Today’s featured car is this perfect 1971 Dodge Challenger R/T Plum Crazy 528 HEMI V8 5 Speed. It’s price is around $90,000 and available at RK Motors Charlotte. Here’s the full text from RK Motors Charlotte:
We’re all familiar with the term ‘resto-mod’ and how it gets thrown around to describe cars which
1) haven’t been restored that well and
2) haven’t been modded that much at all.
But, simply put, the true theme of the ‘resto-mod’ movement is: THE BEST OF EVERYTHING. And if there was ever a textbook example of a true-to-form ‘resto-mod’, this 1971 Dodge Challenger has to be it. Showcasing the hard work of a very skilled builder who understands how to enhance the best attributes of a slick, frame-off restoration, this badass Mopar features a slew of handpicked, top-shelf parts which create a classic that can be shown AND driven with the best muscle cars on the road.
Take one glance at this Challengers wet-look Plum Crazy Purple exterior and it’s obvious that the cars top-notch restoration was both thorough and expensive. Take two or three minutes to look down the sides of this rock solid Dodge and you’ll find exact angles and flawless reflections which set it apart from all but it’s most extensively restored peers. Take an hour to visually examination this highly detailed Mopar and you’ll notice that the accent line which runs from nose to tail is expertly paralleled and caps straight quarters that have been painstakingly finished to provide a near flawless canvas for the cars slick, high quality basecoat/clearcoat paint. Take a look at the gallery and click on Read more!Naturally, a pristine Dodge like this can back up as much Mopar attitude as its owner cares to provide; and this Challenger looks excellent decked out in traditional Trans Am hardware that includes fresh black side stripes, an aggressive flat black hood and a smooth, flat black duck tail spoiler. Today this Challenger is a highly appealing, purpose built muscle car that conveys a sense of power and precision.
Wearing lines from same designer who was made famous by the awesome 1966 Dodge Charger, this purple and black Challenger makes a bold styling statement from virtually every angle. Up front, a tough looking split grille hangs a showroom fresh “Dodge” emblem inside of four showroom fresh headlights and well maintained stainless trim. Below that grille, a body width chrome bumper hangs above clear parking lights and a Trans Am style chin spoiler; and above that grille, new hood pins sit in front of bright “Hemi” hood emblems. Behind the hood, like-new glass is bordered by excellent looking stainless trim which combines with new chrome drip rails and excellent looking chrome sport mirrors to frame a fresh black vinyl top. And at the sides of the car, prominent fender lines are complemented by new stainless wheel well trim, flush satin finish door handles and a pristine chrome fuel cap. Just behind the front tires high mounted “Challenger” scripts serve to intimidate would-be stoplight competition, and just in front of the rear tires, body-matched louvers add to the cars aggressive Trans Am looks. At the back of the car, a stainless trimmed rear valence holds showroom fresh tail lights and a third “Challenger” script inside a black tail light panel. And a second chrome bumper hangs built in bumper guards above a sculpted roll pan which incorporates awesome quad outlet stainless steel exhaust tips.
Big blocks were still on the menu in 1971, but they were NOTHING like the badass mill under this Challengers flat black hood. Fitting snug and looking sharp in this cars Plum Crazy Purple engine bay is a dyno tuned 528 cubic inch Indy Cylinder Heads Street Legend Hemi that produces a 10.25 to 1 compression ratio and 650 horsepower straight out of the box. The fully worked 528 Street Legend package comes with an 850cfm Mighty Demon carburetor, an MSD Pro-Billet distributor, MSD Super Conductor wires, Indy 426 cast iron heads, an Indy 426 intake, an MP 4340 crank, Eagle H-beam rods, Wiseco pistons, a Comp Cams hydraulic cam, Comp Cams hydraulic lifters and a Milodon oil pan. But wait, there’s more; at the top of the purple engine, a K&N air filter sits above braided fuel lines for the Demon carburetor and pre-requisite Indy valve covers. At the sides of the engine, custom fabricated and ceramic coated long tube headers hide under a polished SSBC master cylinder and hoses for the cars Vintage Air climate control system. And at the front of the engine a March serpentine system spins billet pulleys and a chrome alternator below fresh hoses and a new belt. Turn the switch and an Optima gel cell battery sparks an MSD Blaster 2 coil and MSD 6AL ignition to spring the engine to life; and a Be Cool aluminum radiator utilizes two Spal electric fans to keep everything cool and in check. Although much of it is hidden under the massive Indy Hemi, this cars entire engine bay is exceptionally well done. You can easily see that the paint on the inner fenders is as good as the finish on a lot of cars’ bodies and virtually every accessory has been detailed in aftermarket billet and stainless to add a nice, finished look.
The chassis under this Challenger is what we like to call properly restored, with an even coat of satin black covering clean, solid floors, and absolutely no over-restored painted components. Behind the engine a modern Tremec TKO500 5-speed transmission sends power to a narrowed Moser 8.74 rear end that’s been detailed in fresh coat of gloss black paint. At the sides of that transmission, a large diameter true dual exhaust system sends spent gases through an H-pipe to Flowmaster dual chamber mufflers which give the big Hemi a super aggressive bark to match its lethal bite. At the front of the car, an upgraded torsion bar suspension includes adjustable upper control arms and adjustable strut rods, and at the corners of the car, fresh QA1 shocks sit behind an SSBC four wheel disc brake system which includes slotted rotors and bright red calipers. Slow speed turns are a cinch thanks to power rack and pinion steering, handling is greatly enhanced by aftermarket sub frame connectors, and an aluminum fuel tank with an internal pump feeds the big engine an uninterrupted stream of fuel. All this great hardware rides on an excellent looking set of 17 inch polished aluminum Centerline wheels which wear sticky 235/45 front and 255/50 rear BF Goodrich G-force T/A radials.
Inside the car, you’ll find a great looking black interior that, like the drivetrain and exterior, takes the best elements of a traditional muscle car and fuses them with awesome new technology. The driver and passenger sit on custom leather bucket seats that look good and feel great; and a chrome TKO pistol grip shifter sits on a traditional Challenger console that’s complete with a custom purple inlay. In front of the driver, a straight and simple black dash features an assortment of silver faced Autometer Pro Comp Ultra Lite gauges which, along with a traditional 3-spoke Challenger steering wheel, have been fully detailed in Plum Crazy Purple. Below those gauges, a modern Alpine CD player, which features both XM satellite radio and MP3 compatibility, sends tunes to custom kick panels and a custom package tray which hold an assortment of excellent sounding Audison speakers. Below those Audison speakers, the car’s trunk is filled with a completely custom sound system which includes two Rockford Fosgate amps, two giant Rockford Fosgate subwoofers and more body-matched custom panels.
Documentation included with this sale is a reproduction owner’s manual and a stack of receipts and paperwork for the cars numerous upgrades.
Challengers don’t get any nicer than this one, and regardless of whether you want to show it or drive it, this is a no-excuses car. Big block power, a modern 5-speed transmission and a tailored interior that is purpose-built for driving? Life just doesn’t get any better than that.
Photos by RK Motors Charlotte:
