Top needed replaced in 1978. and should be replaced every five years or so.
Headlight switch not heavy duty enough for halogen headlights. Had to install relays for headlights.
The 340 was probably the perfect engine for this car. I test drove a big block Challenger before buying the 340, and while the neck snapping power of a 440 is great, they do not corner anything like a 340.
By todays standard the brakes are unacceptable. Any car that can top 140 MPH should never been let out of the factory with manual drums on all four wheels.
The factory 4 speed was indestructible, and the Pistol Grip shifter was great.
Nothing like taking the convertible out to the coast road on a warm summer night. Most fun car I ever owned.
1970 was the first year for the Challenger, unless you mean that yours was actually assembled in the Fall of 1969 for the 1970 model year. I agree about the use of hydraulic (non power) drum brakes (non disc) on such a fast car. Front power disc brakes were only an option at that time, and didn't become standard for another couple of years on cars like the '73 Charger.
Speaking of inadequate Mopar brakes. I ordered new from the a Chrysler Plymouth dealership in 1968. A 1968 Chrysler Convertible 300 with a 440 cubic inch V-8. The car weighed in at 4400 lbs and it had 4 wheel power drum brakes. Cost was $4200 in 1968 dollars. No trade of course. Fortunately for me the car came through with poor body workmanship on the front bumpers and I refused delivery, but willingly gave up my $100 deposit. As I recall the owner of the dealership was livid because a white convertible with black vinyl interior and no A/C would be hard to sell. I agree with that, but then I quickly went out and paid almost $4400 for a brand new 1968 Mercury Parklane Brougham with full power and A/C. First car with A/C and never had another one without it.
I don't understand what was so fortunate that you're glad you got off the hook for taking delivery? You ordered the car, and they delivered it the way you ordered it. A Chrysler 300 with a 440 was no slouch of a car, and drum brakes were the norm in those days. At least it came with power brakes. If you wanted front disc brakes, you should have ordered the package. That convertible Chrysler 300 with the 440 would be worth a ton of money right now. I guess that would be your loss.
Wow, you've owned this car for quite a while! I love Challengers, my dream car is a '71 Hemi Convertible R/T. I know they never made a Hemi Convertible in '71... but I can restore it to my spec. :D.
In reply to the first comment... I wrote a review on a '92 Stealth... I marked it as a '92 Steath, yet it got put in the '91 Stealth category. I believe it's because the car was built in '91... as is normal for cars. The web site seems a little confused on that.
steven@carsurvey.org:
The website is organised by the year of manufacture, not the model year. This is because model year is not used in all markets, and the site was originally (1997) built for UK and Ireland reviews only, before being opened up all nations later on.
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