Good Guys Fab 5 Challenger Pro Touring EFI 426 HEMI V8 4 Speed Auto PS A/C

1971 Dodge Challenger Description

SUMMARY

Winner of multiple national awards
426 cubic inch Hemi V8
4L60E 4-speed automatic transmission
Custom leather interior / Vintage Air climate control / Modern audio
Full Art Morrison chassis
Modified body / DuPont Metallic Black and Hot Hues Blazing Copper paint / Gold leaf accents
IFS power rack-and-pinion steering / Wilwood 4-wheel disc brakes
Modern independent front suspension / Modern 4-link rear suspension
18 and 20-inch American Racing Torq Thrust II wheels
Ford 9-inch rear axle

There's no question that the RK Motors Charlotte showroom is home to some of the coolest muscle cars on the planet, and we've built our reputation on bringing you the best MoPars money can buy. Usually, when we talk about an early '70s Chrysler, we're introducing a factory-correct Hemi showpiece that'll probably spend most of its time on a trailer or in a garage. In fact, it seems almost odd to see the words "Challenger" and "pro-tourer" in the same sentence because cars like this stunning '71 hardtop seem to always be restored to 'red rope' collector status. But this Dodge, winner of multiple national awards from both Goodguys and ISCA, is definitely one of the coolest Challenger pro-tourers we've ever seen! Professionally built, from its full Art Morrison chassis and 426 cubic inch Hemi to its leather-lined interior and American Racing wheels, this custom is dangerously fast and brutally appealing. If you're searching for a bad to the bone classic that's fun to look at, a blast to drive and priced so well you'll have to pinch yourself, you've found your next car!

BODYWORK/TRIM

If you want to build a crowd-pleasing pro-tourer, it's best to abide by a few basic rules. First, source one of the most desirable muscle cars in American history. Second, splash a killer paint job on a laser straight body and great looking wheels. And finally, make the car hug the asphalt. The resulting classic is exactly what you see here: a unique, truly special creation that simply can't be duplicated with anything modern, cheap or mass-produced. This cool E-Body's professional restoration began when its chiseled fuselage was meticulously stripped and thoroughly massaged by Ron Sall Body Werx of Zeeland, Michigan. Once that canvas was fully prepped, Royal Oak's Pfaff Designs split DuPont Metallic Black and Hot Hues Blazing Copper with a silver stripe and engine-turned gold leaf. Naturally, that striking base was sealed in thick clear and buffed to a substantial presence. And today, this first class MoPar rolls as one super slick show stopper that possesses a perfect combination of brilliant looks and brutal performance.

Featuring many small tweaks that add up to one smooth, concordant profile, this classic puts the "c" in "cover car". At the front of its body, bright halogen headlights center a 1971-exclusive grille above a tucked bumper and factory parking lamps. Behind that grille, an R/T-spec hood founds flush-mount glass beneath color-keyed drip rails. Beneath that glass, a shaved profile is devoid of everything but simple, color-keyed hot rod mirrors. And at the back of that profile, a factory spoiler frames LED taillights, a second tucked bumper and monochromatic exhaust tips.

ENGINE

While this Challenger probably left the assembly line with a 318 or 383, the most desirable MoPar builds usually employ some form of Hemi power. And, since this coupe is one of the most desirable MoPars on the market, it features 426 cubic inches of all-go, full-show Hemi. At the top of that MoPar Performance mill, snazzy Hilborn fuel injection forces fossils and oxygen in to big Chrysler heads, which perch painted breathers on pristine, color-keyed valve covers. At the front of those heads, an MSD Pro-Billet distributor sequences fire between an MSD coil and eight Taylor Spiro Pro plug wires. At the base of that distributor, Billet Specialties Truetrac components spin modern power steering beneath a polished alternator and coated AC compressor. At the front of the block, a beefy radiator makes good use of a painted shroud, a polished water tube and a big electric puller fan. At the sides of the block, coated headers usher spent gases in to rowdy exhaust pipes. There's an impressive roster of ancillaries that includes trick dipsticks, braided fluid lines and a polished power steering reservoir. And aesthetically, the Blazing Copper mill provides an excellent contrast to the car's custom, Metallic Black bay.

DRIVETRAIN/SUSPENSION

In true pro-touring fashion, the bottom of this A-Body is, perhaps, the most impressive part of its build. The buff engine spins a smooth 4L60E 4-speed, which twists a 9-inch Ford pumpkin that's fitted with quality Strange axles. Not surprisingly, the car's old school torsion bars have been tossed in favor of a full Art Morrison chassis that combines a lowered, independent front-clip with a tubbed, 4-link rear-half. Naturally, that pavement-ripping foundation is augmented with IFS power rack-and-pinion steering and a first class Wilwood brake system, which utilizes 6 and 4-piston calipers to pinch four slotted rotors. An intimidating engine note comes courtesy of large-diameter exhaust pipes, which thread wicked Flowmaster mufflers in to the car's boxed frame rails. Power meets the pavement through American Racing Torq Thrust IIs, which lap 245/40ZR18 BF Goodrich g-Force T/As in front of 295/40ZR20 BF Goodrich g-Force T/As. And the car's over-restored floors remain clean and free of weathering.

INTERIOR

Hit this Dodge's shaved doors and you'll find a custom leather interior that was installed by Schober's Custom Hot Rod Interiors of Newark, Illinois. Front and center, repurposed Cavalier buckets complement what appears to be a standard factory bench. In front of those perches, a leather-wrapped dash hangs Dakota Digital telemetry above a modern Kenwood CD player and Vintage Air climate control. Below that dash, a custom console balances flush power window switches and a familiar Lokar shifter between billet foot pedals, plush carpet, and piped and color-keyed floor mats. Opposite that console, custom side panels found crisp speakers beneath polished handles and billet door cups. Above those panels, a suede headliner flows past an aftermarket dome lamp to a custom package tray. In front of the driver, a polished and leather-wrapped steering wheel laps a tilting column. And behind the passengers, a custom trunk founds more leather panels and matching carpet in front of the car's relocated battery.

AWARDSISCA Outstanding in Class (2009)
ISCA Street Achievement: Best Overall Street (2009)
ISCA Street Achievement: Paint (2009)
Goodguys Fab 5 Award (2008)

OUR SALE INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING ACCESSORIES

Component literature
Show literature
A battery charger

This awesome Challenger has it all: looks to kill, power that never stops and a list of components that would take a builder six figures to duplicate. It's fast, comfortable, stylish, and best of all: you can walk in and drive it right out of our showroom. Got the fever for some custom muscle that's refreshing, unique and ready to take home trophies? This show stopping MoPar is just what the doctor ordered!