19. Dodge Challenger R/T
Despite the fact that Plymouth introduced the Barracuda two weeks before the Ford Mustang, its stablemate, Dodge didn’t enter the pony car segment until 1970. Some muscle car historians say that Dodge was almost too late for the party, but the Challenger left its mark, reserving a place in history. Mopar’s E-Body models Barracuda and Challenger were new for 1970. They featured a new design and better construction, as well as a wider, longer body. There was no significant mechanical difference between the Barracuda and the Challenger, only the design. In fact, these two cars had some interchangeable bodywork parts, as well. They presented the Challenger with the full firepower of Mopar engines.
The buyers could get the powerful 383 V8, as well as a big 440 and the famous 426 Hemi. Of course, the best performers were the 440 and the Hemi, and depending on the specifications, differential ratio, and gearboxes. Challengers with those engines could accelerate to 60 mph in the 5.5 to 5.7-second range, which was quick for 1970. However, the Challengers with 440 engines were more expensive than the regular models and that is why Dodge produced less than 4,000 for the 1970 model year. Today, Hemi Challengers cost a few hundred thousand dollars, but you can get the next best thing in the form of a Challenger with the 440 engine in R/T package for around $90,000.