Let’s say you were fortunate enough to get yourself a 1970 Dodge Challenger in the same decade this was built. Why would you ever want to part ways with such a stunning Mopar? Sure, there is such a thing as becoming too familiar with the driving experience of a machine, but that’s what mods are for! And in the case of this Challenger, the custom hardware it packs ensures this is far, far away from the original, since it’s now a twin-turbo drag racer.
As the Challenger was late to the muscle car party, Dodge gave the coupe an all-in start for its initial 1970 model year, with the legendary 440 Big-Block and NASCAR-bred 426 HEMI (here’s an original one on a standout 1971 Cuda) as options. Then there was the Challenger T/A, which is what this example used to be.
A racing homologation special, the street car was built to allow Dodge to compete in the Trans Am series. However, as sweet as the road model was, with its side exhaust, its fiberglass front and rear aero, and different-width tires (a novelty back in the day), its tech side wasn’t that majestic.
For one, the 340 Six Pack (triple dual-barrel carbs) only made 290 hp, while the handling was less than optimal—the skinnier rear tires and the lifted posterior—required by the said exhaust—didn’t help.
Nowadays, though, this is a highly collectible Mopar—just 2,399 units were built for 1970, which was the only model year due to Dodge exiting Trans Am early. So, as impressed as we are with the fresh form of this example, there’s no way of denying the project’s opinion-splitting nature.
The drag strip treatment of the Challenger TA
The vehicle is currently raced by an enthusiast named Dylan Wells, but this was acquired by his father back in 1978. The two recently converted the 1970 Challenger TA to a drag strip animal, with the main attraction now being a 556 ci (9.1L) HEMI working with a pair of 98mm turbos.
Despite the serious chassis and body modifications required to cope with the newfound muscle, the vehicle still packs the stock-style front suspension, which makes it eligible for racing in multiple classes.
Speaking of which, you’re about to see some of the first battles of the Dodge. The machine attended last month’s No Prep Kings at the Houston Raceway Park in Baytown, Texas.
Dylan raced the vehicle in the big-tire class, going for 1/8-mile runs (if you’re into that format, here’s a Cummins diesel-powered 1963 Corvette Split-Window door-slammer playing the game). And, despite the fresh development of the vehicle, the enthusiast managed to make his way into the final and grab a prize of $5,000, even though he couldn’t win them all.
Now, in the video below (via National No Prep Racing Association), we see the Dodge battling Adam Jennings’ Dark Horse. This is a 1969+ Chevrolet Camaro RS sharing the HEMI nature of the Challenger, but adding power via a massive blower.
Oh, and if the front-mounted, fire-spitting side exhausts of the classic Challenger don’t help you spot it from a distance, the Nissan-borrowed shade of red covering most of the exterior should do the trick.
