1970 Hemi Challenger Convertible

[jannes_z-28]

Once up on a time there was a 1970 Hemi Challenger convertible here in Sweden. It came here in the mid 70's.

In the mid 80's it started to get attention and was bought by a collector from England in 1988. The history goes on and a few years after an American collector brought it back to the USA.

It is Plum Crazy with black top.

I would like to know who has it today.

In my book I will have a story about this remarkable car.

http://www.yenko.net/attachments/433680-hemivert.jpg

Thanks

Jan

[bulletpruf]

May have better luck tracking it down through www.moparts.com. (http://www.moparts.com.)
Scott

[old5.0]

Looks like one of Dave Blake's cars out of Arizona. Haven't heard much about him or his dad lately, but back in the 90's it seemed like they were in Musclecar Review on an almost monthly basis.

[COPO_Anders]

I´m getting old so I don´t remember names anymore. Anyway, a couple of years ago I e-mailed the collector on the west coast who has that large collection of cars including the orange with black stripe ZXL Motion Camaro. He has one of the Plum Crazy 1970 Hemi Convertibles to, so I asked him if it was his car that was once in Sweden. He replied that his was different in color in either the interior or the top. But I think he knew who had the car in the picture.

[COPO_Anders]

My friend Hasse knows everything. Almost !
He told me it was Kevin S. I was thinking of. He also told me that the "Swedish" Hemi Challenger convertible was for sale earlier this fall on autabuy.com
I guess it doesn´t help much but it´s better than nothing !

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[MultiMopars]

[ QUOTE ]
Looks like one of Dave Blake's cars out of Arizona. Haven't heard much about him or his dad lately , but back in the 90's it seemed like they were in Musclecar Review on an almost monthly basis.

[/ QUOTE ]


His dad passed away a few years ago. At one time he had the largest collection of Hemi convertible E bodies in existence.

[jannes_z-28]

Thanks for the info.

I forgot to mention that this one is a 4-speed car, that will narrow it down to only four cars.

There is a name Milton mentioned in a Swedish article from 1990 as owner in the USA

Here is a picture when it was black:

http://www.yenko.net/attachments/433739-hemivert_black.jpg

Jan

[PeteLeathersac]

[ QUOTE ]

There is a name Milton mentioned in a Swedish article from 1990 as owner in the USA



[/ QUOTE ]

Milt Robson perhaps?.

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif
~ Pete

[Canuck]

here is a photo of the Challanger that Milt Robson owned in the 90's.
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll49/paulolds/SC0509-79377_1.jpg

And a link to A Mecum listing

http://mecum.com/auctions/lot_detail.cfm?LOT_ID=SC0509-79377&entryRow=595

Paul

[jannes_z-28]

Yes I saw that one earlier today when I googled.

According to the article from 1990 the engine was rebuilt a few times, once one cylinder was relined. It was driven as a daily driver for a few years in the 70s on salty snowy roads.

I have the VIN but the Mecum add doesn't show that.


Jan

[quick-bowtie]

The purple car that sold at Mecum is now in Florida..

[Tracker1]

There were 5 FC7 (purple) Hemi Challengers built in 1970. Three of them were 4-speeds.

The car from Sweden you are referring to was indeed Milton Robson's car Jannes. He brought it back from England in the late 80s and had it restored. The pictures from the previous post show the car with the white stripe removed.

[442w30]

The guy who runs the E-body ragtop registry is Swedish by birth. I've forwarded this thread to him if there's anything he can add.

[Bill Pritchard]

[ QUOTE ]
The guy who runs the E-body ragtop registry is Swedish by birth. I've forwarded this thread to him if there's anything he can add.

[/ QUOTE ]

I hope he looks at it. I wonder if he has a burnt orange 70 Hemi Challenger convertible in the registry. I saw that car at the Car Craft Street Machine Nationals in Indianapolis in either 1980 or 1981. It had Indiana plates on it at that time. Haven't seen or heard of it since http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif

[442w30]

He lives in the southeast and has a red/red 'Cuda ragtop:

http://www.cudaized.com/

[Tracker1]

[ QUOTE ]
There were 5 FC7 (purple) Hemi Challengers built in 1970.

[/ QUOTE ]

Of course, I meant 5 purple CONVERTIBLES. Apparently, It was the favourite colour of people buying a drop-top Hemi challenger. For Cudas, it was Black: 4 or 5 TX9 hemicuda convertibles were built in '70.

I don't recall seeing a Burnt Orange hemi challenger on the registry though. But it's been a while since I saw an updated version, could be there now.

[442w30]

I think you're mistaken on the black 'Cudas.

Off the top of my head, there's two red ones, a Vitamin C one, a dark green one, a white one, perhaps two black ones, two purple ones . . . hmm . . . used to know this like the back of my hand - senility or changing interests?

Otherwise, what's interesting is that purple was THE popular color for the Challenger R/T, while black was not so much for the 'Cuda.

[PhilS]

5 black cudas, 3 of them triple black.

[442w30]

I got this so far . . . I really had a brain fart on the black ones as I had no recollection there were so many:

1) FC7 H6X9 4 speed
2) FE5 H6E4 auto with V6X
3) EK2 h6X9 auto V5X
4) TX9 PRX9 auto
5) FE5 H6X9 auto
6) EF8 H6F8 Auto V5X
7) FC7 H6X9 4 speed
8) TX9 H6B5 4 speed
9) TX9 H6T5 4 speed
10) TX9 H6X9 4 speed
11) TX9 h6X9 auto
12 and beyond) ????

[Tracker1]

They are actually a little more plentiful than that Diego. Here is Ola's and Kevin's latest research on 1970 hemicuda converts (also there are no FK5 burnt orange challenger hemi converts on the list as being produced, but I have learned never to say never). I have listed by quantity then paint code.
The three purples include Craig Jackson's car (of barret-jackson) which came from England, former owner was the president of British Steel, The Blakes have the 2nd purple in resto and the third is that crazy flame-painted metalflake 70s job that was on eBay for 1.5 million about 18 months ago.

1970 hemicuda verts

2 EF8
2 FE5
3 FC7
5 TX9
3 FY1
2 EW1
1 EK2

[Tracker1]

metalflake madness - original drivetrain, original sheetmetal

[Tracker1]

another one

[agtw31]

there was a Hemi Challenger ragtop sitting in a field in Waco,Georgia back in the late 80's.i believe it was burnt up.
guy had around 20 Hemi Road Runners,and some 66/67 Hemi Chargers,too..
guy's name was Mulkey,i believe.

[442w30]

[ QUOTE ]
They are actually a little more plentiful than that Diego.

[/ QUOTE ]

That's why I said "12 and beyond." http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif I know 14 were built for the US, plus a handful more for the Canadian and, presumably, export markets.

[MultiMopars]

[ QUOTE ]
They are actually a little more plentiful than that Diego. Here is Ola's and Kevin's latest research on 1970 hemicuda converts (also there are no FK5 burnt orange challenger hemi converts on the list as being produced, but I have learned never to say never). I have listed by quantity then paint code.
The three purples include Craig Jackson's car (of barret-jackson) which came from England, former owner was the president of British Steel, The Blakes have the 2nd purple in resto and the third is that crazy flame-painted metalflake 70s job that was on eBay for 1.5 million about 18 months ago.

1970 hemicuda verts

2 EF8
2 FE5
3 FC7
5 TX9
3 FY1
2 EW1
1 EK2

[/ QUOTE ]

This thread is about Hemi CHALLENGER ragtops, not Cudas. You will be confusing people with tese figures.

[gb70]

[ QUOTE ]
metalflake madness - original drivetrain, original sheetmetal

[/ QUOTE ]

Check out the '70's mags on it.

Growing up I remembered seeing more E bodies with this kind of crazy paint, and center lines. It was cool. Tunnel rams and all! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[Tracker1]

Wouldn't want to confuse people...

Challengers:

I TX9 - The Diamonte only one that got a shaker
5 FC7
3 FJ5
1 EF8
2 FE5
1 EV2 (Ontario, Canada)

[hubleyman]

Some 20 +/- years ago I checked out a Red on Red Hemi Challenger convertible that was for sale in the Napa/Sonoma area of Ca.

I believe the price was $10K (which was reasonable and fair back then) and the car was very nice. I just couldn't handle all that red color inside and out and besides, I was actually looking for a numbers HemiCuda at that time.....

If I recall it was a very correct original car but can't seem to find any info on it in my archives (so far)....

Does that seem like correct info for one of the Red cars mentioned on the previous "Challenger" list?

Charlie

[olredalert]

------In Feb,1979 I was at Moroso in Palm Beach (might not have been Moroso yet) with my new 1970 LT1 Corvette vert. Had 4:11s from the factory. I was just messing around and had just added OK Kustom sidepipes and got rid of the smog. I raced a bone stock red-on-red 70 Hemi vert that a young kid was driving for the first time. I turned a 12.90 which surprized me and everybody else. Smoked him easily, but have often wonder what happened to that one........Bill S

[mockingbird812]

Bill, I suppose you spanked a red/red Chally Hemi vert. Here is a nice red/red Hemi 'cuda vert that lives out in these parts now.

It was the 1st Hemi 'cuda convertible built (better know as the 1st book end or the "Alpha")...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v697/mockingbird812/sYc%20site/Test5.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v697/mockingbird812/sYc%20site/Test8.jpg

[markinnaples]

That thing is sick, sick, sick, whew.

[olredalert]

-----Sam,,,That car has all the Florida car ear-marks. Fla car had the bumpers as well as the red shaker, and red mirrors. Wonder how many 70 Hemi verts were so colored and optioned??? I remember thinking "Wow!!!How did that kid get that car???"........Bill S

[mockingbird812]

Bill - so you are saying it WAS a 'cuda not a Challenger that you raced with your LT1? I believe the number of Hemi 'cuda verts in 70 was in the teens. Got to be the same car!!

[Tracker1]

The Red cuda shown above in the previous post is the original CARS magazine road test cuda. It is the only one built red/red. The other red car has a black interior.

1970 hemicuda verts - 18 total (2 red)

2 EF8
2 FE5
3 FC7
5 TX9
3 FY1
2 EW1
1 EK2

[mockingbird812]

Thanks Desmond. The "alpha" and "omega" Hemi 'cuda verts share the same garage. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

[Tracker1]

Wow, really? Now that's what I call a fancy pair of bookends. Mr. Wiemann?

[mockingbird812]

Yes.

[olredalert]

------Yup, it was a Cuda. Sorry for the confusion. Could the car I saw and raced have been the test car??? Im a bit confused as I know what I saw. I may have beat it but I still thought it was the coolest Cuda I ever saw. And,,,Thinking back, I bought the Vette in February so it must have been probably early April by the time I was at Moroso with it. I never talked to the kid but it appeared as though he had just set foot in it for the first time.......Bill S

------And,,,sorry for the highjack!!!

[Tracker1]

If it was a real 70 hemi cuda convertible with red guts and red bumper, and red shaker it would have to be the CARS test car. HOWEVER - very little is known about the car after it left the press fleet and before 1976 when it surfaced and Herb MCandless bought it in pieces. It passed from McCandless to Alan Boltz, then to Paul Suloff in the early 80s - it was a mess.

In Feb. 1979, This car was still in many pieces in Alan Boltz's garage, not racing in Florida. I'm just repeating the known public history of the car, not questioning your recollections. I'm sure you saw what you saw, but if the known history of the test car is to believed, then it was not this car. And there are no records of another car just like it (red interior).

I am willing to bet my house that you raced THE OTHER 1970 red hemicuda convertible - black interior, column shift, now owned by the Blakes. It is a 34,000 mile original car that was in Florida (Sarasota and beyond) from the mid-seventies to 1982 when the Blakes bought it. seen here:

http://www.blakemachineprojects.com/RED70VCONVERT2.html

Now we have really hi-jacked the thread. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif

[Tracker1]

pic of both

[olredalert]

-----Desmond,,,I saw the car in question in 1970 not 1979. 1970 is a long way from 1979 but no harm no foul! As you can imagine I remember the red interior vividly as you just didnt see a car like that every day. The thing was striking, but the kid couldnt drive it. A lot of kids back in the late 60s/early 70s from the Palm Beach area got cars that were over their heads operationally. Id bet he either hurt the car early on or got a bunch of tikets and probably got rid of it .....Bill S

[Tracker1]

Your post says Feb. 1979 redalert.

By "new" 1970 LT1 Vette I just figured 'new to you' as your car would have been 9 years old by then.

If it was in fact 1970 then you definitely saw this car. Nothing is known of it before '76 so you probably saw it in the hands of its first new owner after it was released from the press pool.

[olredalert]

------So it does! I just now spotted the typo in my post. I apologize. It was 1970 and I had my LT1 for about a month. It was the first one in Ft.Lauderdale........Bill S

[mockingbird812]

Fat fingers Bill! The "9" and the "0" are right next to each other! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[olredalert]

-----Fat fingers, fat head, or something like that.......Bill S

[jannes_z-28]

[ QUOTE ]
Now we have really hi-jacked the thread. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

No problem, I got an answer on my question, the rest is a bonus and very interesting.

Jan

[novabad]

The Mecum car didn't sell at the auction.Does anyone know when and who bought the car.

[wingcars6970]

There was one from Sweden a friend looked into back in the day.Car was either blue or purple .But the pictures he showed me the car was real but had a added on 70 RR beep beep horn.I believe it also had stereo speakers cut into the rear plastic interior panels.This guy has alot or rare cars maybe owns that ragtop
http://corvettes-musclecars.com/gallery2/main.php

[jannes_z-28]

That guy has one other even rarer car that were in Sweden, a 71 GTO Judge 'vert 455 HO 4-speed, one of three made. I am at the moment researching its history in Sweden. It came over in 1974 and became a daily driver, it got a trailerhitch and had to work as a trailerhauler for the owners dragracecar. He ran the Judge on the strip too and managed a best of 12.8 on the quartermile with a factorystock engine, that was with a TH400, they changed the M22 for an automatic.

Jan

[LWNelson]

I have pictures of your car taken in the mid 1980's

I may have more info.

email me

[email protected]

[69hurstSC]

One of the FJ5 cars is at the Ellingson Car Museum in Rogers, MN.

[Styles]

Jan,

If you're still looking for the Challenger Hemicab, a gal in south Florida now owns it. Her collection is online. www.stylesgarage.com (http://www.stylesgarage.com) will take you to it.

I've been trying to research more of this hemicab's Swedish history for her. According to Peter Jordan, the bloke that imported the car to the UK from Sweden, it was deemed a "pizza racer" while in Sweden (i.e. a car raced by a pizza delivery shop owner).

Perhaps we can do a knowledge transfer. PM me if you get this.

-Brian

[bashton]

And if you would like to see this car up close and personal, and meet the owner, please consider joining us the the upcoming Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals show November 17-18. www.mcacn.com (http://www.mcacn.com)

In addition to this remarkable Hemi Challenger R/T convertible, Samantha will also be showing her red RA IV '70 GTO Judge conv, a '69 428 CJ Cougar conv and yet another RA IV GTO Judge conv. that has beeen stored away for decades that will be shown as found, unrestored and "barn fresh"

Bashton
MCACN Managing Member

[jannes_z-28]

Hi Brian,

I hope you got my mail I sent you yesterday.

The story about "Pizza Racer" is not true. The term "Pizza Racer" was founded for 2nd gen Trans AM's. In the mid 70's every Pizza restaurant owner in Stockholm had a 2nd gen Trans AM, it was their way of showing off. That resulted in that nobody else wanted a Trans AM for not to be associated with "greasy" Italians.

The Challenger Hemi Cab was called something else. There is no equivalent English word so I try to explain the category it was called to belong to.

We have had a car culture over here since the early 50's that is more or less people driving around in American cars on Friday and Saturday nights. You jam in as many people as you can in the car, preferably girls, everybody is drunk (except the driver), screaming, throwing beer cans and misbehave in general. Loud rock'n'roll music too.

I guess you can call it "Heavy Cruising", it isn't so much showing your car and race at the stop light. It is more street party.

But at the same time in Stockholm the guys with the Musclecars were cruising along with the drunk pack, eventually they came up next to another Muscle car and then they raced at the redlights. Since that Challenger were often driving on the cruising streets it got classified as one of the Party Cars and that is a reputation that still lives here in Sweden.

We have had other examples that had fallen in to that Category, COPO_Anders' Camaro was an even more case of a "Heavy Cruising" car.

Enclosed is a picture of the Challenger as it looked when it came to Sweden, it doesn't look anything like it now. Here it is Black with white top, not the wheels, the AO5 - Protection group option, if you look close it also had the fender mounted turn signal indicators. Original engine was changed and where it is now nobody knows.

I had a piece written on it in my book.


Jan

[69VN]

Simply stunning!!! <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/headbang.gif