1970 Challenger SE - 1st day of production

[ec_co]

So if I had a day one production car? 340, 4 speed, 3.23 gear or a 3.55 at most, Hood pins, Painted steel wheels with caps, blue on blue....it sounds like a dream ride.

personally, this is mostly my dream combo as well for a daily driver. the only exception would be B5 Blue on a black interior. I have B5 blue on blue and it is a LOT of one single color to digest ....

[BAM]

Hello guys,

Yes, i had in mind getting a bigger engine and a manual transmission in it but unfortunately the laws in here are not so permissive like in the USA. The problem is that if i would drop a 440 in it, i would have to pay about 5-6000 EUR/year only road tax and i don`t want to think about the insurance. I have see a red convertible (numbers matching) going for 275k USD so i thought that my one could worth something as well considering that there were 7 cars built in the 1st day of production back in 1969. Also, there is a tiny possibility that i can find the original motor and gearbox which i believe it will increase the value a little bit.
 As i know, in day 1, they made 7 cars with 7 different setups so i can actually consider my one the 1st SE ever built...

[knillse]

... in Europe, i think nobody cares if the Challenger is a 1st day production car, they don't even care if it is OE restored

BS, not sure why you think it would be so, but i would prefer a well documented, original car! Even as slant 6. And i am from Europe! And the best is, i know some more guys thinking this way.

[TelisSE440]

BS, not sure why you think it would be so, but i would prefer a well documented, original car! Even as slant 6. And i am from Europe! And the best is, i know some more guys thinking this way.

Knillse, i said in Europe (most people) - i just forgot to put it in my first sentence- and i'm saying it because it is the truth. You said even a slant six, do you know how much a fully documented slant six Challenger in need of restoration, (very early production, by the way) was sold? 4000 euro. But a 1974 Barracuda (daily driver restored) with a 440 engine and a '71 billboard stripe (couldn't get more factory wrong) was sold 39000 euro. All i'm saying is that an OE restoration, on a not so nicely optioned car (my Challenger was a plain 318 SE), isn't gonna worth much money in the end, that's why i'm saying people care to own a cool American Muscle Car, a 318 SE Challenger isn't even a Muscle Car, it's a very nice pony car. All the guys that i've talked with think the same, except if the car is nicely optioned from the factory, 440-6, 440, 426 Hemi, AAR, T/A, 340 small block, you name it...

[anlauto]

  It's the same in North America....I'm sure because of the rarity in Europe, that EVERY E body gets respect.

[TelisSE440]

Hello guys,

Yes, i had in mind getting a bigger engine and a manual transmission in it but unfortunately the laws in here are not so permissive like in the USA. The problem is that if i would drop a 440 in it, i would have to pay about 5-6000 EUR/year only road tax and i don`t want to think about the insurance. I have see a red convertible (numbers matching) going for 275k USD so i thought that my one could worth something as well considering that there were 7 cars built in the 1st day of production back in 1969. Also, there is a tiny possibility that i can find the original motor and gearbox which i believe it will increase the value a little bit.
 As i know, in day 1, they made 7 cars with 7 different setups so i can actually consider my one the 1st SE ever built...

BAM, couldn't you use historic plates to register your car? There are some limitations, but we are talking about a rare car, you can't drive it everyday... Keep searching for the original drivetrain. The value will increase. Now about the expensive cars... This is something the other guys at C-C.com would know far better, Alan could chime in. The really expensive cars are some rare combinations of (of course) numbers matching cars and loaded from factory with options, like Big Block Convertibles, Hemi Convertibles. A Hemi Challenger Convertible, numbers matching would bring the price to the top, about the same applies to a 440-6 Challenger with sunroof. Now, a A66 (code for 340 engine with performance upgrades on '70 Challengers) convertible would still bring high price but no so much. The rule here, by what i've seen until now, is that the rare options back then would bring top dollars now. For different reason that does not apply to slant six cars. They are rare but the coolness factor is down, so a numbers matching car won't be sold for much money as a V-8 performance package. Now the 1st day production car part needs some research. This is the hardest part of all and it has a lot of historical importance if the Challenger is indeed the 1st car. By what i have read until now on Mopar history, the only person who can verify this by his sign, is Galen Govier. I shouldn't say any more, because the more knowledgeable guys around here know the business.

[TelisSE440]

I'm sure because of the rarity in Europe, that EVERY E body gets respect.

Exactly that...

[74 challenge]

It is a dream ride! That's how i would make my barracuda, if i had one  Except Plum Crazy exterior white interior and Rallye Wheels...

This is the colour combo I currently have on my 74. I think it looks awesome!

overall I am glad this car is slated to be restored! a day one car is cool with whatever engine you put back into it especially when it's B5/B5. If you can get your hands on the original engine and trans, I'd keep them on the side and still swap in a 340 or whatever engine you want. 

[knillse]

Telis, no offense, i definitely know what you want to say. Just want to make clear that not every guy over here is drooling if a US V8 with blower, wings and side pipes appears. Lots pf people know what fender tag, broadcast sheet or window sticker means. However you are correct, the more spectacular a car looks, the more people like it. But not all...

[TelisSE440]

Telis, no offense, i definitely know what you want to say. Just want to make clear that not every guy over here is drooling if a US V8 with blower, wings and side pipes appears. Lots pf people know what fender tag, broadcast sheet or window sticker means. However you are correct, the more spectacular a car looks, the more people like it. But not all...

None taken Knillse  . In my first posts i said R/T appearing stock. I detest blowers coming out of hoods like spilled guts, spoilers like ironing boards (except Superbird/Daytona of course!) or side pipes like chimneys... I love stock appearing Mopar Muscle Cars, i know what the fender tags, the codes and window stickers mean... I'm just not lucky enough. After 7 years of searching, the only E-Body for sale in my country was a 318 SE Challenger, it had a working 440-6 engine, a 18 spline A-833 trans, a 8 3/4 Sure Grip and an excellent paint job. I was thinking of not buying it, but then again, where would i find such an opportunity again? I bought it and never looked back, it was non numbers' matching and that took off a huge weight of my shoulders and let me do what i want and that was making it look like a big block R/T Challenger. And i think most of us are doing the same, those who do not have the privilege of owning a numbers' matching high performance Mopar Muscle Car...