Dodge Challenger History
Dodge's pony car — the 1970–74 E-body classic, a 1978–83 captive import, and the 2008–2023 retro muscle revival.
Photo: “File:1970 Dodge Challenger 340 (13440692634).jpg” by Sicnag / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
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The original Challenger arrived for 1970 on the Chrysler E-body, Dodge's answer to the Mustang and Camaro, offering everything from sixes up to the 426 Hemi and the racing-homologation T/A. The classic run ended after 1974.
The name was reused from 1978 to 1983 on a rebadged Mitsubishi Galant Lambda coupe — a captive import unrelated to the muscle car.
Revived for 2008 as a retro-styled full-size muscle coupe on the LC platform, it ran through 2023, building a cult following with the SRT8, the 707-hp SRT Hellcat, and the limited-run 808/840-hp Demon and Demon 170.
Generations
First generation · E-body
Photo: “File:1970 Dodge Challenger 340 (13440692634).jpg” by Sicnag / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
The classic Chrysler E-body pony car; hardtop and convertible, up to the 426 Hemi, plus the Trans-Am T/A. About 165,437 built.
1970 Photo: “File:1970 Dodge Challenger 340 (13440692634).jpg” by Sicnag / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
Second generation · Mitsubishi-based captive import
A rebadged Mitsubishi Galant Lambda coupe — a small captive import with four-cylinder engines, unrelated to the muscle car.
Third generation · LC retro muscle
Retro-styled full-size muscle coupe on the LC platform; home of the SRT8, SRT Hellcat, and the Demon. Production ended December 2023.
2021 Photo: “File:2021 Dodge Challenger SXT, front left, 08-25-2023.jpg” by MercurySable99 / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.
Body styles
- Coupe
- Convertible
- Hardtop
Notable special editions & performance variants
T/A (Trans-Am)
Homologation special for SCCA Trans-Am racing, with a 340 Six Pack engine.
R/T
Performance trim — big-block in the classic E-body, 5.7 Hemi in the modern car.
SRT8 / SRT 392
6.1- then 6.4-liter (392) Hemi performance models.
SRT Hellcat
Supercharged 6.2-liter Hemi making 707+ hp; later Redeye versions made more.
SRT Demon / Demon 170
Drag-focused specials — the 2018 Demon (~808/840 hp) and the 2023 Demon 170, the final Challenger built.
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