Canadian spec Hemi Challenger R/T convertibles

[RzeroB]

With CODY scoring a '70 Hemi Challenger R/T from a town less than 20 mi from me (where it hid for 30 years) http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=103478.0, I got to thinking about those long lost hidden gems. Poking around on this site I came across this old thread from way back in early 2002 http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=440.0 which got me thinking about the Canadian spec Hemi Challenger R/T convertibles. The general concensus is that of the 12 Hemi R/T 'verts made, 3 of them were Canadian spec. Here are the three:

The first post refers to JS27R0B332575, an Hemi Orange Hemi R/T 'vert that spent time being buried in a snow bank with kids sledding off of it The poster states that it was eventually moved to a body shop near Toronto - presumably to get fixed up and back on the road - but leaves it at that. I have never seen, nor heard of this car anywhere else. It's been 13 years since Shaker made his post and I was curious as what ever happened to this car - anyone know

On this site http://www.1970hemicharger.com/hemi_cars_in_canada.html I found an old MCG article concerning Hemi cars sold new in Canada. In it it references a Hemi R/T 'vert JS27R0B221640. I have totally struck out trying to find out anything on this car. I can not find any reference to it anywhere but in this MCG article on this site. Don't know if it is alive or dead - anyone know

The good news is that I was able to find out some info on the third car here http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=69357.0  JS27R0B171594 is the Sublime green 4-speed R/T 'vert shown as part of mega-collector Wade Ogle's collection at the Ohlone car show in California. So at least 1 of the 3 Canadian spec cars has survived and is alive and doing very well.

As for the other 2 ... who knows 1 of them was hanging around Toronto as late as 2001 so hopefully it is alive and kicking somewhere. As for the third one ... it doesn't sound very promising as to it's survival. Can anyone shed any light on the fate of 332575 and 221640??

[anlauto]

I wonder if "Shaker" was Kevin Atwater ?, who has since past away...

[Cudino]

Five of the Hemi Challenger 'verts are FC7, but the Canadian JS27R0B221640 is alive and well and pretty easy to spot.  It is the only FC7 with white interior, and also the only FC7 auto.  It was in the Otis Chandler collection and in his "American Muscle" book, and can now be found here:
http://corvettes-musclecars.com/gallery2/v/al_mopars/1970+Hemi+Challenger+RT+426+Convertible/70RTConvertible.jpg.html

- Wade

[71gogreen]

Five of the Hemi Challenger 'verts are FC7, but the Canadian JS27R0B221640 is alive and well and pretty easy to spot.  It is the only FC7 with white interior, and also the only FC7 auto.  It was in the Otis Chandler collection and in his "American Muscle" book, and can now be found here:
http://corvettes-musclecars.com/gallery2/v/al_mopars/1970+Hemi+Challenger+RT+426+Convertible/70RTConvertible.jpg.html

- Wade

  Notice the shaker is purple? Was that a color that was available?

[hemiken]

Out of all the Hemi convertibles, i personally would love to own one of the rarest Hemi Convertibles ever made, and the 1970 Challengers are the rarest of the bunch.

If you add up all the 1970 and 1971 Hemicuda Convertibles together as `Cuda Convertibles, and then add up all the Hemi Challenger convertibles for 1970 and 197.... oh wait, they did not make any 1971 Hemi Challenger convertibles, and that is what makes the Hemi Challenger convertibles the rarest of the bunch in my personal opinion. Just wait for the prices of those things start to rise against the Hemicuda convertibles in comparison. 

[71gogreen]

Out of all the Hemi convertibles, i personally would love to own one of the rarest Hemi Convertibles ever made, and the 1970 Challengers are the rarest of the bunch.

If you add up all the 1970 and 1971 Hemicuda Convertibles together as `Cuda Convertibles, and then add up all the Hemi Challenger convertibles for 1970 and 197.... oh wait, they did not make any 1971 Hemi Challenger convertibles, and that is what makes the Hemi Challenger convertibles the rarest of the bunch in my personal opinion. What for the prices of those things start to rise against the Hemicuda convertibles in comparison. 

I agree that the challengers will become as desirable as the Cuda's. The new generation challengers will make the first generation challengers a must to have! All challenger convertibles will go up in value by the end of the new challenger run also.

[anlauto]

I don't think any year of the Challenger will ever have the same appeal as the 71 Cuda , and past, current and future prices prove that.

[71gogreen]

I don't think any year of the Challenger will ever have the same appeal as the 71 Cuda , and past, current and future prices prove that.

I think your wrong! It's one of the most beautiful car design out there!. It's equal to the Cuda.

[hemiken]

1971 Hemicuda Convertible is currently the top of the lot, but i have a feeling these very low number Hemi Challenger convertibles are going to make a strong resurgence and gain in value, may even get up their with the 1970 Hemicuda convertible, but it will be a little longer if they can make their way up to 1971 Hemicuda convertible values.

[71gogreen]

1971 Hemicuda Convertible is currently the top of the lot, but i have a feeling these very low number Hemi Challenger convertibles are going to make a strong resurgence and gain in value, may even get up their with the 1970 Hemicuda convertible, but it will be a little longer if they can make their way up to 1971 Hemicuda convertible values.

I agree ,they are not making anymore 70-71 converts!

[RzeroB]

Five of the Hemi Challenger 'verts are FC7, but the Canadian JS27R0B221640 is alive and well and pretty easy to spot.  It is the only FC7 with white interior, and also the only FC7 auto.  It was in the Otis Chandler collection and in his "American Muscle" book, and can now be found here:
http://corvettes-musclecars.com/gallery2/v/al_mopars/1970+Hemi+Challenger+RT+426+Convertible/70RTConvertible.jpg.html

- Wade

Wade, I didn't know that 221640 was that car ... but now I do ... thanks for the input!

Any ideas on 332575? Figure if it is still out there somewhere you would have a better idea of knowing than me!


Any of you long time Toronto area guys seen or heard of 332575? Sounds like the car was in the Toronto area for a long time so somebody has to have some knowledge of it. Hopefully its not back out on the street buried in a snow bank and being used as a sledding launch again!

[Cudino]

My pleasure Tom, happy to clarify these VINs.  As for 332575, I've heard the same stories as you, and I know some people who have seen that car firsthand (unfortunately I haven't).  Details beyond that are not real clear.

As for the shaker on 221640 that has been added, and it was also added on my car long before I got it.  To my knowledge aside from perhaps the Diamonte (before it became a concept car) all the known Hemi Challenger converts came with sport hoods, but no shakers.

Value, rarity, and cool-factor-wise I agree with most of the comments above, the problem is that there are so few Ebody Hemi 'verts, no two cars are configured closely enough to be evenly compared, and they trade hands so rarely, that it is hard to see patterns.  If you asked me, comparing prices I guess on average they would stack up roughly as follows:
The average '70 Hemicuda convert = ~1.5x more $ than the average Hemi Chal convert
The average '71 Hemicuda convert = ~1.5x more $ than the average '70 Hemicuda convert

- Wade

[anlauto]

Wade...Do you ever see a 70 Hemi Challenger , hardtop or convertible ever bring anything close to a 71 Hemicuda ? I certainly don't.

[Cudino]

Wade...Do you ever see a 70 Hemi Challenger , hardtop or convertible ever bring anything close to a 71 Hemicuda ? I certainly don't.

We're talking about comparing hardtops to hardtops, right?  Because '70 Hemi Chal converts are well into the seven figure range, and are probably worth 2x more than '71 Hemicuda hardtops.  Of course you also would have to convince one of these ragtop owners to sell at any price!

As for hardtops I think there are rare cases.  Within the same timeframe I think a couple of 4spd shaker '70 Hemi Challenger hardtops (very, very rare) traded hands for more than the average '71 Hemicuda hardtops, but as you say it takes quite a unique Challenger to pull it off.

- Wade

[RzeroB]

My pleasure Tom, happy to clarify these VINs.  As for 332575, I've heard the same stories as you, and I know some people who have seen that car firsthand (unfortunately I haven't).  Details beyond that are not real clear.

Wow! That IS surprising! I was sure that IF anyone might know, that it would be someone with "insider" knowledge like you. Surprising indeed, but if all the info was easily accessible than it wouldn't be as much fun trying to discover it now would it? Thanks again for your input Wade!  

As for 332575 all I could ever find of it was a pic of the Fender Tag on an old Moparts thread.



Other than that one pic and a couple of online references to this car, I can not find anything definitive on this particular car. The mystery remains and the discovery quest continues. Surely someone from the Toronto area knows of it and will chime in with a few clues sooner or later.