For some owners, a new car was purchased and owned with such care it became a personal treasure. This first-year 1970 Dodge Hemi Challenger R/T was in the original owner’s care until May 2021 and is unrestored with only 6,341 miles driven since new. Moreover, care from assembly may have been part of its origins, as it was coded Y13 on the fender tag, meaning it was ordered new as a Dealer Demonstrator, which also certainly influenced its options. Shipped new to Davenport Dodge Inc. in Davenport, Iowa, and documented via its window sticker, buyer’s order form and broadcast sheet, this car would become one of only 136 Hemi Challenger R/Ts produced in 1970 with the factory 4-speed driveline. The new Challenger was big news indeed, and to be king meant “King Kong,” the awesome 426 Hemi engine, which here is a matching-numbers unit. Enhanced that year with the newly released hydraulic cam, the engine still had (and has) its OEM race-bred internal parts, inline dual 4-barrel carburetors and black valve covers. Here, it is coupled to the A34 Super Track Pak option, meaning the brutal A833 4-speed manual transmission and Sure Grip-equipped 4.10 Dana 60 differential, as well as extreme cooling and power front disc brakes parts. The E74 engine and A34 driveline alone added over $1,000 to the R/Ts base cost. Selected for paint was EV2 Hi-Impact Hemi Orange, which is accented by the original black vinyl top and black longitudinal striping. The black interior is also original, complete with bucket seats, a center console, Pistol Grip shifter, AM radio, remote driver’s mirror, Rallye dash, three-spoke steering wheel and tinted windshield. Outside, one finds color-keyed mirrors, J45 hood pins, a locking gas cap and argent-center Rallye wheels wearing original F60-15 tires. Featured in Mopar’s Collector Guide twice in 2021, the car will be accompanied by a Dave Wise report and a copy of its original title. Owned by its first purchaser for over 50 years, the opportunity presented by this Y13-code Hemi Challenger with provenance is one not to be missed; it just might be 50 more years before it comes around again.
