'70 Challenger RT/SE Tail panel, Black or argent?

Author Topic: '70 Challenger RT/SE Tail panel, Black or argent?  (Read 6852 times)

Offline gb70

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'70 Challenger RT/SE Tail panel, Black or argent?
« on: December 18, 2007 - 11:25:38 AM »


I have an FY1 (Top Bananna) Yellow  :bananasmi '70 Challenger that is an RT/SE.  It has and came with the RT (Black) stripe, the grill was originaly black, and the hood treatment is also black.  A restorer has told us that the RT’s were black, SE’s were argent, RT/SE were black because RT supersedes SE.

The tail panel was sent out to be restored to Anobrite and granted he is not an expert, just restores trim and grills, but told me that he has always done them in argent.  I need to know what is correct for the car.  If you are not sure don't confuse me any more than I am.   :clueless: 
I need some feedback quick like  :feedback:

The car RT/SE






« Last Edit: December 18, 2007 - 12:31:08 PM by gb70 »




Offline Chryco Psycho

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Re: '70 Challenger RT/SE Tail panel, Black or argent?
« Reply #1 on: December 18, 2007 - 11:29:54 AM »
I would really like to know , however mine will be black

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Offline DAYLEY/CHALLENGER

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Re: '70 Challenger RT/SE Tail panel, Black or argent?
« Reply #2 on: December 18, 2007 - 12:01:41 PM »
Hey Greg.  I think the black is the best look no matter if it  is  incorrect or not.  I painted mine silver and it looked really bad and clashed with the BB stripe.   Page 10 in my  resto thread shows the silver and then black compared.   
Dave or David

Offline Challenger6pak

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Re: '70 Challenger RT/SE Tail panel, Black or argent?
« Reply #3 on: December 18, 2007 - 12:02:45 PM »
I have seen them both ways.  The textured silver is the most common.  An R/T would be body color, not black, above the taillights. I have seen several exceptions to this rule also.  I don't know if a set rule on how they were done at Chrysler has been discovered.  Is your black textured or just black?  If it is textured it was silver and has been repainted black.  
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Offline gb70

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Re: '70 Challenger RT/SE Tail panel, Black or argent?
« Reply #4 on: December 18, 2007 - 12:56:29 PM »
Hey Greg.  I think the black is the best look no matter if it  is  incorrect or not.  I painted mine silver and it looked really bad and clashed with the BB stripe.   Page 10 in my  resto thread shows the silver and then black compared.   

David,

Look forward to seeing your latest pics.  I think that I will leave it black as it matches the grill, but really curious as to what would be correct per the factory when new.

Greg

Offline gb70

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Re: '70 Challenger RT/SE Tail panel, Black or argent?
« Reply #5 on: December 18, 2007 - 02:18:19 PM »
I have seen them both ways.  The textured silver is the most common.  An R/T would be body color, not black, above the taillights. I have seen several exceptions to this rule also.  I don't know if a set rule on how they were done at Chrysler has been discovered.  Is your black textured or just black?  If it is textured it was silver and has been repainted black.  

When we got the car the tail panel was black and smooth to the touch.  It appeared to be original but after 35 years who knows???

Offline Robert1050

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Re: '70 Challenger RT/SE Tail panel, Black or argent?
« Reply #6 on: December 18, 2007 - 04:55:13 PM »
Not to confuse the answer, but my Hemi Orange, black BB striped, 70 R/T (non-SE) came with the Argent panel.  It seems almost random what the cars ended up with - I've not seen any consistency relating to plant/build order.

Unless you're building a trailer queen that is 100% correct to the broadcast sheet, just do it the way you like.
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Offline 426HEMI

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Re: '70 Challenger RT/SE Tail panel, Black or argent?
« Reply #7 on: December 18, 2007 - 05:06:38 PM »
Hey by the way.  Even if it was on the build sheet it may not have come off the assembly line that way.  I saw several cars that had to be corrected when it got to the dealerships or just left the way they come.  just from my expierences and my two cents.
« Last Edit: December 18, 2007 - 05:10:45 PM by 426HEMI »
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Offline DAYTONA

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Re: '70 Challenger RT/SE Tail panel, Black or argent?
« Reply #8 on: December 18, 2007 - 05:23:03 PM »
mine was argent....JS29R0B100015

Offline gb70

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Re: '70 Challenger RT/SE Tail panel, Black or argent?
« Reply #9 on: December 18, 2007 - 07:13:53 PM »
mine was argent....JS29R0B100015

Do you still have the numbers matching 'R' code Hemi engine in that engine bay?

Greg

Offline DAYTONA

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Re: '70 Challenger RT/SE Tail panel, Black or argent?
« Reply #10 on: December 18, 2007 - 08:34:26 PM »
Do you still have the numbers matching 'R' code Hemi engine in that engine bay?

Greg


it does have the matching numbers engine and tranny...but I sold the car a long time ago

it was a "pilot" car, the first HEMI Challenger ever built (80169) and at the time it was the oldest Challenger known to be restored...supposedly #13 (white 318 conv) existed but was a basket case and #14 was not known of....#19 is a yelo 440 SIX PACK and the next number I knew of was the Diamante

Alaskan_TA

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Re: '70 Challenger RT/SE Tail panel, Black or argent?
« Reply #11 on: December 18, 2007 - 09:44:22 PM »

Offline gb70

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Re: '70 Challenger RT/SE Tail panel, Black or argent?
« Reply #12 on: December 18, 2007 - 10:06:20 PM »
Astrotone (commonly referred to as argent) from this page;

http://www.hamtramck-historical.com/images/dealerships/DealershipDataBook/1970/70_Challenger0024.jpg






That would be a slam dunk if I had a SE only, but does the RT really supersede the SE in regards to my post?
« Last Edit: December 18, 2007 - 10:09:31 PM by gb70 »

Alaskan_TA

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Re: '70 Challenger RT/SE Tail panel, Black or argent?
« Reply #13 on: December 18, 2007 - 10:09:42 PM »
No.

Offline DAYTONA

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Re: '70 Challenger RT/SE Tail panel, Black or argent?
« Reply #14 on: December 18, 2007 - 10:20:07 PM »
Astrotone (commonly referred to as argent) from this page;

http://www.hamtramck-historical.com/images/dealerships/DealershipDataBook/1970/70_Challenger0024.jpg






is that the same company that made  Astroturf  :roflsmiley: