When talking about the greatest American muscle cars of all time, it's impossible to skip the iconic Dodge Challenger. Since its introduction in 1970, the Challenger has been one of the most popular muscle cars, loved by purists for its beautiful styling and massive V8s.
Despite having been around for a long time, the Challenger has stayed relevant thanks to continual technological and performance updates, a steady rollout of special Challenger editions, and the fact that Dodge has largely maintained its popular retro styling. Since the Challenger is still in production, its incredible story is far from over. As we wait to see what the future holds for the incredible Challenger, let's explore some quick facts about it.
10 The Challenger Was An Instant Hit
When the Challenger first came out in 1970, it was an instant hit that outsold all pony cars produced that year, except the Camaro and Mustang. People loved the Challenger for two main reasons - its impressive styling and the multitude of engine options available.
With nine different engine options, the Challenger cast a wider net than any other pony car at the time, allowing it to capture customers with different needs. Dodge sold 83,032 Challengers in 1970, a figure it hasn't come close to ever since.
9 The Challenger Was Almost Equipped With A Turbine Engine
When Dodge was in the early stages of the Challenger's development, the initial plan was to equip it with a turbine engine. Dodge wanted the Challenger to be one of the most powerful muscle cars of the 70s, and it felt that a turbine engine would provide more power than any Mustang or Camaro available.
Unfortunately, the turbine engine idea didn't really pan out, so the designers decided to abandon it. However, they loved the sketches so much that they used them as inspiration for the final product. Instead of the turbine engine, the designers equipped the Challenger with a variety of V6 and V8 engines.
8 The 1970 Challenger Was Not The First 'Challenger'
Contrary to common belief, the beloved 1970 Challenger was not the first Dodge vehicle to be adorned with the "Challenger" name. Back in 1959, Dodge had used the Challenger name for the first time to market a "value version" of the fourth-generation Dodge Coronet.
Dubbed the Silver Challenger, this car came only in silver paint and was marketed with extra features at little or no additional cost. Some of these features included full wheel covers, premium whitewall tires, electric windshield wipers, a rearview mirror, and a Push-Button AM radio.
7 The Second-generation Challenger Was Disappointing
The skyrocketing insurance prices and strict emission requirements of the mid-1970s led to the Challenger's low sales, forcing Dodge to cease production in 1975. When the Challenger came back four years later, it looked like a whole different car.
In fact, it was a whole different car as it was a rebadged Mitsubishi Galant Lambda. As expected, Dodge's move with the new 'Challenger' did not sit well with many of its fans. For one, the first-generation Challenger's gorgeous design had been replaced with a boxy shape that no one liked. On top of that, the most powerful engine available was a 2.4-liter 'Hemi' producing just 104 horsepower.
6 The Challenger Went On A 20-Year Hiatus
Following the failure of the second-generation Challenger, Dodge decided to cease its production to focus on the Daytona and Conquest models. After almost three decades, Dodge took the motoring world by surprise when it unveiled a new Challenger concept at the 2006 Detroit Motor Show.
Built on Chrysler's LX platform, the new Challenger was well-received by fans. What people loved most about it was its design - while Dodge had given it several updates to bring it up to 21st century standards, the Challenger still had the same retro styling cues that made it such a hit in 1970. A 6.1-liter HEMI engine in the top trim level also helped the Challenger reclaim its title as one of the most powerful modern muscle cars in the market.
5 The Challenger Is The Most Powerful Muscle Car Ever
Dodge is always looking for ways to upend the Mustang, and one strategy that seems to be working is making sure that the Challenger is more powerful than any other muscle car on the road. To do this, Dodge spent years and millions of dollars developing the HEMI engine, and it turned out to be a fantastic investment.
The most powerful Challenger - dubbed the SRT Demon - comes with a 6.2-liter HEMI supercharged V8 cranking out 840 horsepower. This beast can hit 60 mph from a standstill in just 2.3 seconds, beating some of the fastest electric cars.
4 The Challenger Is A Racing Champion
Throughout its rich history, the Challenger has been involved in several racing championships. Some of the competitions the Challenger has participated in include the Michelin Pilot Challenge, the SCCA Trans-Am Series, and NASCAR - though Dodge officially left NASCAR at the end of the 2012 season.
The Challenger's most recent appearance in motorsports was back in 2017 when it made its comeback to the TA class in the Trans Am Series after a 40-year absence from the competition's fastest class of racing. This 855-hp beast was driven by Jeff Hinkle, who managed to finish 9th out of 24.
3 The Challenger Is Hollywood's Favorite Car
The Challenger is one of the most stylish American cars of all time, which explains why Hollywood loves it so much. This car has been featured in movies such as The Good Guys in 2010, The Last Dragon in 1985, and Quentin Tarantino's Death Proof, to name a few.
The Challenger's most famous movie appearance was in Vanishing Point, where the protagonist bet that he could drive from Denver to San Francisco in under 15 hours. The film is full of incredible driving scenes and stunts that show off what the Challenger is capable of.
2 The Challenger Is The Only Two-Door Muscle Car With AWD
The Challenger offers something that neither the Ford Mustang nor the Chevy Camaro can - all-wheel-drive. Although the Challenger GT and SXT trims don't come with a V8 engine, having AWD makes them a lot more practical, especially for people who live in snowy regions.
While AWD doesn't exactly turn the Challenger into a Wrangler, it provides enough traction to ensure it's drivable when the weather turns foul. Interestingly, AWD only engages under certain circumstances - detected wheel slippage, activated windshield wipers, or a drop in ambient air temperature can engage it. Under normal circumstances, 100 percent of the power is sent to the rear wheels.
1 The Challenger Is Available At Multiple Price Points
One of the main reasons why Dodge sold over 80,000 Challengers in 1970 is the wide range of engine options. Buyers could choose one of nine engines depending on their budget, ranging from a 145-hp V6 to a 425-hp HEMI V8.
The new-generation Challenger still offers multiple trim options to cater to different wallet sizes. The base model - the Challenger SXT - starts at around $28,295, while the top-of-the-range Hellcat trim costs almost three times as much. Low-mileage first-generation Challengers in good condition can fetch a considerable sum in the collector car market - a rare 1970 Challenger R/T Convertible made history when it sold for $1.43 million at a Mecum auction in 2019.