1970 Dodge Challenger R/T 440 U Code (Numbers Matching, California Solid)

1970 Dodge Challenger R/T Description

Up for auction is a numbers matching 1970 Challenger 440 R/T that is a long-time California car that has NO RUST. Please read my entire description before asking any ridiculous questions, as I am very thorough. This car has been off the roads of California since 1999, and is being sold as a solid, honest car that needs interior finishing and few odds and ends to be an excellent driver. Sadly, while it is numbers matching, no buildsheet has turned up.

This car is a numbers matching U Code 440 with a numbers matching automatic 727 transmission. It was originally painted Go Mango (EV2) with a burnt orange interior with console. The car has A/C, power steering, Rallye wheels, Rallye dash with three speaker setup, power drum brakes all around, white rump stripe, hood pins, luggage rack and white vinyl top. The radiator support, dash VIN, door VIN, and cowl VIN all match.

Exterior: The car has been repainted at least once, as the correct radiator support blackout is missing for the most part except for the edges of headlight bucket area. The car has all of its trim intact except for hood inserts, and will need new window whiskers and vertical fuzzies. All of the chrome shows well, with only a couple of small areas in the corners where the copper has lightly worn through. The vinyl top is complete, uncracked, with no signs of lifting, and a good body line at the rear above the window. There are a couple of small dings in the trim on the passenger side C pillar trim. Glass is original, except the windshield that was replaced. All lights and lenses are intact and show well, and has a locking gas cap and key. Grille is in great shape. Passenger side door was replaced at one point with a NOS piece from long ago (I assume when it was last painted, and there is are two shims on the upper door hinge which looks mildly bent. This is the ONLY evidence of damage I was able to find, but it does not carry into the front quarter panel. Gaps on that side look as good or better than stock.
Suspension: Wheels are a combination of 390s and later 071s. One trim ring is shiny and narrower than the rest of the correct brushed 3 inch rings. Tires have been on the car since the 1990s and should be replaced, but are not dry rotted, cracked and checked. Wheel bearings are packed with fresh grease, spin freely, and there are blue Monroe shocks that are tight and appear fairly new. The front K frame has the correct skidplate, and a "77" coin that is welded over the top of another one underneath. All bushings and grease fittings look good and like they were gone through at some point, as there are none that are cracked and beat up. Front swaybar end links look good. There is some overspray from the repaint on the underside, but also looks like there was factory undercoating on the underside of this car. The car has "034" and "024" stamped springs connected to the 8.75 rear end.
Engine bay: Car has a "961" 26 inch radiator that looks good inside and correct 314 shroud. It has a 1990s era Carter Competition 4bbl carb that replaced the correct Carter AVS at some point. Stock intake manifold, heads, rockers, etc. Engine was rebuilt to stock specs and runs smoothly as it sits. It has an old Mopar cap and wires, the fender tag has incorrect straight head screws fastening it down. The A/C is missing some hard lines, and the compressor and system would need to be updated and replaced. Passenger valve cover has a small leak. Power steering pump has a small leak, as does the master cylinder (which I am replacing and bleeding the brakes). It has a newer Optima Red Top battery (from 2016). Car retains cast iron manifolds. Exhaust is older, but complete with no leaks anywhere.

Trunk: Underside of the trunk lid looks to be in original paint with crooked jacking instructions intact. Spare and jack have vanished. Has intact vinyl mat, and the trunk floor and extensions are unbelievably solid. The shock tower access holes were pie-cut and peeled back (about 1/2-3/4 of an inch) to replace the shocks back in the day.

Interior: This is the area requiring the most attention. Headliner is out, but coat hooks shoulder belts, dome light etc are all intact with headliner bows and rear headliner wire hangers intact. Rear package tray is new, but needs jute beneath it and the rear seat with backer board (and also needs rear speakers, but wiring is there). Sail panel boards are intact and clipped in. Windows all crank up and down freely. Door panels are there. and the rears have Pentastar logos. I suspect the front door panels are not original, as they have no woodgrain inserts and no logos, but it is an early build 1970, so the jury is still out on that. Front kickpanels are intact and original. Front seats look great, carpet and console look original and mildly faded. Rear seat has a new cover to replace the one that is current on there. Dash is loosely fit in the car as it sits, and pad has been replaced/restored long ago, but all gauges appear to work. Radio and antenna is missing, as is center grille insert. All remaining trim, screws, ducting, vents, handles, armrests, sillplates, etc appear to be there, but there may be a fastener or two missing in the box and console.
If you hate rusty cars, this is a car you will LOVE! This big block is BEYOND solid and been off the road for 20 years! This car can easily be ready for cruise season with very little needed, as the hard stuff is done.

Deposit through PayPal within 24 hours of the end of the auction, with remainder due via bank to bank transfer, or cash in hand locally. Willing to drop with a shipper of your choice, but I will not release this car and title until proof of funds has been received and confirmed by my bank. Car is locally listed, and I reserve the right to cancel the auction if it sells before the end of the auction.