Dodge’s mid-sized Charger was ostensibly designed to do battle with the Chevrolet Chevelle, but by 1966 or so, it was obvious that the gothic-looking Charger wasn’t quite up to the task. A clean-sheet redesign kept the parts that worked (hidden headlights) and ditched those that didn’t (fish bowl rear window), creating what is quite likely the most iconic muscle car of all. There are plenty of popular cars that were built in the late 1960s, but few approach the passion that fans have for the Charger. With awesome styling, a wide array of powerplants, a long list of options, and Chrysler’s superior documentation, the Charger remains the benchmark by which most other muscle cars are measured. The fact that they sell within a few days of hitting the market, time after time, only means that the market for these cars remains strong and that quality always matters.

It’s with all that in mind that we’re very excited about this gorgeous B5 Blue 1970 Dodge Charger R/T. It’s beautifully restored, but perhaps more importantly, it carries its original, matching-numbers engine, offers an awesome pedigree, and features great options like factory A/C. It’s a real-deal R/T 440, and we know a great deal about it simply because Chrysler was smart enough to put all the critical data on the fender tag:
XS29:
Dodge Charger
Special, R/T
2-door sports hardtop
U0G: 440 cubic inch 375 horsepower 4-barrel V8
1970
St. Louis, MO, USA
185625: Sequence number
E86: 440 cubic inch 4-barrel V8 (High Performance) 375hp
D32: Heavy duty automatic transmission
EB5: Bright Blue Metallic exterior color
C6B5: Trim: Charger, vinyl bucket seats, blue
EB5: Bright Blue Metallic interior door frames
203: Build date: February 03
138960: Order number
V1W: Full vinyl top, white
A01: Light package
A04: Basic (radio) group
B51: Power brakes
C16: Console w/woodgrain panel
C55: Bucket seats
G33: LH remote racing mirror
H51: Air conditioning with heater
J25: 3-speed wipers
L31: Hood/fender mounted turn signals
M21: Roof drip rail moldings
M31: Belt moldings
N95: Emissions control
R11: Radio solid state AM (2 Watts)
V8W: Transverse stripes, white
Y16: Sales rank
26: 26-inch radiator
END: End of sales codes

So the car is exactly what it appears to be, which is great news. It has also enjoyed a comprehensive restoration about seven years ago, which put it back to stock spec just the way the cowl tag says it should be. That means awesome B5 Bright Blue Metallic paint on the bodywork complete with a white bumblebee stripe around the tail and a well-trimmed white vinyl roof. The car is wearing its original quarters, which is a big deal when they’re nearly six feet long and a great deal of effort obviously went into getting it straight in preparation for the paint. There are a few minor signs of use and age, since the restoration is about eight years old now, but this is still a fantastic-looking car. There’s a correct R/T emblem on the door-mounted faux scoop, the gaps are surprisingly good for a Mopar, and the paint is two-stage urethane, which has a fantastic shine that should look good for years to come. 1970 Chargers were notable for the big chrome bumper that surrounds the grille and hidden headlights up front, making them easy to spot at a distance, and the full-width taillights are separated by a second Charger R/T emblem. The flip-up gas cap is a nice touch, making the Charger look race-ready and all the shiny trim is in excellent condition. It is not a perfect car, but it’s awfully nice!

Interestingly enough, this is the second 1970 Charger R/T that we’ve had with a blue interior, and we have to say we like it a lot more than white. Not only is it easier to maintain, but it tones the interior down a bit so it’s easier to get comfortable on bright days. Again, everything was returned to stock specs, including the high-back bucket seats that wear fresh seat covers from Legendary, new carpets on the floors, and those wonderfully ornate door panels that look like they belong in something other than a muscle car. There’s plenty of fake wood, which isn’t terribly convincing, but that’s how they came, and the wood rimmed steering wheel works well with the matching dash and console. A full set of Rallye gauges give a comprehensive view of the engine’s condition, and they all work including the Tick-Tock Tach. Factory A/C is kind of a big deal in a car like this, with fewer than 20% of Charger buyers opting for it (it added about 10% to the cost of the car), and thanks to a full rebuild, it blows nice and cold today. The original Music Master AM radio is still in the dash, but maybe it’s due for an upgrade if you’re going to drive the car although if you’re like us, you’d prefer to listen to the engine instead. The console chrome is in excellent shape and the shifter snaps into gear with ease. Seat belts, monogrammed floor mats, and a spotless rear seat round out a rather nice driver’s compartment. The trunk is also correctly outfitted with a reproduction mat, full-sized spare tire on a Rallye wheel, and a factory jack assembly tucked into the quarter panel.

The good news is that this is the car’s original, numbers-matching 440 cubic inch HP V8. With a 4-barrel carburetor, the Magnum V8 makes 375 horsepower and a big hit of torque that you can feel at any speed. It’s smooth and effortless in everything it does, and in the relatively lightweight Charger, performance is still impressive nearly 50 years later. It was fully rebuilt to stock specs when the car was restored and has fewer than 10,000 miles on it. All the factory equipment was reinstalled, including the massive Chrysler A/C compressor that dominates the top of the engine bay. Little things like the hoses and clamps, ballast resistor on the firewall, and even the tag on the radiator neck are nice little additions that make it look factory-correct. There’s even a fresh reproduction red cap battery that just makes it look right. It also runs right, starting easily and running well once the choke is off after about 30 seconds. There’s big power available anywhere on the tach and if you want a muscle car to feel like a muscle car, all you need to do is punch a big block Mopar when you’re on the roll, let the transmission drop down a gear, and hold on, because this sucker hustles!

It’s backed by a TorqueFlite 3-speed automatic transmission which stays out of your way when you’re just cruising but snaps through the gears with real authority if you get aggressive. The exhaust system is a correct reproduction with a mellow soundtrack and correct chrome tips, and the 8.75-inch rear end has highway-friendly 3.23 gears inside, making this a great car for road trips. There’s a new gas tank out back, the brakes were rebuilt during the restoration, and the suspension rides like it should, a good combination of sporting and comfortable. The underside is very clean and solid with no visible floor patches or issues, and it was covered in a light dusting of undercoating to seal it up for driving. Critical areas like the rear torque boxes, the torsion bar perches, and rocker pinch welds are in excellent condition with no issues evident. It is not detailed for show, but it’s extremely clean and presents no issues for the guy who wants to put his new Charger on the road. Correct 15-inch Rallye wheels with trim rings are in excellent condition and carry staggered 225/70/15 front and 275/60/15 rear BFGoodrich T/A radials.

This car includes a reproduction window sticker showing all the options as well as a few spare parts including the original blue plastic steering wheel and fresh chrome wheel arch moldings.

Chargers are always going to be blue-chip collector cars, and those with rock-solid pedigrees and big block engines will rightfully remain at the top of every collector’s wish list. This one gets all the important things right and remains a pleasure to own and drive. Compared to a lot of the other cars on the market, this one kind of starts to look like a bargain. Call today!