Rare Car Archive

Makes › Dodge United States › Challenger › First generation › Challenger R/T 426 Hemi (1970–1971) · Rare specification · 1970–1971 Very Rare

Dodge
Challenger R/T 426 Hemi (1970–1971)

The 426 Hemi with the R/T convertible body in the first-year Challenger

Still being researched: full specifications. Everything shown is checked against the cited sources. Know more? Send us a source.

IDENTIFICATION CARD · DODGE CHALLENGER R/T 426 HEMI (1970–1971) 1970–1971
No licensed photograph yet. Photographs are published only when their licence permits it.
70BuiltIndependently researched
0Chassis documentedin this archive
?SurvivingNot yet verified
Contents
  1. 01Overview
  2. 02Production & history
  3. 03Specifications
  4. 04Colours & options
  5. 05Individual cars
  6. 06Reference

01Overview

At a glance

Built
70 Built
Years
1970–1971
Engine
Hemi V8 · 6,981 cc / 7.0 LFactory: 6,981 cc
Power
317 kW / 431 PSFactory: 425 hp · converted
Top speed
Not yet verified
Body
Not yet verified
Designer
Not yet verified
In this archive
Not yet verified
Surviving
Not yet verified

Sources and any conflicting figures are in the sections below.

Why it matters

In the Challenger's first year, Dodge built only nine 426 Hemi R/T convertibles for the US market (plus three for export), making it one of the rarest Mopar muscle cars. It combined the top engine option with the scarcest body style of the new E-body line.

How rare is it?

Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.

Model rarityNot yet assessed
Specification rarityVery Rare 287 · Built1
Colour rarityNot yet assessed
Individual rarityNot yet assessed
Historical rarityNot yet assessed
Survival rarityNot yet assessed

Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.

02Production & history

Production

Every figure says what it counts.

What is countedFigureBasisStatus
Factory package production1971: Hemi Challengers built for 1971, including 58 four-speeds 702 Factory production Independently researched
Factory package production1970: Hemi Challenger R/T hardtops built for the U.S. market (150 automatic) 2871 Factory production Independently researched
Factory package production1970: Hemi Challenger convertibles built for the US market (SCM data also cites 3 for export) 93 Factory production Independently researched

Independent counts (e.g. engine and colour) are never combined into a calculated figure. Surviving examples are never presented as original production.

History

The Challenger arrived for 1970, and across 1970 and 1971 only 41 Hemi E-body convertibles were built. Within that, the 1970 Challenger R/T Hemi convertible run was just nine US cars and three export cars. The car profiled by SCM, number two of the nine, was an automatic and sold for $750,000 at Mecum's Indianapolis sale in May 2010 after a 1993–96 restoration.

Variants

How each version differs from the standard Challenger R/T 426 Hemi (1970–1971).

No variants documented yet. Have a source? Contribute it.

03Specifications

Technical specifications

Engine

Engine familyNot yet verified
Engine codeNot yet verified
LayoutHemi V84 Independently researched
Displacement 6,981 cc / 7.0 LFactory: 6,981 cc5 Independently researchedPage spec table for the 1970 Challenger R/T with the 426 Hemi; not convertible- or SE-specific.
BoreNot yet verified
StrokeNot yet verified
Compression ratio10.25:15 Independently researchedSame page table; not variant-specific.
Fuel systemNot yet verified
Power 317 kW / 431 PSFactory: 425 hp · converted4 Independently researched
Power at 5,000 rpm5 Independently researched
TorqueNot yet verified

Transmission & drivetrain

GearboxNot yet verified
GearsNot yet verified
Driven wheelsNot yet verified

Chassis, body & dimensions

ChassisNot yet verified
Front suspensionNot yet verified
Rear suspensionNot yet verified
BrakesNot yet verified
SteeringNot yet verified
Body constructionNot yet verified
WheelbaseNot yet verified
LengthNot yet verified
WidthNot yet verified
HeightNot yet verified
Front trackNot yet verified
Rear trackNot yet verified
Kerb weightNot yet verified
Dry weightNot yet verified

Performance

Maximum speedNot yet verified
0–100 km/hNot yet verified
Fuel tankNot yet verified

“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.

04Colours & options

Factory colours & interiors

Original paint and trim, with the number of cars in each where a source gives it.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Factory options & codes

Codes are shown exactly as written by the manufacturer.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

05Individual cars

Chassis register

Every documented car, with its colours, history and where it is now. Open a row for the full record. Known chassis are not automatically authenticated originals.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Competition history

Every race result of the individual cars, in date order. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Auction & sale history

Documented public sales of the individual cars. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

See one in person

Museums where an example of this car can be seen.

No example is documented on public display yet. Have a source? Contribute it.

06Reference

Identification guide

How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.

SCM lists the VIN locations as the dash tag, driver's door-jamb decal and left inner fender tag, and the engine number on a machined pad on the passenger side of the block above the oil-pan rail, ahead of the motor mount.

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

  1. 1
    Mecum Auctions lot – 1970 Dodge Hemi Challenger R/T, Monterey 2021 lot F47 (VIN JS23R0B157786) Level B
    • 287 Hemi Challenger R/T hardtops built for the U.S. market (150 automatic)
    Accessed 2026-11-12
  2. 2
    RM Sotheby's lot – 1971 Dodge Challenger R/T Hemi, Arizona 2013 Level B
    • 70 Hemi Challengers built for 1971, including 58 four-speeds
    Accessed 2026-11-12
  3. 3
    Sports Car Market – 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T Hemi Convertible (Colin Comer) Level B
    • 9 Hemi Challenger convertibles built for the US market (SCM data also cites 3 for export)
    Accessed 2026-11-11
  4. 4
    1970 Dodge Challenger R/T Hemi Convertible Level B Colin Comer · Sports Car Market · 2010-09-01
    • Hemi; 425 hp
    • 425 hp
    Accessed 2026-11-11
  5. 5
    1970 Dodge Challenger R/T Level B supercars.net
    • Hemi V8 6981 cc / 426.0 in³
    • compression 10.25:1
    • 425.0 bhp @ 5000 rpm
    Accessed 2026-11-12

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