Photo: Mecum Auctions
This weekend's Indy 2024 auction saw a 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 LS6 Convertible set a new record for the nameplate at $600,000 (not including fees). However, the LS6 was among the exceptions. Several holy-grail classics rolled off the stage without a buyer. This super-rare, one-of-three 1970 Dodge Challenger is one of those cars.
Despite having quite a few desirable features to brag about, the Mopar failed to find a new owner after a high bid of $260,000. The listing now has a "big goes on" status, which means Mecum will continue negotiating with potential buyers, but it's more likely this Challenger will go under the hammer at a different event later this year.
So, what makes this Challenger so special that $260,000 wasn't enough to lift the reserve? First, it packs a 426-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) HEMI under the hood. Arguably the most iconic Chrysler engine from the golden era, the HEMI found its way into only 356 Challengers in 1970. That's less than 0.5% of the total production that year.
Second, it has the premium SE package. This bundle was selected by nearly 10,000 customers in 1970, but only 3,753 units also had the R/T trim. If we also factor in the 426 HEMI, that number drops to just 60 examples. Only 37 were equipped with the Torqueflite automatic gearbox like this car.
What's with the "one-of-three" claim, then? Well, it's all because of the color combo. This Mopar has a black exterior, interior, and vinyl top. It's a triple-black car and one of only three R/T SE models ordered like this.
In addition to all these desirable goodies, this Challenger is also a rotisserie restoration to factory-correct specs. The 426 HEMI is numbers-matching, and the car comes with the original broadcast sheet and window sticker. Restored by Jim Spetzman, it won the Gold Award at the 2001 Mopar Nationals and was featured in the August 2002 issue of Mopar Collector's Guide.
Its holy-grail status is undeniable, so it's not exactly surprising that a quarter-million bucks wasn't enough to put this Challenger into new ownership. But of course, it doesn't necessarily mean that this R/T SE should change hands for a lot more than that. As of May 2024, the most expensive 1970 HEMI Challenger R/T SE went under the hammer for $379,500.
The second-most expensive example found a new home for $187,000, but that car has a 440-cubic-inch (7.2-liter) Six-Pack, which is not as rare and desirable as the HEMI. Of course, this doesn't necessarily mean that a HEMI R/T SE is automatically worth more than $300,000.
This Challenger isn't the only HEMI gem that failed to sell at Indy 2024. A bronze 1968 HEMI Charger with a four-speed manual (one of 211 made) rolled off the stage at $180,000. A pair of even rarer 1970 HEMI Chargers with automatic gearboxes (only 56 produced) also failed to find new owners. A yellow example got a high bid of $160,000, while a black version didn't exceed $140,000. Both are restored examples with numbers-matching engines.
On the flip side, a 1970 Plymouth 'Cuda Convertible with a 340-cubic-inch (5.6-liter) V8, one of only two finished in Sassy Grass, sold for an unexpected $352,000. That's more than all but two HEMI 'Cuda hardtops sold as of this writing. How much do you think this HEMI Challenger is worth?
So, what makes this Challenger so special that $260,000 wasn't enough to lift the reserve? First, it packs a 426-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) HEMI under the hood. Arguably the most iconic Chrysler engine from the golden era, the HEMI found its way into only 356 Challengers in 1970. That's less than 0.5% of the total production that year.
Second, it has the premium SE package. This bundle was selected by nearly 10,000 customers in 1970, but only 3,753 units also had the R/T trim. If we also factor in the 426 HEMI, that number drops to just 60 examples. Only 37 were equipped with the Torqueflite automatic gearbox like this car.
What's with the "one-of-three" claim, then? Well, it's all because of the color combo. This Mopar has a black exterior, interior, and vinyl top. It's a triple-black car and one of only three R/T SE models ordered like this.
In addition to all these desirable goodies, this Challenger is also a rotisserie restoration to factory-correct specs. The 426 HEMI is numbers-matching, and the car comes with the original broadcast sheet and window sticker. Restored by Jim Spetzman, it won the Gold Award at the 2001 Mopar Nationals and was featured in the August 2002 issue of Mopar Collector's Guide.
Its holy-grail status is undeniable, so it's not exactly surprising that a quarter-million bucks wasn't enough to put this Challenger into new ownership. But of course, it doesn't necessarily mean that this R/T SE should change hands for a lot more than that. As of May 2024, the most expensive 1970 HEMI Challenger R/T SE went under the hammer for $379,500.
The second-most expensive example found a new home for $187,000, but that car has a 440-cubic-inch (7.2-liter) Six-Pack, which is not as rare and desirable as the HEMI. Of course, this doesn't necessarily mean that a HEMI R/T SE is automatically worth more than $300,000.
This Challenger isn't the only HEMI gem that failed to sell at Indy 2024. A bronze 1968 HEMI Charger with a four-speed manual (one of 211 made) rolled off the stage at $180,000. A pair of even rarer 1970 HEMI Chargers with automatic gearboxes (only 56 produced) also failed to find new owners. A yellow example got a high bid of $160,000, while a black version didn't exceed $140,000. Both are restored examples with numbers-matching engines.
On the flip side, a 1970 Plymouth 'Cuda Convertible with a 340-cubic-inch (5.6-liter) V8, one of only two finished in Sassy Grass, sold for an unexpected $352,000. That's more than all but two HEMI 'Cuda hardtops sold as of this writing. How much do you think this HEMI Challenger is worth?
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