Article: Was the Original ’70s Dodge Challenger a Failure?

[340challconvert]

Much of this article is FUBAR

Was the Original '70s Dodge Challenger a Failure?

 

[seneca]

I don't get the title of this article. No, it wasn't a failure as a car line; it just came a little late to the party. To be sure, it wasn't immortalized in song ( Little GTO, Mustang Sally, Fun Fun Fun til her daddy took the T Bird away, Shut Down, etc. ) but things were winding down by the time the Challenger hit the market. 25% of the target market were in VietNam and the Government and insurance companies were driving a stake through the heart of performance engines by 1971. As to the handling issue, hell, none of the 60's & early 70's cars were made for anything but straight line performance. The Challenger did it's best in the marketplace but, to borrow a line from Bob Dylan, " The Times They Were A Changin' ".

 

[340challconvert]

I'm with you on this. I do not like the title of the article.
Article covers the Challenger's history, but selling 76k + cars the first year wasn't exactly a failure.
Mercury sold about the same total amount of Cougars in 1970. Was the Cougar a failure?
You made some good points.

I don't get the title of this article. No, it wasn't a failure as a car line; it just came a little late to the party. To be sure, it wasn't immortalized in song ( Little GTO, Mustang Sally, Fun Fun Fun til her daddy took the T Bird away, Shut Down, etc. ) but things were winding down by the time the Challenger hit the market. 25% of the target market were in VietNam and the Government and insurance companies were driving a stake through the heart of performance engines by 1971. As to the handling issue, hell, none of the 60's & early 70's cars were made for anything but straight line performance. The Challenger did it's best in the marketplace but, to borrow a line from Bob Dylan, " The Times They Were A Changin' ".

 

[73DAD]

Yes, a sales failure. Huge investment, low return, and canceled after just 4.5 years of production. The total sold never even equaled the first years sales target.

I've owned a couple challengers now, they're quickly becoming my favorite car, but I can see why they didn't sell well. Poor fit and finish, with lots of interior rattles, and wind noise like crazy.

Mustang 70-74: 989,346
Camaro 70-74: 555,941
Firebird 70-74: 251,857
Cougar 70-73: 249,560
Challenger 70-74: 176,264
Javelin 70-74: 139,858
Barracuda 70-74: 103,130

(cougar moved to a midsize platform in 74)

(numbers from various online sites, who knows how credible, I used the highest ones I could find for mopars)

Even if you disregard production numbers for 1974, the e-bodies still get destroyed in sales by the other makes.

 

[Daves69]

Insurance rates and a phony oil crisis sealed the demise.

 

[seneca]

Yes, a sales failure. Huge investment, low return, and canceled after just 4.5 years of production. The total sold never even equaled the first years sales target.

I've owned a couple challengers now, they're quickly becoming my favorite car, but I can see why they didn't sell well. Poor fit and finish, with lots of interior rattles, and wind noise like crazy.

Mustang 70-74: 989,346
Camaro 70-74: 555,941
Firebird 70-74: 251,857
Cougar 70-73: 249,560
Challenger 70-74: 176,264
Javelin 70-74: 139,858
Barracuda 70-74: 103,130

(cougar moved to a midsize platform in 74)

(numbers from various online sites, who knows how credible, I used the highest ones I could find for mopars)

Even if you disregard production numbers for 1974, the e-bodies still get destroyed in sales by the other makes.

Interesting numbers. I don't know exact numbers either but the ratio of pony cars probably reflects the ratio of total car sales when you stack up GM, Ford, and Chrysler. CC was always third dog pulling the sled. I'm surprised at the total of Cougars sold. I don't remember seeing many in the 70s and you sure don't see many nowadays. Course I don't hang around Ford events; might get FoMoCo cooties.

 

[Steve340]

Perhaps the E body for a number of reasons was not so good for Chrysler.
However the relatively low production numbers and the fact they were only produced for a few years makes the E body rather exclusive?
We are all probably benefiting from that now especially if you own a rare car.

 

[73DAD]

Some more random pony car data, 4bbl engines from 70-74 with hp ratings.
70-71 is SAE gross, 72-74 is SAE net

Javelin SST '70: 360-290hp, 390-325hp
Javelin SST & AMX '71: 360-285hp, 401-330hp
Javelin SST & AMX '72: 401-255hp, 360-220hp*, 360-195hp
Javelin & AMX '73: Same engines as '72
Javelin AMX '74: 401-235hp, 360-220hp*, 360-195hp
*=dual exhaust

Camaro SS & Z28 '70: 350-360hp*, 396-375hp, 396-350hp, 350-300hp
Camaro SS & Z28 '71: 350-330hp*, 396(402)-300hp, 350-270hp
Camaro SS & Z28 '72: 350-255hp*, 396(402)-240hp, 350-200hp
Camaro & Z28 '73: 350-245hp*, 350-175hp
Camaro & Z28 '74: 350-245hp*, 350-185hp, 350-160hp
*=z28 only

Challenger (r/t, ta, A66, and others) '70: 426-425hp, 440-390hp, 440-375hp, 383-335hp, 383-330hp, 340-290hp*, 340-275hp
Challenger (r/t and others) '71: 426-425hp, 440-385hp, 383-300hp, 340-275hp
Challenger & Rallye '72: 340-240hp
Challenger & Rallye '73: Same as '72
Challenger & Rallye '74: 360-245hp
*=TA only

Mustang Boss's & Mach 1 '70: 429-375hp*, 428scj-335hp, 428cj-335hp, 351-300hp, 302-290hp*
Mustang Boss & Mach 1 '71: 429cj-r-370hp, 429cj-370hp, 351-330hp*, 351-285hp
Mustang Mach 1 '72: 351-275hp, 351-266hp
Mustang Mach 1 '73: 351-266hp
Mustang II Mach 1 '74: 351-255hp
*=Boss only

Cougar Models '70: Same as ford, less 429
Cougar Models '71: Same as ford, less 351-330hp
Cougar Models '72: 351-266hp, 351-248hp
Cougar Models '73: Same as ford

Cuda, Barracuda, & AAR, and such: see dodge challenger engines 70-74

Firebird, Formula, & Trans Am '70: 400-345hp, 400-335hp, 400-330hp
Firebird Formula & Trans Am '71: 455-335hp, 455-325hp, 400-300hp
Firebird Formula & Trans Am '72: 455-300hp, 400-250hp
Firebird Formula & Trans Am '73: sd455-290hp, 455-250hp, 400-230hp
Firebird Formula & Trans Am '74: Same as '73