Rallye instrument cluster
A 150-mph speedometer, a tachometer, a trip odometer, an oil-pressure gauge and a clock, standard on the R/T.14
Dodge Challenger · 1970–1971
R/T
The Challenger's performance model for its first two years: the 383 Magnum as standard, the 440s (only the Six Pack in 1971) and the 426 Hemi as options, and a hardtop only for 1971.
How to spot an R/T
Stripes
In 1970 a «bumblebee» stripe around the tail or bodyside stripes, at no charge; in 1971 bolder stripes with large lettering.1one source
1971: hardtop only
Production by year
How many R/Ts were built each model year.
As a table, with notes
| Year | Built | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 17,796 (open ruling)126 | Our sum of Consumer Guide's three R/T rows: 12,747 hardtops, 3,979 SE hardtops and 1,070 convertibles. Over-Drive's rows add to 19,938 because its hardtop row is 2,142 higher; Wikipedia's add to 18,512 (our sum). Ruling |
| 1971 | 4,6301256 | Consumer Guide's table (Over-Drive's shares its rows); Wikipedia gives 3,814. |
Engines
The letter is the engine code in the VIN.
| Years | Code | Engine | Rated |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | N | 383 cu in Magnum V8, 4-barrel (standard) | 335 hp178 |
| 1971 | N | 383 cu in Magnum V8, 4-barrel (standard) | 300 hp gross, 250 net14 |
| 1970 | U | 440 cu in Magnum V8, 4-barrel | 375 hp27 |
| 1970–1971 | V | 440 cu in Six Pack V8, three 2-barrels | 390 hp (1970); 385 gross, 330 net (1971)14910 |
| 1970–1971 | R | 426 cu in Hemi V8, two 4-barrels | 425 hp (1971: 425 gross, 350 net)489 |
Where the sources disagree
Every conflict behind the figures on this page. All rulings.
Open
1970 Challenger production
Our ruling: Unresolved. We show Consumer Guide's rows, the only set with a named source (Langworth's Encyclopedia of American Cars, 1984). Over-Drive's table shares those rows and adds up too, but not independently. By our arithmetic Over-Drive's 14,889 R/T hardtops are Consumer Guide's 12,747 plus its 2,142 T/As, and Over-Drive's 85,431 is Consumer Guide's total plus exactly its own 2,399-car T/A row, so the T/A looks counted twice. Wikipedia's uncited rows reach its total only if the T/A is 2,399, not the 2,539 its table prints. Consumer Guide's own engine table is not clean either: its R/T hardtop installations add to 13,333 (our sum), more than the 12,747 R/T hardtops in its production table. Wikipedia's figures are lower than Consumer Guide's in every year from 1970 to 1974, and no source explains why.
What each source says (3)
- 83,032, in seven rows that add up1one source
- 76,935, in rows that add to 77,075 (our sum)2one source
- 85,431, with 14,889 R/T hardtops and 2,399 T/As6one source
Open
What the 426 Hemi cost in a 1970 Challenger
Our ruling: Unresolved: $1,227.50 or $871, and neither source says what the price includes. We give no Hemi price in the tables.
What each source says (2)
- $1,227.501one source
- $871, in the R/T8one source
Sources
- 1970-1974 Dodge Challenger HowStuffWorks (Consumer Guide Automotive) · read 2026-10-11
- Dodge Challenger (1970) Wikipedia · read 2026-10-11
- Dodge Challenger (1970): the 1972 section Wikipedia · read 2026-10-11
- 1971 Dodge Challenger sales catalog (Canada) Dodge Division, Chrysler Corporation · read 2026-10-11
- 1971 Dodge Challenger Fact Sheet Over-Drive Magazine · read 2026-10-11
- Dodge Challenger Production, 1970 and 1971 (two tables) Over-Drive Magazine · read 2026-10-11
- 1970 Dodge Challenger sales catalog Dodge Division, Chrysler Corporation · read 2026-10-11
- 1970 Dodge Challenger Fact Sheet Over-Drive Magazine · read 2026-10-11
- 1970 Dodge Vehicle Identification Numbers The Plymouth Owners Club Registry (tpocr.com) · read 2026-10-11
- 1971 Dodge Vehicle Identification Numbers The Plymouth Owners Club Registry (tpocr.com) · read 2026-10-11
Year by year
The R/T in each model year.
1970Dodge ChallengerThe first Challenger: Dodge's E-body pony car, as a hardtop or convertible, with the R/T, the SE and the T/A, nine engines up to the 426 Hemi, and about 83,000 built.83,032 built (disputed)
1971Dodge ChallengerThe second year: a split grille, a cheaper Coupe with fixed rear side glass, the R/T as a hardtop only, and sales down to 29,883.29,883 built (disputed)