imatt88 Posted January 10, 2012 Posted January 10, 2012 (edited) OK Mopars guys.. Being a GM kind of guy, and not knowing squat about Mopars.....I have a question What is the difference between the Challenger R/T, the T/A, and the S/E? I just spotted a Jimmy Flintstone resin Challenger S/E body on eBay, and I've never heard of one.. Is the S/E a base model or something? Any info will be appreciated Cheers, Ian Edited January 10, 2012 by imatt88
Mr. Moparman Posted January 10, 2012 Posted January 10, 2012 S/E means "Special Edition". It was an option you could get on a Charger, Challenger, etc. from the dealership. The package included two tone-leather seats, special body emblems, wood-grain steering wheel and dash, etc.
slantasaurus Posted January 10, 2012 Posted January 10, 2012 (edited) The Challenger SE package also included an overhead "information center" which had a low fuel light, seat belt warning, and something else....The rear window was also smaller on the SE, they used a fiberglass plug in the regular window opening to mount the smaller glass. A vinyl top was required on all Challenger SE's becaus of the window plug. Edited January 10, 2012 by slantasaurus
Mr. Moparman Posted January 10, 2012 Posted January 10, 2012 The Challenger SE package also included an overhead "information center" which had a low fuel light, seat belt warning, and something else....The rear window was also smaller on the SE, they used a fiberglass plug in the regular window opening to mount the smaller glass. A vinyl top was required on all Challenger SE's becaus of the window plug. I knew I was missing something in my post!!! Thanks!!!
imatt88 Posted January 10, 2012 Author Posted January 10, 2012 Overhead info center...huh?. In a console? Any special engine package with hood? Cheers, Ian
SuperStockAndy Posted January 10, 2012 Posted January 10, 2012 I believe R/T means Road/Track...not sure about T/A though. Trans Am?
fredgsanford Posted January 10, 2012 Posted January 10, 2012 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodge_Challenger
Swifster Posted January 10, 2012 Posted January 10, 2012 (edited) Overhead info center...huh?. In a console? Any special engine package with hood? Cheers, Ian No requirement on the engine. Well, you may have needed a V8. But that also could mean a 318-2V. The R/T was the performance version. Base engine was the 383-4V. Optional engines were the 340-4V, 440-4V, 440-6V and 426 8V Hemi. The transmissions started with a 3-speed manual, 4-speed manual and 3-speed automatic. Very few were ordered with the 3-speed, and it would probably only be available with the base 383. The T/A was made to homologate the spoilers and exhaust for Trans Am racing. The engine was a 340-6V with 4-speed or automatic. The car had 'big & littles', meaning smaller 15" tires in front than the rear. They also had a special exhaust that exited in front of the rear axle and along the quarter panel. Edited January 10, 2012 by Swifster
B-onefan Posted January 10, 2012 Posted January 10, 2012 No requirement on the engine. Well, you may have needed a V8. But that also could mean a 318-2V. The R/T was the performance version. Base engine was the 383-4V. Optional engines were the 340-4V, 440-4V, 440-6V and 426 8V Hemi. The transmissions started with a 3-speed manual, 4-speed manual and 3-speed automatic. Very few were ordered with the 3-speed, and it would probably only be available with the base 383. The T/A was made to homogate the spoilers and exhaust for Trans Am racing. The engine was a 340-6V with 4-speed or automatic. The car had 'big & littles', meaning smaller 15" tires in front than the rear. They also had a special exhaust that exited in front of the rear axle and along the quarter panel. And if I remember, the T/A's were made to qualify the cars for the race series, as so many had to be made from the factory. Same with the AAR Cuda.
Swifster Posted January 10, 2012 Posted January 10, 2012 (edited) Challenger T/A Challenger R/T with 440-6V and shaker hood Challenger SE with limo style roof Overhead console visible upper center... Has low fuel light, seat belt warning light and door ajar light... Edited January 10, 2012 by Swifster
Swifster Posted January 10, 2012 Posted January 10, 2012 And if I remember, the T/A's were made to qualify the cars for the race series, as so many had to be made from the factory. Same with the AAR Cuda. Not trying to be a smart alec, but that is what homologate means. Homologation is a technical term, derived from the Greek homologeo (ὁμολογέω) for "to agree", which is generally used in English to signify the granting of approval by an official authority.
Casey Posted January 10, 2012 Posted January 10, 2012 Ian, I suggest you bookmark this 'site: http://www.hamtramck-historical.com/library.shtml The small rear window was available on the 1970 Challenger SE only.
Swifster Posted January 10, 2012 Posted January 10, 2012 Ian, I suggest you bookmark this 'site: http://www.hamtramck...m/library.shtml The small rear window was available on the 1970 Challenger SE only. And the Barracuda Gran Coupe...
Green Duster Posted January 10, 2012 Posted January 10, 2012 Here's a good website to go to for info. www.moparts.com
SuperStockAndy Posted January 10, 2012 Posted January 10, 2012 And if I remember, the T/A's were made to qualify the cars for the race series, as so many had to be made from the factory. Same with the AAR Cuda. But, the Trans Am race series had a cubic inch displacement limit of 305 ci. I don't know much beyond that point though.
Casey Posted January 10, 2012 Posted January 10, 2012 (edited) And the Barracuda Gran Coupe... No. The formed headliner w/overhead console was part of the Gran Coupe option package in '70, but no smaller, "formal" rear window was offered on the Plymouth E-body. See here: http://www.hamtramck-historical.com/images/dealerships/DealershipDataBook/1970/70_Barracuda0023.jpg Edited January 10, 2012 by Casey
imatt88 Posted January 10, 2012 Author Posted January 10, 2012 (edited) I've never seen the overhead console in kit form. Thats pretty slick. I started this post because I want to model a correct Cuda/Challenger. I've heard that most of the kits available have inaccuracies and I like to keep my cars fairly accurate. The The trim/engine packages are pretty confusing to keep track of and I'm working outside of my comfort zone I guess this comes from building military jets for years. Cheers, Ian Edited January 10, 2012 by imatt88
TurboKitty Posted January 11, 2012 Posted January 11, 2012 Technically, if you wanted both performance and luxury, you could also get a Challenger R/T SE. It basically combined both packages so you would end up with a loaded Challenger (and yes you could get it with a Hemi, there were 59 made in '70, 37 of which were automatics). You could not, however, have a Challenger T/A SE as no such combination exists. Here is an R/T SE Hemi: Click this link for more information and lots of pictures showing the extra trim for the R/T SE (good pics for reference): http://www.americanstreetmachines.com/xCars/PageId/11/Classic-Mopar-1970-Hemi-Challenger-RT/SE-SOLD-WA-for-sale/Id/63/1970-Hemi-Challenger-RT/SE-SOLD-WA/ProdId/486/LId/0,63/1970-Hemi-Challenger-RT/SE-SOLD-WA.html#2387870-D209602%20079.jpg Also to add to what differentiates a Challenger T/A from other models: The T/A (like the AAR Cuda) had a matte black fiberglass hood with a unique and functional scoop, matte black "Ducktail" rear spoiler and front chin spoilers, "trumpet" exhausts that exited on the side of the car in front of the rear tires, and large matte black side stripes that were unique to the T/A (which started below the beginning edge of the side window and ended on the leading edge of the front fenders). Like other Challengers, the T/A could be ordered with or without a vinyl top (with the exception of the SE, which always had a vinyl top as part of the package). As already stated the only engine option was the 340, but it had a 6 pack carb setup (like on a 440 Six Pack). No other cars could be ordered with the 340 Six Pack besides the AAR Cuda (they could have a regular 340 of course). To further differentiate the AAR Cuda from the Challenger T/A, the Cuda had matte black paint added to the tops of the fenders, which ran all the way back to the rear corner of the side windows along the uppermost edge of the doors ( leading edge of the quarter panels (see pictures). The Challenger T/A only had the hood matte black. Also the AAR Cuda had a "strobe" side stripe, which ran the full length of the car. T/A stands for "Trans Am" racing, and AAR stands for "All American Racers", which is a race car company established in 1965 by Dan Gurney and Carroll Shelby. (More info on that here: http://www.allamericanracers.com/hist.html). 1970 Challenger T/A Photos & Information: http://www.challengertaregistry.com/documentation.html 1970 AAR Cuda Photos & Information: http://www.aarcuda.com/
whale392 Posted January 11, 2012 Posted January 11, 2012 A little education for you, Andy (since you obviously haven't studied that in one of your 1/2hr 'reading' sessions), the AAR Cuda was powered by a de-stroked 340 (down to 304 cubes) built by All American Racing (whom built the cars), and the T/A Challenger ran a de-stroked 340 (also down to 304 cubes) built by Kieth Black (of Hemi fame). Both engines suffered regular and numerous failures (some at the hands of 10,000+ rpm spurts) and that, along with the 4-speed grenade issues, led MOPAR to abandon the Trans-Am series shortly after. The reason for the 340 in the 'street' cars was for its' dependability and overall power characteristics (after all, Mopar didn't want to suffer the public humiliation the Chevy 307/305 gave GM). With that said, the Chevy 302 was one RUNNING motor!
Swifster Posted January 11, 2012 Posted January 11, 2012 (edited) In 1970, AFAIK, no manufacturer other than AMC (304) and Ford (302) had an engine less than 305ci. Chevrolet killed off the 302 in after 1969, Pontiac never had an engine smaller than a 326 (and I think it was enlarged to 350 in '69), and Chrysler had 318's and 340's, I may bewrong, but I don't think the TransAm rules required actually selling an engine under 305 after 1968. The Chevy 307 and 305 were never meant to be performance engines. Edited January 11, 2012 by Swifster
whale392 Posted January 12, 2012 Posted January 12, 2012 No, any manufacturer could SELL any engine size they wanted TO THE PUBLIC, but sanctioning body class rules still limited the cars to 305 cid for racing!
imatt88 Posted January 28, 2012 Author Posted January 28, 2012 Michelle, Thanks for the links. good stuff
moparmagiclives Posted January 28, 2012 Posted January 28, 2012 I love it when you see 71 and 73 T/As and AARs for sale at collector prices.... Makes me want to run out and snatch them up !!! Before they are all gone.
Casey Posted January 28, 2012 Posted January 28, 2012 I love it when you see 71 and 73 T/As and AARs for sale at collector prices.... Makes me want to run out and snatch them up !!! Before they are all gone. Must be because they are all one of none. Well, some people will argue Chrysler did make '71 Challenger T/As...
moparmagiclives Posted January 28, 2012 Posted January 28, 2012 Must be because they are all one of none. Yep,
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