known on the market as the reincarnation of the station wagon for families with children. The company's emphasis on strong motors put the vehicle back into the hands of American consumers who were lusting for powerful yet practical automobiles with extra room for the kids.
The classic colors that were popular with consumers in the 1960s and '70s have made a comeback as well. The retro look of orange, green and yellow cars have grown up a little bit over the years and are still eye-catching and reminiscent of the former car colors.
Although the reborn Charger and Challenger have retained the sporty look and powerful engines that gained them a cult following of sorts decades ago, they have targeted comfort and a smooth ride as improvements in the models. Unlike the Magnum, they largely resemble their forefathers. The new attitude station wagon has little resemblance to the coupe that helped make Richard Petty famous in the old-style B body except for its name and a comfortable back seat.
For Dodge fans, finding a used Dodge Magnum and a new or used Challenger and Charger make car shopping more of an adventure and even a bit of a history lesson.
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The 1970 Dodge Challenger was the first generation produced of this iconic vehicle. Though it was manufactured to compete directly with the Ford Mustang and Chevy Camaro it was in its own right a unique vehicle that has garnered a wide variety of enthusiasts from a myriad of different demographics. The Chrysler corporation which owns Dodge had another muscle car in production that year as well, which was the Plymouth Barracuda. Both of these vehicles were considered to have the "E" body styles. Both cars were produced with a great variety of different trim and optional equipment which made them highly desirable.
While the original "pony car" the Ford Mustang was first manufactured in 1964, it took Chrysler the better part of a decade to offer the Challenger. Though it was a relatively late comer, the company designed it to be the most powerful car in its class, and many models were actually more comparable to the Mercury Cougar and Pontiac Firebird than the more affordable Mustangs and Camaros. Interesting features of the 1970 Dodge Challenger include a longer wheel base than the competitions, and an extremely refined and luxury themed interior which truly out-competed both Ford and Chevy's models.
Hardtop models were produced as one body style and were offered on the T/A (Trans Am), Challenger Six and Challenger V8 models. Only one trim package was offered as a convertible, which was the R/T or Road and Track edition. Another interesting fact to note is that the following year there would be no convertibles produced, making the '70 R/T very collectible with modern day enthusiasts. On base models there was only one engine offered, the 3.7 liter 6 cylinder with 225 cubic inches. As optional equipment the other models could come with an 5.2 liter V8, 318 cubic inch, and capable of up to 230 horsepower. There was also a 6.3 liter V8 with 383 cu. in. and 290 horsepower. Enthusiasts looking for a premium Challenger seem to prefer one of the V8 engines over any other.
R/T models were designed as the high end performance package and came with their own standard engine. These models had a 383 CID Magnum which was a V8 capable of producing up to 335 horsepower. All of the previously listed smaller engines came with a 3 speed manual transmission except for the 6.3 liter V8 which was produced with a 4 speed manual. R/T models were forced to utilize the 3 speed manual transmission due to the extreme drop in compression associated with them.
Compared with Ford's Mustang and the Chevy Camaro, similar 1970 Dodge Challenger models were either as fast or faster. This was because the manufacturer produced each comparable model with a slightly larger engine than any of the competitors. The standard equipment actually made these vehicles closer in relation to higher end models like the Mercury Cougar and Pontiac Thunderbird, although it lacks in most categories with those cars.
While they weren't heralded as much as the Mustang while in production, subsequent decades have seen the Challenger, and especially 1970 models become extremely popular. Being that they were offered with such a wide variety of body styles, colors, and engines enthusiasts find that it is relatively easy to find parts and refurbish these cars. Those factors, combined with the superb drivability make these cars some of the most iconic vehicles ever produced.
Dan Legal is a member of the web team that runs the website LemonFree New Cars. LemonFree is a car search engine which currently has over 2 million new and used cars for sale. If your interested in purchasing a 1970 Dodge Challenger; trust LemonFree to help you find your next car today!
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