In the world of racing, it’s customary practice to certify equipment to certain standards as dictated by a racing authority. However, when it came to Trans-Am pony cars, it seems only the 1967-69 Camaro Z/28 and 1969-70 Boss 302 Mustang and Cougar Eliminator included an homologation-spec five-liter engine. Dodge’s (and Plymouth’s) Trans-Am racer for the street offered a 340, but it did feature an engine distinct from other 340s within the corporation’s portfolio. Our Pick of the Day is one of these unique production Trans-Am specials, a 1970 Dodge Challenger T/A. It’s listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Ramona, Oklahoma.
Dodge’s Challenger was brand-new for 1970. Before then, Dodge did not have a pony car in its portfolio. While sitting on the sidelines, observing the segment, Dodge benchmarked the Mercury Cougar. Why the Cougar? Because it was an upscale Mustang, and Dodge rightly thought producing a facsimile of the Barracuda made no sense. The Challenger offered a 110-inch wheelbase (two inches longer than the Barracuda’s), quad headlights, fancier interior, and a luxurious model to compete with the Cougar XR-7.
When the Challenger hit the market, it was able to tout vitals that outperformed its competition from General Motors and AMC in front headroom, rear legroom, and rear shoulder-room, with other metrics being competitive aside of seat height. Per the Roominess Index established by trade magazine Automotive News, the Challenger achieved a score of 260 inches—over 7 inches more than Mustang, 4.7 inches more than Camaro and Javelin, 4.4 inches more than Firebird, and 5.6 inches more than Cougar.
Challenger’s model lineup featured four models: Challenger, the luxurious Challenger SE, the performance-oriented Challenger R/T, and the cross-pollenated Challenger R/T-SE. The former two came standard with a 225ci “Slant Six” or 318 V8, with options for the 340, 383-2, and 383-4; the latter two started with the 383-4 and moved up to two versions of the 440 and the 426 Hemi. In March 1970, the Deputy package was introduced for the Challenger hardtop, a decontented coupe that added the availability of the 198 Slant Six.
Another package for the Challenger hardtop was introduced the following month: the T/A (for Trans/Am though Pontiac already had rights to the name). Code A53 cost over $800 on top of a Challenger V8 and gave you or required matte black side stripes, matte black fiberglass “Scat Scoop” hood with hood pins, ducktail rear spoiler, side-exit exhausts, rear-mounted antenna (when optioned), power front disc brakes, remote driver-side racing mirror, quick-open fuel filler cap, and collapsible spare tire. An optional quick-ratio 12:1 steering box was a T/A exclusive.
Two aspects of the 340 engine were different from conventional Challenger: Six Pack carburetion with aluminum intake, and internal mods that included four-bolt main bearing caps, special cylinder heads, and modified valvetrain. A four-speed or TorqueFlite automatic was required. 3.55 Sure-Grip gears were standard, with 3.91 being optional. Rally suspension (with front and rear stabilizer bars) and heavy-duty shock absorbers worked nicely in conjunction with special offset tires (E60-15s up front, G60-15s out back).
Despite the Challenger being a fancier companion to the Barracuda, it outsold the fishy pony car by a large margin. And the Challenger with the A53 package? Only 2,400 were built, with this 1970 Challenger T/A being one of a few painted in “FT6” Dark Bronze Metallic paint—the seller claims only 15 registered in Barry Washington’s T/A Registry. “This is not a restored car, rather a highly original example with one repaint [from the late-1980s],” according to the seller. “All the body panels appear to be original, as well as all of the glass.” The Tan vinyl interior is original, as is the headliner.
Seller adds, “This car is a completely numbers matching example. This includes the engine, tranny, title, door plate, cowling, and radiator support. The odometer shows 29,276 miles and is believed to be accurate.” A largely original racing-inspired homologation special in an unusual hue is a blue-chip muscle collectible, plus the seller has lowered the price to $95,000. Are you ready to join the Scat Pack?
Click here to view this Pick of the Day on ClassicCars.com
