Car Model History

Second generation · 'Coke-bottle' B-body · 1968–1970

1970Dodge Charger

The iconic 1968 redesign brought 'Coke-bottle' styling, a recessed grille, and the tunneled rear window — the Charger most people picture. Home of the R/T, the 1968 Super Bee-spirited muscle, and the 1969 aero Daytona.

Second generation · 'Coke-bottle' B-body

1970 Dodge Charger R/T — B-body hardtop, front three-quarter view

Photo: “1970 Dodge Charger RT” by Sicnag / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.

Quick facts

Engines
7offered225 cu in Slant Six, 1-barrel → 426 cu in Street Hemi V8, dual 4-barrel carburetors
Top output
425hp426 cu in Street Hemi V8, dual 4-barrel carburetors

Body styles2-door hardtop

Start here

What do you need to know?

This page covers the whole 1970 Dodge Charger model year. Choose your task first; exact trims and engines are separated where the factory offered different versions.

Documented lineup

Find your exact 1970 Charger

Start with a family, body style, or engine. Every card opens the facts and maintenance information for that factory version.

11factory configurations
Exact factory pairings documentedHow this lineup was verified

These source-backed records identify published body, engine, and transmission combinations. Exact pairings do not by themselves assert that every factory option or special edition is represented.

11versions shown
Two-door hardtop

Dodge Charger 225 Slant Six

Body
Two-door hardtop
Engine
225 cu in Slant Six, 1-barrel carburetor (145 gross hp / 215 lb-ft)
Gearbox
3-speed manual or automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-door hardtop

Dodge Charger 318 V8

Body
Two-door hardtop
Engine
318 cu in LA V8, 2-barrel carburetor (230 gross hp / 320 lb-ft)
Gearbox
3-speed manual or automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-door hardtop

Dodge Charger 383 2-barrel V8

Body
Two-door hardtop
Engine
383 cu in B-series V8, 2-barrel carburetor (290 gross hp / 390 lb-ft)
Gearbox
Automatic only
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-door hardtop

Dodge Charger 383 4-barrel V8

Body
Two-door hardtop
Engine
383 cu in high-performance V8, 4-barrel carburetor (335 gross hp / 425 lb-ft)
Gearbox
3-speed manual, 4-speed manual, or automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-door hardtop

Dodge Charger 500 225 Slant Six

Body
Two-door hardtop
Engine
225 cu in Slant Six, 1-barrel carburetor (145 gross hp / 215 lb-ft)
Gearbox
3-speed manual or automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-door hardtop

Dodge Charger 500 318 V8

Body
Two-door hardtop
Engine
318 cu in LA V8, 2-barrel carburetor (230 gross hp / 320 lb-ft)
Gearbox
3-speed manual or automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-door hardtop

Dodge Charger 500 383 2-barrel V8

Body
Two-door hardtop
Engine
383 cu in B-series V8, 2-barrel carburetor (290 gross hp / 390 lb-ft)
Gearbox
Automatic only
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-door hardtop

Dodge Charger 500 383 4-barrel V8

Body
Two-door hardtop
Engine
383 cu in high-performance V8, 4-barrel carburetor (335 gross hp / 425 lb-ft)
Gearbox
3-speed manual, 4-speed manual, or automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-door hardtop

Dodge Charger R/T 440 Magnum V8

Body
Two-door hardtop
Engine
440 cu in Magnum V8, 4-barrel carburetor (375 gross hp / 480 lb-ft)
Gearbox
4-speed manual or automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-door hardtop

Dodge Charger R/T 440 Six Pack V8

Body
Two-door hardtop
Engine
440 cu in Six Pack V8, three 2-barrel carburetors (390 gross hp / 490 lb-ft)
Gearbox
4-speed manual or automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-door hardtop

Dodge Charger R/T 426 Street Hemi V8

Body
Two-door hardtop
Engine
426 cu in Street Hemi V8, dual 4-barrel carburetors (425 gross hp / 490 lb-ft)
Gearbox
4-speed manual or automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version

The 1970 model year

Overview

The 1970 Charger closed the second generation with a new full-width loop front bumper, a one-piece grille, and revised taillamps. Dodge sold three model lines—Charger, Charger 500, and Charger R/T. The regular Charger and 500 shared six-cylinder, 318, and two 383 power teams, while the R/T carried a standard 440 Magnum and offered the 440 Six Pack or 426 Street Hemi.

Specifications

Engines
  • 225 cu in Slant Six, 1-barrel145 hp
  • 318 cu in LA V8, 2-barrel230 hp
  • 383 cu in B V8, 2-barrel290 hp
  • 383 cu in high-performance V8, 4-barrel335 hp
  • 440 cu in Magnum V8, 4-barrel375 hp
  • 440 cu in Six Pack V8, three 2-barrel carburetors390 hp
  • 426 cu in Street Hemi V8, dual 4-barrel carburetors425 hp
Transmissions
3-speed manual, 4-speed manual, automatic
Body styles
2-door hardtop

Year over year

What changed

  • A loop-style chrome front bumper surrounded a new one-piece grille.
  • The Charger, Charger 500, and Charger R/T formed three distinct model lines.
  • The R/T's optional engine range included both the 390-hp 440 Six Pack and 425-hp 426 Street Hemi.
  • This was the final year of the 1968–1970 Coke-bottle body before the 1971 fuselage redesign.

Worth knowing

Notable

  • The standard R/T engine was the 375-hp 440 Magnum four-barrel.
  • The 440 Six Pack used three two-barrel carburetors and carried a factory rating of 390 gross horsepower.
  • The regular Charger and Charger 500 could be ordered with the 145-hp Slant Six, although six-cylinder production was uncommon.

Living with it

Reliability & ownership notes

  • The factory AMA sheet defines engine/transmission pairings that must be checked before ordering: notably, the 383 two-barrel was automatic-only while the 383 four-barrel had three transmission choices.
  • VIN and fender-tag decoding are essential because Charger, Charger 500, and R/T trim and engine combinations carry very different values and many surviving cars have been cloned or re-powered.
  • Inspect the torsion-bar crossmember, rear rails, cowl, trunk floor, quarter panels, and the loop-bumper/grille structure for rust or old collision repair.

Maintenance & service parts

Keep your 1970 Charger on the road

Start with the service interval, then match the engine or exact version you own. Order links appear only when a catalog-backed part number is available, and every listing still needs a fitment check.

Service desk

What this car needs & when

Use this as a service-planning checklist for 1970 Dodge Charger. Start with the interval, confirm which engine or configuration you have, then use an exact ordering reference when one is verified.

Service topics
11
Factory intervals
10
Fitment-scoped
11
Exact references
1

Before orderingIdentify your engine, options and build date.Part numbers and sizes can change within one model year. Shopping links appear only for catalog-backed references; still verify the listing against your vehicle before ordering.

  • Engine oil

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1970 · United States · Exact 1970 Dodge factory schedule for Coronet and Charger passenger cars; the separate trailer-towing and severe-service matrix is not presented as the normal interval.

    Published interval: 4,000 mi / 3 months · Normal service; whichever occurs first. The manual calls for more-frequent service in severe operation.

    Source: Dodge — 1970 Coronet and Charger factory service manual, lubrication and maintenance chapter (preserved by MyMopar) · Factory Service Manual group 0, pp. 0-3 and 0-10 — normal-service matrix and frequency of oil changes · checked

    Engine oil filter

    Applies to: 1970 · United States · Exact 1970 Dodge factory schedule for Coronet and Charger passenger cars; the separate trailer-towing and severe-service matrix is not presented as the normal interval.

    Published interval: 8,000 mi / 6 months · Replace at every second engine-oil change under the published normal schedule.

    Source: Dodge — 1970 Coronet and Charger factory service manual, lubrication and maintenance chapter (preserved by MyMopar) · Factory Service Manual group 0, pp. 0-3 and 0-11 — every-second-oil-change row and oil-filter instructions · checked

  • Carburetor air-cleaner element

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1970 · United States · Exact 1970 Dodge factory schedule for Coronet and Charger passenger cars; the separate trailer-towing and severe-service matrix is not presented as the normal interval.

    Published interval: 24,000 mi / 24 months · Replace the element at the published interval; inspect/clean the paper element every second oil change and replace Fresh Air Induction paper elements annually.

    Source: Dodge — 1970 Coronet and Charger factory service manual, lubrication and maintenance chapter (preserved by MyMopar) · Factory Service Manual group 0, p. 0-3 — air-cleaner rows and Fresh Air Induction footnote · checked

  • Fuel filter

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1970 · United States · Exact 1970 Dodge factory schedule for Coronet and Charger passenger cars; the separate trailer-towing and severe-service matrix is not presented as the normal interval.

    Published interval: 24,000 mi / 24 months · Whichever occurs first.

    Source: Dodge — 1970 Coronet and Charger factory service manual, lubrication and maintenance chapter (preserved by MyMopar) · Factory Service Manual group 0, p. 0-3 — 24-month/24,000-mile replacement row · checked

  • Cooling system

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1970 · United States · Exact 1970 Dodge factory schedule for Coronet and Charger passenger cars; the separate trailer-towing and severe-service matrix is not presented as the normal interval.

    Published interval: 12 months · Service annually; check the coolant level every two months.

    Source: Dodge — 1970 Coronet and Charger factory service manual, lubrication and maintenance chapter (preserved by MyMopar) · Factory Service Manual group 0, p. 0-3 — two-month check and annual service rows · checked

  • Brakes and hydraulic system

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1970 · United States · Exact 1970 Dodge factory schedule for Coronet and Charger passenger cars; the separate trailer-towing and severe-service matrix is not presented as the normal interval.

    Published interval: 12,000 mi / 12 months · Inspect the brakes annually or at 12,000 miles, whichever occurs first; check master-cylinder fluid and inspect brake hoses every six months.

    Source: Dodge — 1970 Coronet and Charger factory service manual, lubrication and maintenance chapter (preserved by MyMopar) · Factory Service Manual group 0, p. 0-3 — six-month hydraulic checks and 12-month/12,000-mile brake inspection · checked

  • Front wheel-bearing lubricant

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1970 · United States · Exact 1970 Dodge factory schedule for Coronet and Charger passenger cars; the separate trailer-towing and severe-service matrix is not presented as the normal interval.

    Published interval: 12,000 mi / 12 months · Inspect annually or at 12,000 miles, whichever occurs first.

    Source: Dodge — 1970 Coronet and Charger factory service manual, lubrication and maintenance chapter (preserved by MyMopar) · Factory Service Manual group 0, p. 0-3 — front-wheel-bearing-lubricant inspection row · checked

  • Steering, suspension, and body lubrication

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1970 · United States · Exact 1970 Dodge factory schedule for Coronet and Charger passenger cars; the separate trailer-towing and severe-service matrix is not presented as the normal interval.

    Published interval: 6 months · Inspect steering linkage, suspension ball joints, and universal joints every six months; lubricate the listed joints and body mechanisms at the manual's longer published intervals.

    Source: Dodge — 1970 Coronet and Charger factory service manual, lubrication and maintenance chapter (preserved by MyMopar) · Factory Service Manual group 0, pp. 0-3–0-4 — six-, 12-, and 36-month lubrication rows · checked

  • Transmission and rear-axle lubricant levels

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1970 · United States · Exact 1970 Dodge factory schedule for Coronet and Charger passenger cars; the separate trailer-towing and severe-service matrix is not presented as the normal interval.

    Published interval: 6 months · Check automatic/manual transmission and rear-axle lubricant levels every six months under normal service.

    Source: Dodge — 1970 Coronet and Charger factory service manual, lubrication and maintenance chapter (preserved by MyMopar) · Factory Service Manual group 0, p. 0-3 — six-month transmission and rear-axle check rows · checked

  • Crankcase ventilator valve

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1970 · United States · Exact 1970 Dodge factory schedule for Coronet and Charger passenger cars; the separate trailer-towing and severe-service matrix is not presented as the normal interval.

    Published interval: 12 months · Replace annually; service the crankcase ventilation system every second oil change.

    Source: Dodge — 1970 Coronet and Charger factory service manual, lubrication and maintenance chapter (preserved by MyMopar) · Factory Service Manual group 0, p. 0-3 — annual valve replacement and every-second-oil-change system service · checked

  • Tire rotation

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1970 · United States · Exact 1970 Dodge factory schedule for Coronet and Charger passenger cars; the separate trailer-towing and severe-service matrix is not presented as the normal interval.

    Published interval: 8,000 mi / 6 months · Rotate at every second oil change under the normal schedule.

    Source: Dodge — 1970 Coronet and Charger factory service manual, lubrication and maintenance chapter (preserved by MyMopar) · Factory Service Manual group 0, p. 0-3 — every-second-oil-change tire-rotation row · checked

  • Engine oil filter

    Exact reference available

    The order numbers below establish replacement-filter fitment only; they do not establish a service interval. Confirm the installed engine, VIN, build date, and filter dimensions before ordering.

    Applies to: 1970 · United States

    225 cu in Slant Six, 1-barrel carburetor (145 gross hp / 215 lb-ft)

    K&N HP-3001

    K&N publishes HP-3001 for this exact year-and-engine application; confirm VIN, build date, and installed filter dimensions before ordering.

    Applies to: 1970 · 225 cu in Slant Six, 1-barrel carburetor (145 gross hp / 215 lb-ft) · United States · Exact 1970 Charger engine application. Confirm VIN, build date, and installed filter dimensions before ordering.

    Source: K&N Engineering — Dodge Charger replacement-oil-filter application catalog · 1970 Dodge Charger 225 cu in application row — HP-3001 · checked

    Verified ordering references

    318 cu in LA V8, 2-barrel carburetor (230 gross hp / 320 lb-ft)

    K&N HP-3001

    K&N publishes HP-3001 for this exact year-and-engine application; confirm VIN, build date, and installed filter dimensions before ordering.

    Applies to: 1970 · 318 cu in LA V8, 2-barrel carburetor (230 gross hp / 320 lb-ft) · United States · Exact 1970 Charger engine application. Confirm VIN, build date, and installed filter dimensions before ordering.

    Source: K&N Engineering — Dodge Charger replacement-oil-filter application catalog · 1970 Dodge Charger 318 cu in application row — HP-3001 · checked

    Verified ordering references

    383 cu in B-series V8, 2-barrel carburetor (290 gross hp / 390 lb-ft)

    K&N HP-3001

    K&N publishes HP-3001 for this exact year-and-engine application; confirm VIN, build date, and installed filter dimensions before ordering.

    Applies to: 1970 · 383 cu in B-series V8, 2-barrel carburetor (290 gross hp / 390 lb-ft) · United States · Exact 1970 Charger engine application. Confirm VIN, build date, and installed filter dimensions before ordering.

    Source: K&N Engineering — Dodge Charger replacement-oil-filter application catalog · 1970 Dodge Charger 383 cu in application row — HP-3001 · checked

    Verified ordering references

    383 cu in high-performance V8, 4-barrel carburetor (335 gross hp / 425 lb-ft)

    K&N HP-3001

    K&N publishes HP-3001 for this exact year-and-engine application; confirm VIN, build date, and installed filter dimensions before ordering.

    Applies to: 1970 · 383 cu in high-performance V8, 4-barrel carburetor (335 gross hp / 425 lb-ft) · United States · Exact 1970 Charger engine application. Confirm VIN, build date, and installed filter dimensions before ordering.

    Source: K&N Engineering — Dodge Charger replacement-oil-filter application catalog · 1970 Dodge Charger 383 cu in application row — HP-3001 · checked

    Verified ordering references

    440 cu in Magnum V8, 4-barrel carburetor (375 gross hp / 480 lb-ft)

    K&N HP-3001

    K&N publishes HP-3001 for this exact year-and-engine application; confirm VIN, build date, and installed filter dimensions before ordering.

    Applies to: 1970 · 440 cu in Magnum V8, 4-barrel carburetor (375 gross hp / 480 lb-ft) · United States · Exact 1970 Charger engine application. Confirm VIN, build date, and installed filter dimensions before ordering.

    Source: K&N Engineering — Dodge Charger replacement-oil-filter application catalog · 1970 Dodge Charger 440 cu in application row — HP-3001 · checked

    Verified ordering references

    440 cu in Six Pack V8, three 2-barrel carburetors (390 gross hp / 490 lb-ft)

    K&N HP-3001

    K&N publishes HP-3001 for this exact year-and-engine application; confirm VIN, build date, and installed filter dimensions before ordering.

    Applies to: 1970 · 440 cu in Six Pack V8, three 2-barrel carburetors (390 gross hp / 490 lb-ft) · United States · Exact 1970 Charger engine application. Confirm VIN, build date, and installed filter dimensions before ordering.

    Source: K&N Engineering — Dodge Charger replacement-oil-filter application catalog · 1970 Dodge Charger 440 cu in application row — HP-3001 · checked

    Verified ordering references

    426 cu in Street Hemi V8, dual 4-barrel carburetors (425 gross hp / 490 lb-ft)

    K&N HP-3001

    K&N publishes HP-3001 for this exact year-and-engine application; confirm VIN, build date, and installed filter dimensions before ordering.

    Applies to: 1970 · 426 cu in Street Hemi V8, dual 4-barrel carburetors (425 gross hp / 490 lb-ft) · United States · Exact 1970 Charger engine application. Confirm VIN, build date, and installed filter dimensions before ordering.

    Source: K&N Engineering — Dodge Charger replacement-oil-filter application catalog · 1970 Dodge Charger 426 cu in application row — HP-3001 · checked

    Verified ordering references

Collect

Bring this model year home

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Famous variants this year

Sources

  1. Dodge — 1970 Charger, Charger 500, and Charger R/T sales brochure
  2. Dodge — 1970 Coronet/Charger AMA passenger-car specification form
  3. Dodge — 1970 Division Code Guide, Charger engine and transmission availability
  4. Wikipedia — "Dodge Charger"

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