1972 challenger-Petty edition

[Cuda340]

I agree that you should buy a muscle car for fun and not worry about its future value in 20+ years. When I buy my Challenger SRT it is going to be driven!

One point about the horsepower of the 1970-1971 340. Plymouth/Dodge rated it as 275 gross hp at 5,000 rpm to get a favorable bracket at the track. This is because the factory stopped taking hp readings before the engine redlined at 6,000 rpm. NHRA figured out this ploy and factored the horsepower up to 325 hp. If you use a net rating for the 1971 340, it would probably be around 275 hp.

The net 30 hp difference between the 1971 and 1972-1973 340s is due to the higher compression (10.5:1 vs. 8.5:1, bigger intake valves (2.02") and larger X heads (the 1972-1973 had smaller-valved J heads).

[nextchall]

I also agree. Back in 1973 I had a brand new 1973 Pontiac Formula 455 auto, and you could bet your last dollar that it was a MUSCLE car. That car was AWESOME!

[DartSportDude]

You're right -- the '73 455 Super Duty was an awesome machine. Just goes to show you, performance didn't end in '71! It dropped off a lot, but it didn't end entirely. Plus, "performance" is a relative term. Talk to some guy driving a high-end Ferrari, and he'll laugh at most of our vintage muscle cars.

Most of the guys who write for the magazines these days weren't around to actually own the 60s-70s cars when they were relatively new; all they have to go on is the factory specs and occasional joy rides.

[Lessardndt]

I am currently restoring a 73 non-numbers Challenger. It's a Rallye with a 360. My intent it to bring it into assemblyline condition. If it cost me 28k, who cares? This may be the last car I own. I intend to drive the hell out of it on a daily basis. Forget about all the rarities unless you plan to turn a profit. Otherwise enjoy what you got, it's still a Challenger.

[bobio1080]

I agree that we should buy the car to have fun with and not worry about the value now, or in teh future. I am for sure going to be having fun with my Challenger by modifying it and driving it on a daily basis. For people to spend thousands of dollars on a car and then are to afraid or just don't want to drive it becasue it will get dirty or dinged up or the value will drop down are just ignorant and waisted all that money. The car is made for driving so just drive the damn thing.

[DartSportDude]

Sadly, today's hobby is overly focused on the "collectability" of the muscle cars we all know and love. I have to laugh when the idiots who do commentary for the B-J telecasts disparage some car because it's "only" a 440 4-bbl model -- and not the "much more desirable (their words)" 440 6-pack model. Sure, everyone can appreciate the rarity and power of the exotic 440 6-packs and Hemis (and of course, they should be worth more to serious collectors), but really, why should there be ANY negative comment about a more common 440, 383, 340, etc.?

Let the elitists and snobs who treat these cars like fine china go ahead and put them on ice in some museum; I say, go ahead and enjoy the darn things (just be careful and don't wreck them)!

[JustACelt]

Well I had a 73 318 auto , that stayed 318 however it went to a manual , tossed a different 8 3/4 pumpkin in her tossed a dc cam and 340 heads and 4 barrel and wa la high 13 second bracket racer. Now if i had or went and got another challenger that wasnt high perfomance from the 70s, I would prolly set the original stock engine and tranny aside if i ever decided to resell it and drop one of the new hemi power plants in her and since I wouldnt have to worry about emissions on a car that old in this state, all of the detuning would be detuned so to speak, I suggested a similar strategy to my dad when we restore our 67 cuda convertible talk about a car that would haul tail end :O)

[jonmandude]

Originally Posted by Cuda340

The key to a car's value is how rare the car and its options are. The 10.5:1 (275 hp) 340 was only installed in the E-body Challenger R/T and 'Cuda for two years (1970-1971). It is simple economics- since there are less of them, it drives the price up.

An extreme example is the 1971 'Cuda. A 340 or 383 in great shape can bring around $60,000 (although a 340 sold for $102,500 at the last week's Barret-Jackson auction). The big blocks (440, 440 Six-Pack and 426) were installed in fewer cars and command much higher sale prices.

The extreme example is the 426 Hemi. In a coupe (rare) it can bring up to $1 million. In a convertible (very rare), it can bring up to $2 million.

By that point the 72 and 74 Challengers should be more valued than the base line 70-71's. The numbers on both years s less than 20,000. They are the lowest production years. What makes the 70-71 Challengers valued is the big block R/T and the 6-pack T/A options. The basic 340, 318, and 6 cylinder cars are valued relatively the same no matter what year. Heck, if you want rare, get a 6 cylinder Challenger. Less than 300 6 cylinder convertables and less than 400 coupes were produced in 71

[Cuda340]

Originally Posted by JustACelt

Well I had a 73 318 auto , that stayed 318 however it went to a manual , tossed a different 8 3/4 pumpkin in her tossed a dc cam and 340 heads and 4 barrel and wa la high 13 second bracket racer. Now if i had or went and got another challenger that wasnt high perfomance from the 70s, I would prolly set the original stock engine and tranny aside if i ever decided to resell it and drop one of the new hemi power plants in her and since I wouldnt have to worry about emissions on a car that old in this state, all of the detuning would be detuned so to speak, I suggested a similar strategy to my dad when we restore our 67 cuda convertible talk about a car that would haul tail end :O)

You only installed a manual trans., a 8 3/4 rear, cam, 340 heads, and a 4 barrel in a 318 and turned quicker times than a stock 340 with 10.5 compression?? (340s were in the mid to high 14s). How

Besides your mods, the 340 also had:

• a dual timing chain with a windage tray to improve top end engine RPM by keeping the crank counter weights from 'churning the oil' in the pan.
• 2.02 inch intake valves and 1.60 inch exhaust valves
• a high-rise dual plane intake
• a steel crank (through 1973, when a cast iron crank was used)
• a revised oil pump with a 90 degree adaptor

[RoostKing]

Heck, if you want rare, get a 6 cylinder Challenger. Less than 300 6 cylinder convertables and less than 400 coupes were produced in 71

Hey I had a 70 Challenger with the 225 slant six that I drove in California while in the Marine Corps. Paid $600.00 for it in 1993!!!

RoostKing...