1970 Dodge Challenger T/A

1:18 Highway 61

In the fall of 1969 Dodge launched a car that would change the American landscape forever. It's name was Challenger. Released as a 1970 model along with it's sister car, the Plymouth Barracuda. They were Chrysler's first real response to the popular Mustang and Camaro but they arrived on the streets right at the end of the muscle car era. Despite this, nearly 170,000 Challengers were sold and in four short years the name Challenger was embedded into every gear head's memory. Chrysler released two very special models of the Challenger and 'Cuda in 1970. In order to compete in the SCCA's Trans American Sedan Championship, Chrysler built street versions of their race cars dubbed the 'Cuda AAR and Challenger T/A. The "T/A" stood Trans Am. The Challenger T/A ran a 340 Six Pack, apptly named because of the trio of two-barrel carburetors sitting atop an Edelbrock aluminum intake. Dodge rated it at a very conservative 290HP. In actuality, the T/A's output was more like 320HP. The race version of the T/A wasn't very successful in the Trans Am series so in the same year they entered Dodge pulled out which meant 1970 was the only year the T/A was produced. A total of 2,142 were made. Dodge advertised a 1971 T/A but most agree none were ever made or sold to the public since there is no proof any exist. Keep looking in those old barns, you never know. Production of the Challenger ended in 1974 after sliding sales. The muscle car era was over.

The Challenger was designed by Carl Cameron who also penned the 1966 Dodge Charger's design. The Challenger's grille was based on a sketch Cameron made when designing the Charger which was supposed to have a turbine engine. Obviously the turbine-powered Charger never came to be, but the at least the grille did. There's no doubt the grille is one of the most recognized features of the car.

As I sit here staring at my 1:18 scale Challenger T/A, Highway 61 certainly captured the details of that wonderful face. Four headlights flank a mesh grille with the familiar "Challenger" script, in photoetched beauty besides. Unlike the headlights which are devoid of attachment stubs the amber running lights have very visible ones. One thing I usually just ignore is the license plate but here Highway 61 included a really nice Louisiana plate with the phrase "Sportsman's Paradise". All chrome trim including the bumper is done to perfection(the bumper is metal!) and the fitment is top notch. The underside of the front bumper has the T/A only lip spoilers painted in matte black paint.

Also painted in matte black is the hood. On the real car this is made from fiber glass making it extremely light but also making it prone to cracking. On the model it's also made from a light material with plastic used instead. The texture and appearance is identical to the real cars. In the center is the huge air intake that feeds air directly to the Six Pack. Keeping the hood latched are hood pins. Unlike most makers, Highway 61 chose to replicate these intricate metal pins in the most detailed way. They actually function! To open the hood you must remove two miniature pins from the plates. Luckily Highway 61 have included two extra sets of pins just in case. I added lanyards to each pin using metal wire myself and inserted the wire through the sides of the grille just like on the real car. Highway 61 could have done this but chose not to. I think it really completes the period look of the car.

Moving to the sides you are hit with the sight of the matte black T/A stripes that run just aft of rear quarter windows. The stripes are tampo printed(painted by stamping) and the detail is excellent. The "T/A" logo is present as is the fine pin stripe on the outer edge. Below the stripes you'll find "340 Six Pak" logos as well as a single Chrysler pentastar on the right side of the model. Panels gaps for the doors are less than average. The chrome fender trim is very well done with no cracking or bubbling to be seen. Mirrors are a little loose but not so much they feel weak. It's just how they are attached to the body using plastic stubs pressed into the doors. Doors handles are photoetched pieces and sit flush with the doors. Probably the most noticeable difference between the T/A and other Challenger models are the large megaphone exhausts exiting on both sides of the car. Highway 61 made these hollow which is great to see and they are separate pieces attached to the exhaust pipes underneath the car just like the real tips.

As we move to the rear you can see the fuel cap mounted on the right hand side with "FUEL" written on the cap in the now-classic font(this font is also used on the new Challenger's gas cap). As is the case with the front turn signals, the rear side mounted lights are free of attachment stubs as well. The antenna is retractable which is always a welcome feature in my book. Highway 61 is known for the little details of which I'll tell more about later on in the review. The rear spoiler is painted in the same matte black and has the same Challenger script as on the front of the car with a "T/A" logo to the right of it. Below the spoiler are the wide tail lights, the clear center containing the reverse lights and "D O D G E" logo which is photoetched metal. The tail lights are nicely done but do have one small attachment stub on each outer section. A little distracting but not too bad. Covering the car is a bright shade of yellow called Top Banana. My example has decent paint save for a small bubble on the roof. Hardly noticeable, but it's there. If I were to buy a Challenger or 'Cuda it would have to be yellow. It's my idea of the perfect muscle car. Extremeness done right even down to the paint color! All windows are crystal clear with the rear quarter windows having classic Scat Pack Bee.

The interior of the Challenger was never anything to look at but Highway 61 did the best they could with what they had. Black, black and more black is all the comes to mind. The only thing visible without a flashlight is the gauge surround in light tan color, the wood pistol grip shifter and the wood-rimmed steering wheel. Carpet covers the entire interior with little rubber floor mats and the front seats are made from soft rubber. No rock hard AUTOart-like plastic being used here! The glove box opens and the front seats also tilt forward to allow access to the rear bench. The backseat is even darker than the front seats. It's all done well but it's very hard to see with so much black being used. Window cranks are not functional but are the only thing on the doors besides more black.

The trunk opens on correct dog leg-style hinges and inside you'll find a jack, spare tire and tool kit. The trunk floor is finished with a grid pattern matt. Silver tubing runs from the gas cap to the floor of the trunk to simulate the tube running to the gas tank. On the underside of the trunk lid are little diagrams showing how to use the jack.

You can catch a glimpse of the 340 Six Pack through the large hood intake. A bright HEMI-orange air filter is the most prominent feature of the engine and can be seen in all it's glory once you loosen those hood pins. The hood opens on intricate spring loaded hinges. Far from dog legs, these are meant to replicate the actual hinges used in the T/A. From what I can tell, they succeeded. Fantastic attention to detail! The 340 is plumbed and wired and every detail is painted in the correct colors including the HEMI-orange engine itself. Very well done.

There isn't much to say about the wheels and tires except that they are incorrect. The Challenger T/A was one of the very first cars to come with staggered width tires meaning the rear tires were wider than the fronts. Highway 61 used Goodyear Polyglas E70's on all four corners when they should be E60's in front with G60's in the back. A strange mistake on Highway 61's part that should have been obvious. The rallye wheels are done well and look great if a little large in size.

Underneath the car is where Highway 61 shines with brake lines and fuel lines present. The big orange 340 Six Pack is visible as well. One really neat feature is that the drive shaft turns when the rear wheels are moved! The exhaust system is done well and what would an E-body be without that MOPAR over spray! Cool!

There are a few problems with the model but overall it's a superb effort from Highway 61. This mold isn't the newest either. Muscle car collectors will most likely have a T/A in their collections already. I always wanted one but time and time again but it on the back burner until I seen a post on DiecastXchange about a sale at Northern Tool. I don't know how they did it but in the last days every diecast item they had was lowered to just $5.99! So, after paying $7 for shipping my Challenger cost me all of $12.99. A darn good value if you ask me!