With its sporty appeal to younger generations, the 1970 Challenger was Dodge’s exciting, if decidedly late, entrant in the muscle-car race that kicked off when the Ford Mustang launched in 1964. The Challenger was priced slightly above its corporate cousin Plymouth Barracuda, which had been around as long as the Mustang. With a 110-inch wheelbase two inches longer than that of the ‘Cuda and an inch wider overall, the Challenger was roomier, poised to compete with the more upmarket Mercury Cougar and Pontiac Firebird.

Larger or not, the Challenger cut an aggressive profile with its long hood, short decklid, and low stance. Of the more than 84,000 sold the first year of production, only 19,938 were the desirable R/T model. Its 383-cubic-inch V-8 put out 335 horsepower with the help of a Carter BBD four-barrel carburetor breathing through twin hood scoops. Rounding out the R/T package was a beefier suspension and brakes, a Rallye instrument panel, and unique exterior trim. Unlike the car itself, Challenger sales a year after its launch were sluggish, and by 1974, with new federal emissions standards looming, the Challenger was already on its way out.

This highly optioned, restored 1970 Challenger R/T was delivered new to Olden Avenue Dodge in Trenton, New Jersey. A copy of its original window sticker reveals a laundry list of desirable factory options, including “high impact” Plum Crazy metallic paint, white vinyl top and rear “bumble bee” stripe, hood hold-down pins, TorqueFlite three-speed automatic transmission, power steering, power brakes with front discs, air conditioning, Music Master AM radio, wood-grain console, and chrome-styled Road Wheels.

This loaded Challenger R/T is impressive to behold and is accompanied by its factory broadcast sheet, window sticker, and numerous invoices dating back 10 years. It’s hard to imagine a more comprehensively specified, first-production-year Challenger R/T, making this example of Dodge’s short-lived but iconic muscle car all the more desirable.