9 minute read
FEATURE: Malcolm Growden’s Road/Track Challenger Rep
MALCOLM GROWDEN’S ROAD/TRACK CHALLENGER REP.
This would have to be one of my all-time favorite cars and definitely drives the need for a bigger shed here!
As a youngster, still knee high to a grasshopper and watching that awesome movie “Vanishing point”, knowing straight away that they had switched from a Mopar to a Camaro for just one scene. I knew then that these 1970 & 71 Challengers were going to be stuck in my head forever! The long sleek stance of that body with the short roof, long bonnet flowing up to the two bonnet vents, catching air to shove down the throat of that Hemi engine, making it scream through that manual gearbox fully made me want one. I can’t even remember how old I was, but I knew it was the coolest car out right then! I found out why the Camaro got switched into the movie years later when the interweb became available. That’s a whole funny story all by itself that one! The Challenger models were developed by Dodge to take on the Mercury Cougars and Pontiac Firebirds at the time. They were considered a Pony car, although Mustang had already grabbed the market, Dodge figured they would just build a car to kick everyone’s butts. The RT model named as the Road/ Track model came out with a dressedup interior filled with extra options, plus you could order all sorts of engine combinations depending on how far you wanted to kick that butt! They were aimed at the young affluent American car buyer but with that wicked Mopar engine slotted in up front. Any revhead with a buck would jump at owning one of these. Although two and a half inches bigger than the Plymouth Barracuda with all new panels, it is still a relatively small car when you are thinking power to weight ratio. Less than twenty-one thousand of these V8 71 models were built including the RT’s. With their reputation, a fair amount of them got trashed either on the racetrack or thinking they were on the racetrack. Not too many bulldozers were responsible to the demise of the Challenger, but it did make for an awesome movie! I recall even at my grasshopper age almost crying at the thought of that car hitting them two bulldozers. Only because
I loved the car sooo much, not the story! Malcolm’s Challenger here with the gloss red paint and black decals certainly takes advantage of them long sleek body lines. Sitting on them big 20” rims steps it into a modern age of retro-mod with the other small modifications, but it still retains that gorgeous look with its stance of the body being dropped over the wheels. The vented and slotted brake rotors up front giving that performance and ready to race appearance for pulling up that Mopar when she does get screaming. Them Mopar heads punching air through the twin stainless exhaust sounds awesome when it’s rolling past, as if just begging to have the jandal shoved into it! Inside, the seats have been upgraded to a serious pair of “hold on tight” seats from Jamex and the custom dash instrument panel matching with that modern appearance. Under that bonnet sits the 360ci Mopar with a few tricks like Ali heads and MSD Ignition along with a MSD center Injection set up to make it jump when the jandal calls. This seriously is a gorgeous package of a traditional Muscle Car, brought into the modern era without taking away any of its grandness from the 70’s Muscle era. An era when Muscle Cars were just AWESOME!!!! MAKE/MODEL: 1971 Dodge Challenger
COLOUR: Had a full paint about 8 years ago with the RT stripes added
ENGINE: 360ci Mopar, rebuilt about 8 years ago with a bit of cam. Alloy Edlebrock heads, MSD electronic ignition and MSD fuel injected carb. Full homemade 3” stainless steel exhaust
TRANSMISSION: 727 Torqueflite reverse manual & shift kitted
DIFF:
Factory LSD
SUSPENSION: Lowered
BRAKES: It had drums all round but recently changed the front to a Wilwood disc brake set up
WHEELS/TYRES: 20” x 9 on front 20” x 11 on back
INTERIOR: JAMEX race seats and all new digital gauges in dash
EXTRA MODS: Halo LED headlights
GET YOUR OCTANE FIX 15% OFF DISCOUNT CODE - click here: https://triplexnz.com/discount/OCTANE
Aluminium anodised fittings & hoses / Surge tanks / Fuel regulators / Oil coolers / Catch cans / Fuel filters and pumps / Accessories and other fittings Contact Rhys on: 027 256 3105 sales@triplex.nz www.triplexnz.com
Aluminium anodised fittings & hoses / Surge tanks / Fuel regulators / Oil coolers / Catch cans / Fuel filters and pumps / Accessories and other fittings Contact Rhys on: 027 256 3105 sales@triplex.nz www.triplexnz.com
Check out our video coverage on our YouTube channel
So how long have you owned the car? About 2 years now
Where did you find it? Found it from a local guy who imported it 6 years before I bought it
What made you pick this car? Have always wanted one
Did you buy the car as is or build it? Most of it was done, just been doing a few changes
What would be your favourite car to have? This one
What car would you like to test drive? A new Hellcat or Demon
Any other cool cars in the shed? Nope
What other cool cars have you owned? I’ve had some rotaries and turbo cars
Any you wish you still owned? No
What cars are on the wish list? I would like a new Challenger to go with the old Challenger
What do you love about the car scene the most? I like cruzin and checking out others cars and what they’ve done to them
Favourite car movie? Vanishing point
Are you involved in any car clubs? Just a local group of mates in Street & Social 3120
Aluminium anodised fittings & hoses / Surge tanks / Fuel regulators / Oil coolers / Catch cans / Fuel filters and pumps / Accessories and other fittings Contact Rhys on: 027 256 3105 sales@triplex.nz www.triplexnz.com
GET YOUR OCTANE FIX 15% OFF DISCOUNT CODE - click here: https://triplexnz.com/discount/OCTANE
Aluminium anodised fittings & hoses / Surge tanks / Fuel regulators / Oil coolers / Catch cans / Fuel filters and pumps / Accessories and other fittings Contact Rhys on: 027 256 3105 sales@triplex.nz www.triplexnz.com
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HERE’S YOUR CHANCE TO SHINE...
We check out Gordon & Claudia’s other cool ride. A classy yet staunch 66 Mustang Notchback
If you think your ride deserves to be in here, drop us a photo and let us know about it. Every issue we will be picking a random car to show off. Plus, we may just stop in and do a full photo shoot for you and for us to feature. Email us: info@octanefixonline.com
