1970 Dodge Charger

The Dodge Charger was first introduced as a mid-year addition to the 1966 lineup and much of the sheet metal and underpinnings were shared with the Coronet. A restyling in 1968 for the B-Body platform combined an attractive exterior with outstanding performance. While Chrysler Corporation executives and market planners envisioned demand for perhaps 35,000 1968 Chargers, sales reached 96,100 units. Additional production capacity was quickly added at Chrysler's Hamtramck plant to meet the demand, and a Charger line was added at St. Louis. The 1968 Charger sales levels were five times higher than they were for the prior 1967 model, accounting for nearly 16 percent of Chrysler division's total sales. Dodge had a massive hit on its hands.

For 1969, the Charger received mild stylistic revisions, with an aggressive central grille divider and updated tail lamps, with the lenses following the contours of the tail panel. A myriad of comfort, convenience, and safety enhancements was introduced for 1969, along with optional exterior colors and newly available vinyl roof coverings. While the Charger 500 and Daytona variants were built to meet NASCAR homologation requirements, road-going Chargers performed a plethora of tasks, from luxurious boulevard cruisers to powerful, high-performance street racers.

1970 marked the third and final year for this body style on Dodge's intermediate Charger of which the division produced 10,337 R/T's. R/T simply meant Road/Track and for 1970 they received non-function scoops bolted onto each door to highlight the sporty theme. Power was from the 440 cubic-inch Magnum V-8 delivering 350 base horsepower. Depending on the configuration, the engine could be tuned to produce between 375 and 390 horsepower. With its triple Holley center-float two-barrel carburetors capable of delivering up to 1,200 cfm of air, the 440 Six-Pack was capable of running with the top-of-the-line Hemi V8 engine (with the right driver). The 440 Six-Pack was named 'Chrysler's Ultimate Street Motor' and also included an Edelbrock high-rise aluminum intake manifold and several mods for high-rpm durability. It was priced at approximately half the cost of the 426 Hemi, making the Six-Pack option immensely popular, and demand far outstripped supply from the factory, leading many Mopar enthusiasts to eventually upgrade their 440-powered cars to Six-Pack status.

Additional items added to the Charger R/T were a heavy-duty 70 amp/hour battery, heavy-duty shock absorbers, Rally Suspension with sway bar, heavy-duty automatic adjusting drum brakes, TorqueFlite automatic transmission, dual exhaust, R/T handling package, and three-speed windshield wipers. A bumblebee stripe or longitudinal tape stripe helped distinguish it from other Chargers. Special R/T identification on the left side of the grille and the simulated bodyside scoops helped announce that these cars were something special.

The Special Edition (SE) package was available on both Charger 500s and Charger R/Ts. When selected, it added deep-dish wheel covers, leather bucket seats, woodgrain steering wheel and instrument panel, and hood-mounted turn signal indicators.

There was a one-year-only wraparound chrome front bumper, and exterior performance modifications included factory hood pins, chrome exhaust tip, and flip-top gas cap. Performance options included the A36 Performance Axle package that included the heavy-duty A727 TorqueFlite, a 3.55:1 ratio Sure Grip differential, and Hemi-type 26-inch radiator with viscous fan and shroud. Power front disc brakes were also available.

The base trim level Charger was powered by a 225 cubic-inch Slant Six engine or the 318 CID V8. Amenities included vinyl front bench seat, carpeting, heater and defroster, cigar lighter, three-spoke steering wheel, heavy-duty suspension, heavy-duty front sway bar, concealed headlights, and rear bumper guards. The standard tires on the six-cylinder cars were F78-14 fiberglass belted black sidewall tires while the V8s had G78-14 tires.

The intermediate trim level was the Charger 500 and came with vinyl front bucket seats, electric clock, and wheel lip moldings. The base 2-door hardtop Charger had a price of $3,000 while the Charger 500 was listed for $3,140. The Charger R/T had a base price of $3,700.

For 1970, Dodge produced approximately 49,800 examples of the Charger with just 300 examples equipped with the six-cylinder engine.

The second-generation Dodge Charger R/T, produced from 1968 through 1970, has become an icon of American performance. The fuselage-styled body, covered headlights, and flying-buttress fastback design have become an American icon, from the 'Dukes of Hazzard' to the 'Fast and Furious,' and on the quarter-mile dragstrip to the NASCAR racing circuit. Along with the redesigned grille treatment and special R/T door scoops, what really made the final year unique was the availability of the new V-code 440 Six Pack engine, a mid-1969 introduction that became optional on all big-block performance Chrysler models in 1970. The extensive list of performance and convenience options made them suitable for both road and track. For an additional $650, the Charger R/T could be equipped with the 'Street Hemi' OHV V8 engine with hemispherical combustion chambers and two Carber AFB four-barrel carburetors, delivering 425 horsepower at 5,000 RPM. (112 Charger R/T's were fitted with this option in 1970).

by Daniel Vaughan | Aug 2020