70 Challenger: RT 340 vs A66 340

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    Author Topic: 70 Challenger: RT 340 vs A66 340  (Read 9051 times)

    Offline RzeroB

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    70 Challenger: RT 340 vs A66 340
    « on: December 09, 2013 - 07:28:46 PM »
    Okay, I'll admit it, my knowledge of 70 Challengers with the A66 package is seriously lacking - until recently I didn't know anything about the A66 package. Seen some of them on this site, and then this A66 vert popped up on ebay which piqued my interest.

    http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dodge-Challenger-base-1970-dodge-challenger-convertible-numbers-matching-340-4-barl-very-rare-/251399460524?forcerrptr=true&hash=item3a889356ac&item=251399460524&pt=US_Cars_Trucks

    Got me thinking as to what exactly is the difference between an A66 and a 340 RT (besides the badges that is)? The RT was $312 more than the base Challenger, while the A66 was $258 - a $54 difference between the two. However, if you opted for the A66 you had to get the W21 rallye wheels for $43 and the W34 collapsible spare for $13 which negates the $54 difference and essentially makes in a "wash" in the price. So, being that you get essentially the same car for the same price, what was the deal with the A66? Why would a buyer back in the day opt for the A66 over the 340 RT? :dunno:
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    Offline anlauto

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    Re: 70 Challenger: RT 340 vs A66 340
    « Reply #1 on: December 09, 2013 - 07:36:10 PM »
    Well apparently your knowledge of 70 Challengers in general is pretty lacking :smilielol:

    They NEVER made a 1970 340 Challenger R/T PERIORD.

    « Last Edit: December 09, 2013 - 08:36:42 PM by anlauto »
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    Offline RzeroB

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    Re: 70 Challenger: RT 340 vs A66 340
    « Reply #2 on: December 09, 2013 - 07:56:09 PM »
    Quote from: anlauto on December 09, 2013 - 07:36:10 PM
    Well apparently your knowledge of 70 Challengers in general is pretty lacking :smilielol:

    They NEVER made a 1970 340 Challenger R/T PERIORD.

    No 340 RT in 70? Well then, there you go. Odd that they wouldn't offer the hot little 340 in the RT and instead had to create a special package for it. Wonder what that was about? Funny that in 71 you could get the 340 in the RT and the A66 package was gone. Six of one and a half-dozen of another I suppose. Speaking of funny, Alan, you really crack yourself up don't you? Like that new spelling of the word "period" too :bigsmile:
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    Offline ToxicWolf

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    Re: 70 Challenger: RT 340 vs A66 340
    « Reply #3 on: December 09, 2013 - 08:27:04 PM »
    Originally they were not going to make a 340 challenger. They decided to add a 340 challenger after production was already underway. They added a new class of car to the line: the A66 Performane Package car that came with a 340 engine and several other things like upgraded suspension and brakes. Since they were already selling RT challengers they felt that adding a new engine option late in the game would be a bad idea.
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    Offline anlauto

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    Re: 70 Challenger: RT 340 vs A66 340
    « Reply #4 on: December 09, 2013 - 08:38:23 PM »
    Well at least you have great knowledge of spelling :2thumbs:
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    Offline rUNCHARGER

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    Re: 70 Challenger: RT 340 vs A66 340
    « Reply #5 on: December 09, 2013 - 09:35:12 PM »
    It could have been to beat insurance rates too. Back then if you had the R/T letters your insurance went up about double. They may have been thinking this way with the A-66 although it seems weird the Cuda had the 340 optional.

    Sheldon
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    Offline kissalien

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    Re: 70 Challenger: RT 340 vs A66 340
    « Reply #6 on: December 10, 2013 - 08:29:53 AM »
    My guess is that it was a reaction to counter the 340 Cuda. Though they were part of one company they still competed against each other.
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    Offline RAMMAN

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    Re: 70 Challenger: RT 340 vs A66 340
    « Reply #7 on: December 11, 2013 - 08:16:39 PM »
    Does anyone know what the earliest known A66 cars build date is? My LA built A66 car has a build date of 10/16/1969, that seems early to me. But by this time they had switched over from the 15” Rally wheel to the 14” Magnum 500 type wheel on my car.
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    Offline MJS73

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    Re: 70 Challenger: RT 340 vs A66 340
    « Reply #8 on: December 12, 2013 - 09:50:49 AM »
    There was a 340 R/T Challenger in 1971.
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    Offline anlauto

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    Re: 70 Challenger: RT 340 vs A66 340
    « Reply #9 on: December 12, 2013 - 10:08:00 AM »
    Quote from: MJS73 on December 12, 2013 - 09:50:49 AM
    There was a 340 R/T Challenger in 1971.

    Correct....but not in 1970 and not in 1972,73,74.
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    Offline mopardave

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    Re: 70 Challenger: RT 340 vs A66 340
    « Reply #10 on: December 12, 2013 - 10:10:30 AM »
    my friend has an A66 built i beleive he said in September,  the hood call out on his is a decal also, 340 4 barrel silver and red decal.
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    Mopar Dave
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    Offline KFD

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    Re: 70 Challenger: RT 340 vs A66 340
    « Reply #11 on: December 15, 2013 - 06:10:41 AM »
    In 1971, if you were saavy enough, you could order a '71 Highline Challenger with R/T lookalike stripes and a shaker hood, it is in all essence, an R/T, however, it doesn't have the R/T insurance premium. I remember seeing one at the Spring Fling years ago, that was, shockingly enough, ordered new by an Insurance Agent...

    Doing a little hunting around I found these...

    7/23/69: The 340 Performance Package (A66) will be available on the hardtop and convertible models in conjunction with the 340 engine in early September. The 340 engine will only be available in combination with the 340 Performance Package.

    4/13/70: The Shaker Hood is now available on the Challenger R/T with the 440-6V and 426 engines. In addition, this hood is also available with the 340 Performance Package (A66).

    Production numbers for the A66 cars totaled 6,933 for the USA, export and canadian totals are not known, if any at all.

    Now with that being said the other guess I would make about no 340 R/Ts in '70 could be because it might take the spotlight of the 2500 (or was it 2724) Challenger with a special 340 option...?

    I thought the 340 "decal" as opposed to the emblems were really cool, and yes, I think it would make a cool tattoo...

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    Offline 69ChargerRT

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    Re: 70 Challenger: RT 340 vs A66 340
    « Reply #12 on: December 19, 2013 - 10:05:32 AM »
    I love the history.  I own a 70 challenger and had no idea about most of this stuff!
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    Offline Dr. Feelgood

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    Re: 70 Challenger: RT 340 vs A66 340
    « Reply #13 on: December 19, 2013 - 10:29:06 AM »
    Any chance an A66 would have had R/T badges put on by the dealerships in 1970?
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    Offline mopardave

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    Re: 70 Challenger: RT 340 vs A66 340
    « Reply #14 on: December 19, 2013 - 07:26:07 PM »
    Quote from: Dr. Feelgood on December 19, 2013 - 10:29:06 AM
    Any chance an A66 would have had R/T badges put on by the dealerships in 1970?


    anything was possible back the,
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    Mopar Dave
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