1970 Dodge Challenger T/A Heads to a No-Reserve Auction With a 340 Six-Pack

Few American performance eras burned as bright as Trans Am racing in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The “win on Sunday, sell on Monday” playbook pushed Detroit’s big three into building street-legal homologation specials, and Chrysler answered the Camaro Z28 and Mustang Boss 302 with the 1970 Dodge Challenger T/A. One of those cars is now listed on Bring A Trailer out of Sebeka, Minnesota, and the seller has chosen to let it go without a reserve. Bidding currently sits at $50,000.

The Challenger landed for 1970 on Chrysler’s E-Body architecture, shared with the Plymouth Barracuda. To qualify the T/A for Trans Am competition, Dodge fitted a fiberglass hood with a massive scoop to force cold air into the engine bay, along with front and rear spoilers, distinctive stripes and Rallye wheels. This example wears a repaint in its factory-correct Hemi Orange over a black vinyl top. The finish still carries a healthy shine, the stripes read crisp, and underbody photos back up the seller’s claim that the car is rust-free.

Race-spec T/A machines ran a destroked 340ci V8 at 303ci to satisfy Trans Am rules, but street cars kept the 340 at full displacement and gained a Six-Pack induction setup. Dodge rated the engine at 290 horsepower and 345 ft/lbs of torque, figures widely believed to be understated at the time — the same suspicion surrounds its Camaro and Mustang rivals. Equipment here includes the optional three-speed TorqueFlite automatic, a 3.91 Sure Grip rear end, power steering and power front disc brakes. Listing photos suggest the drivetrain is numbers-matching, and the car presents as turnkey.

The black vinyl interior is driver-grade rather than show-quality. A previous owner added an aftermarket radio/cassette unit, a column-mounted shift light, and a tachometer and oil pressure gauge on the console. The seller also points out a hole in the rear seat, a burn on one rear armrest and typical headliner wear, all of which could be left alone or addressed later. The front seats, carpet, dash pad and console are in good shape. Documentation includes the original Dealer Documentation, Broadcast Sheet, Shipping Notice and Owner’s Manual.

The car has already drawn five bids in its first day, though listing traffic hints that figure could climb. It failed to reach its reserve a month ago, a scenario that cannot repeat now that the auction is no-reserve — whoever bids highest takes it home. With the market for Mopar muscle remaining strong, this T/A offers a straightforward route into Trans Am history without the guesswork of a restoration project.