Dodge Challenger R/T Hemi – Price: $200,000+
Even though Plymouth had the Barracuda, the first pony car model they introduced two weeks before the Mustang, its stablemate Dodge didn’t enter the segment until 1970. Some muscle car historians say Dodge was late to the party, but the Challenger was so good it left its mark, reserving a place in history. Mopar’s E-Body models – the Barracuda and Challenger – were new in 1970 (via Hemmings).
They featured a new design and better construction as well as a wider, longer body. But there were no significant mechanical differences between the Barracuda and the Challenger. Although their designs were different, they shared some interchangeable bodywork parts. Dodge revealed the Challenger with the full firepower of Mopar’s engines. Buyers could get a powerful 383 V8, as well as the big 440 and the famous 426 Hemi. Of course, the best performers were the 440 and the Hemi. Depending on the specifications, differential ratio, and gearboxes, Challengers equipped with those engines could accelerate to 60 mph in the 5.5 to 5.7-second range. That was considered quite fast for 1970.