The Challenger was Dodge’s answer to the pony car craze that had existed since the launch of the Ford Mustang in the 1960s. However, the moment when Dodge came on the market with the Challenger was precisely when this craze started to diminish again.
First generation
The first generation of Challengers was produced from 1970 to 1974. In terms of production numbers, the declining interest in pony cars strong to see. The design of the first Challenger is strongly based on a concept for one Dodge Charger from 1966. Although this version of the Charger was never made, some design elements were carried over almost directly to the 1970 Challenger. This first year, Dodge came up with four different models. The Challenger Six, Challenger V8, the Challenger T / A and the Challenger R / T. A convertible version was also possible with the latter.
The standard model had a 3.7L six-cylinder. Should a customer opt for the V8, the choice was between a 5.2L with 230hp, a 5.6L engine and the 6.3L engine with 290hp. However, with the R / T, the performance model, there were stronger options: a V8 with 335 hp or a 7.2L Magnum V8 with 390 hp and a 7.0L HEMI engine with 425 hp.
To join the Trans Am Series, a race set up in 1966 for these types of cars, dodge came up with the Challenger T / A. This car was the first muscle car which had a different tire size than the rear, because of the racing. Although this car managed to achieve some success, the costs to run this car were too great, and the T / A version disappeared from the scene in 1970.
Ultimately, some 73,000 cars would be sold in the first year. Although this can be called a reasonable success, the press turned out to be less optimistic. These poor press reviews and the declining pony car trend would cause sales to drop sharply. In 1971 there were only minor changes to the car. Externally, it was slightly modernized and the standard engine was slightly less powerful. However, sales numbers fell to 30,000 units
In 1972 a new front was chosen and the model range was reduced. The convertible was no longer available, as was the HEMI engine (sold because of the high additional price anyway not very good). The R / T would now Rallye and only two V8 ?? s were possible: the 5.2L with 150hp and the 5.6L with 240hp. This year, only 26,600 left the factory.
The Rallye version was canceled again in 1973, as was the choice of six-cylinder engines. The only engines that were still available were a 5.2L with 150hp and a 5.9L with 245hp. The sales figures were again not something to write home about this year: 32,500 units. However, in the last year for this generation, 1974, it would be even worse. Only 16,500 found their way to a new owner. The pony-car market was clear about it.
Today the 1970 and 1971 models are the most sought after, and it should come as no surprise that the versions that originally feature one of the more powerful engines cost the most money. Many standard versions have been converted to these powerful versions, they buy a HEMI block, place it under the hood instead of the standard engine and finish the car with the right trim. However, the serial numbers indicate which cars were originally delivered with the correct engine. Convertibles are also rare these days: In total less than 6,000 have been built, out of a total of 165,000 first generation challengers.
Second generation
The second generation of Challengers actually has nothing to do with the original Challenger. This series, produced from 1978 to 1983, was the Mitsubishi Sapporo sold in the US under the name Dodge Challenger.
Third generation
In 2006 Dodge came up with a concept car of a new Challenger, to compete in the emerging retro market (which Ford was already in with the new Mustang). This new Challenger went into production from 2008. 7119 units were made this year, all SRT8 ?? s with a HEMI V8 6.1L block with 425hp. In Canada this SRT8 was sold under the name Challenger 500. Since 2009 the Challenger is available in several different versions, the SE, R / T, SRT8 and the SXT. The SE and SXT have a 3.5L V6 with 250 hp as standard, the R / T a 5.7 HEMI with 370 hp or 375 hp (depending on the gearbox selected). Although the Challenger initially would not be available in the Netherlands, this is now the case through gray imports.