When Dodge finally got a legitimate pony car to race in the Sports Car Club of America's Trans American Sedan Championship in 1970, it built a muscle car version for the street that was even wilder than the competition model. We're talking about the 1970 Dodge Challenger T/A.
SCCA rules required Dodge to sell production editions of the track car, and Dodge responded with the Challenger T/A. The race cars ran a destroked 305-cid version of Mopar's fine 340-cid V-8. It had a four-barrel carb and some 440 bhp. Street T/As stayed with the 340, but upped the ante with a trio of two-barrel Holley's atop an Edelbrock aluminum intake manifold.
Despite the "Six Pack" carburation and a host of internal reinforcements, the T/A's mill carried the same 290 bhp rating as regular four-barrel 340s, though true output was near 350 bhp. Feeding it air was a suitcase-sized scoop molded into the pinned-down matte-black fiberglass hood. Low-restriction dual exhausts ran to the stock location under the trunk, then reversed direction to exit in chrome-tipped "megaphone" outlets in front of the rear wheels.
TorqueFlite automatic with 3.55:1 gears. Optioned with power steering and Front disc brakes were standard. The special Rallye suspension used heavy-duty everything and increased the camber of the rear springs. The T/A was among the first production cars with different sized tires front and rear: E60x15s up front, G60x15s in back.
The modified camber elevated the tail enough to clear the rear rubber and the exhaust outlets, giving the T/A a real street-punk's stance. Thick side stripes, bold ID graphics, and a black ducktail spoiler joined the visual assault, though the cabin was standard Challenger R/T.
As it turned out, the T/A with its intensified 340 and meaty rear tires helped production versions claw through the quarter in the mid 14s, a showing that would do any small-block proud.
Specifications:
67,943 actual miles
1 time repaint (Correct and Original F4 Lime Green Iridescent)
Original interior
Original Black vinyl top
Original sheet metal with center truck pan professionally replaced
Matching numbers 340cid/290hp engine
3x2bbl Six Pack
Correct Slap Stick automatic transmission
Both fender tags still affixed to car
Rallye dash with factory tachometer
Space saver spare with bottle
Bucket seats and console
Original AM/FM radio
Remote mirror
Power steering and brakes