1971 Dodge Challenger

Description

This Plum Crazy 1971 Challenger packs an awful lot of muscle into its compact and nicely restored body. Forget numbers-matching trailer queens, what you really want is a fast, usable, beautiful Challenger that you can drive and enjoy.

There's just nothing like Plum Crazy on a muscular Mopar. No other manufacturer tried to put purple on their cars, and in retrospect, they probably couldn't have pulled it off, either. Aggressive and not in the least bit cartoonish, this Challenger looks ready to eat a Prius for lunch. The body is nicely finished, with good gaps and alignment, and although it is a driver-quality finish, it's certainly done to a standard you can be proud of at the local cruise night. The body side moldings really show off the long hood/short deck styling, and details like the body-colored bumpers, argent grille and tail panel, and 'Challenger' script badges make it stand out from the crowd. The black vinyl top breaks up the Plum Crazy, nicely tying in with the black stripes, and thanks to careful installation, it looks great.

The interior is mostly original stock Challenger, from the high back bucket seats to the original console, to the stock gauges, however, of note are refinished seat covers, new carpet on the floor, a new headliner, and correct door panels. Originally equipped with a 2-watt Music Master AM radio, that's what still in the center of the dash, but a Pioneer AM/FM/CD head unit was cleverly built-in under the dash. The wood grain appliqués on the dash and console are so nice that they have to be recent, and the stubby T-handle shifter for the transmission falls easily to hand. The trunk is finished using a textured body schutz applied under the Plum Crazy paint for long-term durability.

With the original 318 cubic inch V8 under the hood, this car is quite entertaining to drive. Finished to stock specs, this one looks highly correct and doesn't show many of the more common aftermarket additions. From the air cleaner to the oil pan, it's quite stock, and the block has been bathed in correct Chrysler Turquoise that looks quite fresh. Plum Crazy paint covers the inner fenders and firewall, becoming a great canvas for the engine itself. Underneath, it's pretty original, so it's not detailed for show, but that custom dual exhaust system sounds amazing and a 3-speed automatic transmission and 8.75-inch rear make for a durable powertrain combination. That vintage drag-race stance comes compliments of a set of adjustable air shocks out back. However, if you prefer a more traditional stance out back, it's a simply adjustment to get the look want. Wheels are flashy and rather rare Fenton Super Shaker mags wearing staggered 195/75/14 front and 245/60/14 rear BFGoodrich T/A radials to complete the '70s performance look.

If you watch the market, you'd think that all the cars out there are matching-numbers trailer queens. But then you'd be missing out on seriously cool hardware like this Challenger that has no pretensions about being too nice to drive. With plenty of performance, great looks, a wonderfully detailed interior, and even an original Chrysler Corporation broadcast sheet, this is a car you can show proudly and leave your trailer at home. Call now!