Will people ever stop talking about late 60s and early 70s Dodge Chargers like they were a divine gift from an all-powerful muscle car deity that only Americans worship? Well, people haven’t stopped since the day they left the factory floor, so the answer is probably a hard no. But every now and then, something comes along that reminds us that not every Charger was built equally around this time. Some are definitely more special and rare than others. It’s all about knowing where to look.
Just look at this 1970 Dodge Charger R/T with a 440-cubic inch (7.2-L) V8 that was the largest motor you could put in one of these cars. On the face of it, everything looks perfectly normal for a 1970 Charger at first glance. The genuine Chrysler Code F8 Dark Green paint shines nicely in the sunlight, and the wheel and tire combination looks more or less like OEM hardware, even if they are ultimately aftermarket replacements. So what gives? If the drivetrain is typical for this car, as is the rest of the exterior, what’s so great about this particular example? What makes it worth the $90,000 one eBay seller in Roseville, Michigan, is asking for it?
Well, take a look at its exterior just one more time. Pay special attention to the top of the roof. Do you see it yet? That’s right; this Charger sports the super rare Gator Top roof-liner option as optional equipment seldom ever chosen during the 1970 model year. The iconic gator skin pattern is achieved by taking multiple layers of vinyl fabric and using specialized machines to etch each pattern through each of its layers before being bonded to the roof of this Charger the same way a Landau top would in a luxury vehicle. If classic muscle cars with rare and exciting OEM optional accessories are your cup of tea, well, then you better bring along a bigger-sized mug than normal.
Elsewhere about the car, it’s all the same wonderful classic Charger goodness we’ve come to expect after 50-plus years. It’s clear whoever owned this Charger last spent enough money keeping it looking shiny and new to comfortably buy a new Charger if he so chose to. It’s likely the reason why they feel comfortable charging a proverbial arm and a leg just to have the chance to own it. With a four-on-the-floor A833 manual transmission and a 3.54 Dana 60 rear end, this classic American sports coupe could be amazing fun to drive if a driver with the right skill set found their way behind the wheel.
Still, you can’t help but think you could buy a modern Dodge Charger Hellcat for the same kind of money this classic is selling for. But which would you rather drive? Let us know in the comments.