Like many cars built during the era of planned obsolescence, the 1970 Dodge Coronet series featured styling that was unique among the three years of its generation. The 1970 Charger comes off as having a simple facelift in comparison but, as our Pick of the Day demonstrates, the changes were more than superficial. This 1970 Dodge Charge 500 SE is listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealer in Allen, Texas. (Click on this link to view the listing)
The 1970 Dodge Charger seems to confound enthusiasts at times—blame specifically can be directed at the Charger 500. Only a year before, Dodge introduced the NASCAR homologation special called the Charger 500, yet now Dodge had a Charger 500 for 1970 that was completely different? It appears confusing, but it’s easy to explain.
Starting in 1962, Dodge introduced a new model in its full-size series and called it Polara 500. This model included bucket seats and a console, a trend that was catching on in Detroit. In 1965, Dodge introduced the Coronet 500 and, in 1966, Dodge introduced the Monaco 500, all with similar themes. By the end of the decade, these models may have had a slightly different content mix or additional, less sporty body styles (like the four-door Coronet 500), but the sporty DNA was still there—the same DNA used for the 1970 Charger 500.
Truth be told, the 1970 Charger 500 was the same car as the 1968-69 Charger. There was a bit of sleight of hand at Dodge because what truly was new was the base 1970 Charger, a decontented version of what Dodge had already been offering for two years. A split-back bench seat was standard, with no option for buckets. Armrests and wheel lip moldings were missing too. Other features, like a clock, needed to be ordered, yet it was standard on the Charger 500. While the 500 and R/T featured chrome trim surrounding the black taillight housing, nicely tying all the elements together, the base Charger received no such trim, instead appearing similar to the 1969 Charger from behind aside of the rear panel being body-colored.
The “A47” Special Edition Package, originally introduced for 1969, reappeared for 1970, though now it was only available for the Charger 500 and R/T. Included in the package was leather and vinyl front bucket seats, woodgrain steering wheel, pedal dress-up, “A01” Charger Light Group, deep dish wheel covers, woodgrain dashboard (standard on R/T), and C-pillar emblem.
If you look at the Charger, it looks like it received a typical facelift, in this case a loop bumper with a full-width grille. However, the front fenders were different, having been originally used on the Charger Daytona only several months before the 1970 Charger was introduced. It’s a subtle difference, but it shows that the unique aspects of the 1970 Charger were more than skin-deep.
This 1970 Dodge Charger 500 SE struts the updates nicely, but there’s more than meets the eye, starting with the “EV2” Hemi Orange paint paired with the tan interior—an unexpected combination that is complemented by a white vinyl top. Of course, this Charger also features the SE package, so all the pampering you read about above is present. However, the feature that truly stands out is the sunroof. This was an expensive option introduced the year before, though it had few takers. In the case of this 1970 Charger 500, only 54 U.S.-spec cars were built with this option (plus a few more for Canada and export markets). Other features include 383 two-barrel, TorqueFlite, power windows, rim-blow steering wheel, six-way adjustable driver’s seat, air conditioning, rear defroster, and power steering and brakes.
“Believed to be around 20,000 original miles, all-original sheetmetal,” says the seller. With a nice option mix, unrestored condition, and “extremely well documented with the original window sticker, purchase invoice, shipping invoice, warranty card, copy of the original MSO, and more in a large binder of receipts and ownership history,” this is a prime Charger. But what is your thought on the $95,000 asking price?
Click here for this ClassicCars.com Pick of the Day.
