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Dodge Challenger R/T 383 SE - Muscle, existentialism and an American attitude to life

Name: Dodge Challenger 1973
Brand: Dodge

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Created on October 8, 2015

Text:

Bruno von Rotz

Photos:

Bruno von Rotz

FCA - Fiat Chrysler Group

Archiv

Bruno von Rotz

FCA - Fiat Chrysler Group

Archiv

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Dodge Challenger R/T 383 Magnum (1970) - the radiator grille was inspired by a turbine car

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Dodge Challenger R/T 383 Magnum (1970) - the color is called "Plum Crazy Purple Metallic"

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Dodge Challenger R/T 383 Magnum (1970) - Dual headlights and auxiliary lamps

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Dodge Challenger R/T 383 Magnum (1970) - with a width of 1.93 meters it looks impressive

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Dodge Challenger R/T 383 Magnum (1970) - the design was created by Carl Cameron

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Dodge Challenger R/T 383 Magnum (1970) - long doors, short cabin

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Dodge Challenger R/T 383 Magnum (1970) - of the 4.86 meters in length, the crew has at most half of it at their disposal

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Dodge Challenger R/T 383 Magnum (1970) - these tires can leave thick black lines on the road if you're not careful with the throttle

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Dodge Challenger R/T 383 Magnum (1970) - around a third of the overall length is reserved for the engine and front end

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Dodge Challenger R/T 383 Magnum (1970) - under the big flap is a big engine

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Dodge Challenger R/T 383 Magnum (1970) - 340 hp at civilian engine speeds

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Dodge Challenger R/T 383 Magnum (1970) - 6.28 liter V8 engine

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Dodge Challenger R/T 383 Magnum (1970) - beautiful color scheme

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Dodge Challenger R/T 383 Magnum (1970) - despite the large engine compartment, there is not much space left over

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Dodge Challenger R/T 383 Magnum (1970) - around 340 hp was attributed to the Magnum engine

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Dodge Challenger R/T 383 Magnum (1970) - only around 4600 rpm were needed for 200 km/h

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Dodge Challenger R/T 383 Magnum (1970) - classic American engine construction

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Dodge Challenger R/T 383 Magnum (1970) - the longitudinally mounted V8 engine

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Dodge Challenger R/T 383 Magnum (1970) - four large round instruments in front of the driver

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Dodge Challenger R/T 383 Magnum (1970) - less playful cockpit

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Dodge Challenger R/T 383 Magnum (1970) - Kowalsky's workplace

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Dodge Challenger R/T 383 Magnum (1970) - easy-to-read instruments and a playful clock (right)

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Dodge Challenger R/T 383 Magnum (1970) - integrated headrests

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Dodge Challenger R/T 383 Magnum (1970) - a little wood and leather is allowed

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Dodge Challenger R/T 383 Magnum (1970) - American sportiness

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Dodge Challenger R/T 383 Magnum (1970) - typical American cockpit architecture

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Dodge Challenger R/T 383 Magnum (1970) - "Special Edition" - "SE" written out

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Dodge Challenger R/T 383 Magnum (1970) - also labeled inside

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Dodge Challenger R/T 383 Magnum (1970) - Flank

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Dodge Challenger R/T 383 Magnum (1970) - twin headlights were in vogue

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Dodge Challenger R/T 383 Magnum (1970) - "R/T" stands for "Road/Track", for use on the road and on the race track

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Dodge Challenger R/T 383 Magnum (1970) - hood latches as they were used in racing

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Dodge Challenger R/T 383 Magnum (1970) - classic twin headlights

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Dodge Challenger R/T 383 Magnum (1970) - Details to fall in love with

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Dodge Challenger R/T 383 Magnum (1970) - the artistically shaped radiator grille

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Dodge Challenger R/T 383 Magnum (1970) - Play of colors and shapes

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Dodge Challenger R/T 383 Magnum (1970) - no guesswork necessary, everything is labeled

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Dodge Challenger R/T 383 Magnum (1970) - pitted against the Ford Mustang

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Dodge Challenger R/T 383 Magnum (1970) - all clear?

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Dodge Challenger R/T 383 Magnum (1970) - these latches hold the hood in place

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Dodge Challenger R/T 383 Magnum (1970) - Hood latches

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Dodge Challenger R/T 383 Magnum (1970) - the radiator opening was based on a turbine prototype of the Charger

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Dodge Challenger R/T 383 Magnum (1970) - 383 cubic inches stand for 6.28 liters of displacement

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Dodge Challenger R/T 383 Magnum (1970) - one of the most powerful machines for the Challenger

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Dodge Challenger R/T 383 Magnum (1970) - great lettering

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Dodge Challenger R/T 383 Magnum (1970) - engine size written on the hood

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Dodge Challenger R/T 383 Magnum (1970) - written on the hood

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Dodge Challenger R/T 383 Magnum (1970) - Hood Mountains

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Dodge Challenger R/T 383 Magnum (1970) - lettering on the flank

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Dodge Challenger R/T 383 Magnum (1970) - labeled all around

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Dodge Challenger R/T 383 Magnum (1970) - the challenger - from whom?

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Dodge Challenger R/T 383 Magnum (1970) - the Challenger for road and race track

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Dodge Challenger R/T 383 Magnum (1970) - powerful tires

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Dodge Challenger R/T 383 Magnum (1970) - refueling in the left rear

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Dodge Challenger R/T 383 Magnum (1970) - the gas cap on the right rear fender

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Dodge Challenger R/T 383 Magnum (1970) - "SE" stands for particularly rich equipment

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Dodge Challenger R/T 383 Magnum (1970) - wide rear, small rear window

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Dodge Challenger R/T 383 Magnum (1970) - clearly a Dodge

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Dodge Challenger R/T 383 Magnum (1970) - even then with square exhaust pipes

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Dodge Challenger 440 Magnum (1970) - in the movie "Vanishing Point" from 1971

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Dodge Challenger (1970) - on the cover of the Dodge News magazine

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Dodge Challenger R/T (1970) - version of the first model year in the Road/Track variant

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Dodge Challenger (1970) - as a two-door hardtop version

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Dodge Challenger (1970) - Rear view of the two-door hardtop coupé variant

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Dodge Challenge (1971) - R/T variant attractively presented

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Dodge Challenger (1970) - The sports car that knows how to treat a lady

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Dodge Challenger (1970) - as a hardtop coupé and convertible

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Dodge Challenger (1970) - as towing vehicle for the boat

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Dodge Challenger (1970) - basic version moved dynamically

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Dodge Challenger (1970) - R/T version as convertible

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Dodge Challenger (1970) - with generous air intake

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Dodge Challenger (1970) - Lettering of the variant with 6.3 liter V8 engine

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Dodge Challenger (1970) - with particularly easy-to-grip pistol grip gearshift - four-speed version

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Dodge Challenger (1970) - the pistol-like gear lever

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Dodge Challenger (1970) - the R/-T variant

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Dodge Challenger (1970) - the T/A variant as a homologation model for TransAm use

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Dodge Challenger (1970) - early model - taken in the summer of 1969

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Dodge Challenger (1970) - Hardtop Coupé as towing vehicle

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Dodge Challenger (1970) - in the advertisement

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Dodge Challenger (1970) - with hat on the hood

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Dodge Challenger (1970) - R/T variant as convertible

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Dodge Challenger (1970) - fast on the road

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Dodge Challenger (1970) - standard model as two-door hardtop

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Dodge Challenger (1970) - T/A variant as the basis for Transam use

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Dodge Challenger (1971) - in the exhibition

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Dodge Challenger (1971) - slightly modified front radiator grille

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Dodge Challenger (1971) - T/A variant of the second model year

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Dodge Challenger (1971) - with integrated headrests

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Dodge Challenger (1971) - with eight-cylinder engine

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Dodge Challenger (1972) - for the third model year, the front end was revised once again

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Dodge Challenger (1972) - in the advertisement

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Dodge Challenger (1972) - with rope decorations

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Dodge Challenger (1973) - still an attractive appearance in its fourth year

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Dodge Challenger (1973) - in its fourth year, less power, fewer variants

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Dodge Challenger (1973) - in the advertisement

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Dodge Challenger (1973) - modified rear lights

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Dodge Challenger (1974) - remained true to itself for all five years

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Dodge Challenger (1974) - Rear design of the last variants

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Dodge Challenger R/T 383 Magnum (1970) - in the tradition of the pony cars

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Dodge Challenger R/T 383 Magnum (1970) - wide and crouched, no wonder with a height of only 1.29 meters

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Dodge Challenger R/T 383 Magnum (1970) - looks wide even from the rear

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Dodge Challenger R/T 383 Magnum (1970) - Details of the first year of construction

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Summary

Chrysler launched the Dodge Challenger as a late response to the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro. However, the Challenger was more than just a pony car, it was one of the fastest muscle cars of the time with power outputs of over 400 hp. The Challenger was only built for five years and its appearance in the movie "Vanishing Point" is unforgotten. This driving report portrays a Dodge Challenger R/T 383 Magnum SE from 1970 and shows the model development across all years of construction. A movie trailer and the sound of the engine are also included.

This article contains the following chapters

Arrived too late?
The full concert
Classic American muscle car technology
Impressive performance ...
... and a little less ground contact
Only five years
An end with horror
Further information

Estimated reading time: 6min

Preview (beginning of the article)

Was Kowalsky really the last American hero, as DJ SuperSoul proclaims? In the 1971 film "Vanishing Point" (German title: Fluchpunkt San Fransciso), he drives a white 70s Dodge Challenger R/T over 1600 km from Denver (Colorado) to San Francisco (California), or at least he tries to. Half the police are on his tail, even though he has done nothing wrong. Barry Newman plays the silent hero and the pounding of the big V8 engine can be heard for at least half of the movie. And almost 45 years later, I'm sitting in a similar Dodge Challenger R/T and enjoying this infinitely powerful eight-cylinder roar. I change gears with the "Hurst Shifter", almost exactly like Kowalsky, and let the high-torque 6.2-liter engine press me into the seat. My hands grip the thin steering wheel, my gaze sweeps over the speedometer up to 240 km/h and the rev counter, which can display up to 8000 rpm. Unlike Kowalsky, I stay wide awake even without "Speed" ....

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