Documented, Restored Challenger T/A 340 6 Pack 4 Speed

Trans Am cars have been flying out of RK Motors Charlotte this year! We've sold no less than 17 Boss 302's, Camaro Z/28's, AAR Cudas and Challenger T/A's, with price guide busting money received on all. As fans of classic SCCA racers know, these are special cars that are absolutely fantastic to drive. Graced with lighter motors and suspensions bred for competition racing, they're certainly not your typical monster motor, heavy duty suspension muscle car, which while great to drive in a straight line, leave a lot to be desired in modern traffic.

Originally a clean west coast car, this 1970 Challenger T/A is one of just 2,142 built, and sports a date-code correct T/A 340 V8 engine, a numbers matching 4-speed manual transmission, not one, but TWO original Chrysler Corporation Broadcast Sheets and its original window sticker. Mileage is 57,426 and represented to be original to the car, and technically, it could be called a two tag piece even though the second tag merely says TRANS AM on it. That's awfully cool, and proves that this car is the real deal.

The rest of the fender tag information reads as follows:

E55 340-6 Barrel
D21 Heavy Duty 4-Speed Manual Transmission
JH23J = Dodge Challenger
H = High23 = 2 Door Hardtop
J0BJ = 340 290HP 3-2BBL 8 CYL0 = 1970B = Dodge Main, Hamtramck, MI, USA
296404 Sequence Number '296404'
EB5 Paint Code: Bright Blue Metallic / Blue Fire Iridescent
H6B5 Trim Grade/Style/Color
H = High
6 = Vinyl Bucket Seats
B5 = Medium Blue
000 Upper Door Frame: Full Door Panel
403 Date Built: 4 / 03 / 1970095377
Order Number: 095377
EB5 Roof Type OR Color: Bright Blue Metallic / Blue Fire Iridescent
A53 Trans Am Package
B51 Power Assisted Brakes
C16 Console w/ Buckets
C55 Bucket Seats
G34 Left Hand Outside Mirror - Manual / Painted / Racing
J45 Hood Tie Down Pins
J54 Sport Hood 70-1
J82 Rear Spoiler Duck Tail
M21 Roof Drip Rail Moldings
N44 Standard Exit Exhaust AAR TA
N94 Fresh Air Hood Fiberglass
R11 Music Master Radio AM
V6H Longitudinal Stripes - Trans-Am Black
Y05 Built to U.S. Specifactations26 26 in. Radiator
EN1 End of Codes Assembly Line 1

This T/A was the receipient of a complete, every nut and bolt restoration which was excecuted to a very high standard. Paint and body work are well done, with no evidence of any cutting or patching of the originasl west coast sheetmetal, panel gaps are excellent, and the bright blue iridescent paint is a base/clear urethane that sparkles in the sunlight. Check out the hood-that's an ORIGINAL fiberglass T/A hood, expertly restored-not a reproduction. The satin black decals are excellent reproductions, and I'm so glad there's no vinyl roof. The hood scoop is in outstanding condition, and the little Trans-Am style ducktail spoiler on the trunk fits well and follows the contours of the trunk better than it did from the factory. Chrome and bright work is also in great shape, with clean bumpers, sharp stainless trim, and new chrome trumpets on the exhaust pipes exiting in front of the wheels. And the glass is in great shape and looks new.

Although the actual track cars ran a de-stroked version of the 340, street versions like this one took the 340 and added a trio of two-barrel carburetors atop an Edelbrock aluminum intake manifold, creating the 340 Six Pack. Dodge rated the 340 Six Pack at 290 horsepower, only 15 horses more than the original 340 engine (and coincidentally the same rating as the Camaro Z/28 and Mustang Boss 302). There are some who claim it actually made about 320 horsepower, but no matter how you measure it, this is one strong running Challenger. Low-restriction dual exhausts ran to the stock muffler location under the trunk, then reversed direction to exit in chrome tipped "megaphone" outlets in front of the rear wheels. It absolutely cackles on the street, especially now that RK Motors Charlotte has installed new, correct mufflers. The engine in this car is a date-code correct replacement T/A 340 block that has been properly detailed for show, topped by a date-code correct intake and three date code correct carburetors. The Hemi Orange paint is shiny and fresh, the hoses and clamps are the correct ones (including the one that was installed before the engine was painted and gets a coat of orange), and the 340 Six Pack decal on the original, restored air cleaner lid is an exact reproduction. The engine shows very little use since it was restored even the exhaust manifolds are shiny and clean. Just within the last 90 days, all three carburetors have been rebuilt and all main engine seals replaced. So that the T/A runs cool, the original water pump was rebuilt. A new Group 24 battery was just installed for that factory-fresh show look.

The A833 4 speed manual is the original transmission for this car, and with it, the rest of the chassis was fully detailed at the time of restoration. The restorer used body schutz under the paint, which I do on my own cars as well it gives a textured finish that is incredibly durable and dulls the sound, without resorting to heavy undercoating that always looks aftermarket. It suggests that this car was restored with a lot of forethought going into how it would be used. In terms of smiles per mile, it's hard to top a road-race-bred small block car with a manual transmission.

The rolling stock consists of 15-inch Rallye wheels with reproduction Goodyear Polyglas tires for an original look. The Challenger T/A was among the first production vehicles to use different size tires front and rear: E60x15 fronts, and G60x15 in back.

The interior on the T/As were strictly stock Challenger, which is a good thing. This one has all-new upholstery, carpets, headliner, and door panels, all in the correct medium blue color. The console has been restored, and the dash is full of clean, bright gauges. The pistol-grip shifter is always way cool, and I can't think of a better way to bang through the gears. Blue seat belts are present for safety, and the steering wheel has been restored. The trunk is properly detailed with a space saver spare and fill can, new mat, and correct jack assembly. No detail has been overlooked in the restoration of this rare T/A.

Over the last few months, this T/A has been gone through from top to bottom mechanically and is as close to perfect as you will find.

As with any of our top notch investment grade cars, this cool Challenger T/A comes with a full array of document. Included with the sale is:

- The car's original door VIN tag
- Two original Chrysler Corporation Broadcast Sheets
- The car's original window sticker,
- A California registration
- A smattering of other original stickers and tags that were removed prior to the restoration.

Documented, fully restored and fully sorted out, with great options and a fantastic color combination, this T/A is the perfect pony car for the Mopar fan who wants a rare T/A to drive and show. If you're like me and know that a high-winding small block engine is the key to spectacular all-around performance, then this gorgeous Challenger T/A is a must have. As we always said when I was building race cars: I can get my small block car around the track faster than your big block car. This Challenger T/A is proof!