Offered here now, this 1971 "Recreational" Hemi Challenger Convertible is real royalty, fresh from her win at the 19th Annual Mopar Southern Nationals held March 4th, 2007 ~ GOLD AWARD Best in Class E-Body Modified

If this car is Cinderella, then Frank and Roger must be her fairy godparents.  Most of the parts needed to make the car the faithful recreation that she is were purchased from Roger Gibson and Frank Badalson noted Mopar restorers.  True, this 1971 Challenger convertible wasn't born a Hemi car, however more attention has been paid to make this car as factory apprearing and road trip reliable as any Hemi can can be, real or "recreational".   

She's always the attention getter, winning numerous awards since her initial restoration. 

More recent awards include:

•  GOLD AWARD Best in Class E-Body Modified ~19th Annual Mopar Southern Nationals held March 4th, 2007 
• Gold Award ~18^th Annual Mopar Southern Nationals, 2006 
• Best E Body ~2006 Moroso Mopar, November 2006
• Best E body and Participants Choice ~Moroso Mopar, 2005
• Top 25 Award (in a field of 200 cars) ~Hard Rock Hotel Holiday Classic, December 2006
• First in Class ~Carlisle All-Chrysler Nationals, July 2003

She isn't all eye-makeup and blush either.  Dan Cook of Dan Cook Racing, a noted Mopar motor expert, has performed all the mechanical correction and maintence on the car since 2004.  She's always ready for a road trip.  The current owner drove it on the first three legs of the Hot Rod Power Tour in 2006.

Hemi's can be hot tempered, but this one is easy to live with around town.  During the Mechanical Walk-Around inspection, the car was test driven.  The inspector noted how strong the engine ran and the lack of vibration common to these cars.  She performs well, both on the open road and cruising around town.      
 

Exterior: The body is painted Panther Pink with a white R/T stripe.  Her white power convertible top go up and down smoothly.  The white boot fits snug.  She also boasts a factory correct shaker hood setup (not an aftermarket flat hood conversion).  A 71’ GO Wing sits perched on the decklid.  Chin spoilers, painted sport mirrors, hood pins, and 15” Rallye wheels complete the look.  She seems to say "I'm ready for take off!"  The Rallyes are shod in BF Goodrich tires.  The bumpers have been re-chromed and professionally polished, along with the stainless trim.  She also wears all new rubber weather stripping.  All factory glass is in excellent condition.  During the Paint Inspection, only 5 minor rock chips were discovered on the front metal valance which have been re-touched.  The body panel fit and alignment are better than factory.  The passenger side door is a slight touch lower, out of line with the rear quarter panel, but open and shuts with new car ease.  Overall, the inspector deemed the paint "Show Worthy". 

Interior: White interior and buckets, new (Year One) front and rear door panels, kick panels, carpet. Original dash pad with VIN tag. Rallye dash with refurbished gauges all working correctly. Correct thumb wheel am/fm radio working great. 4-spd console with pistol grip shifter. Rim Blow steering wheel.  You can't ask for much more than that.

Engine: Mopar performance block with period correct internals. Correct dual Carter carbs., correct intake manifold, correct water pump, correct fan, correct '71 valve covers, correct clamps, date coded hoses, fan belts etc. Correct Exhaust manifolds with correct hemi exhaust system including SS exhaust tips. Power steering. Factory style metal shaker assembly.  

Engine Compartment: Highly detailed, correct wiper motor, voltage regulator, wiring harness, battery cables, relays, master cylinder, battery.   Correct and very rare '71 Hemi radiator.  Inspector notes read "...over restored, paint finish is smooth."

Suspension: Dana 60 rear completely rebuilt, 3:54 gears, new bearings and seals all, detailed correctly for finish, tags, brake lines etc.  Front disc brakes, rear drums, factory front and rear sway bars.  New KYB gas shocks painted like factory units with correct attaching hardware top and bottom front and rear,  correct pinion snubber. Everything finished as factory correct using correct hardware where available.  "Two Traction Bars Installed" was the only notation the inspector made when asked about suspension alteration.   

New parts as follows: rear leaf springs, front torsion bars, rear backing plates, wheel cylinders, brake drums, brake shoes and spring kits, front upper 'A' arms, brake calipers, rotors, pads, wheel bearings, splash shields, poly bushings throughout, upper and lower ball joints, all tie rod ends, pitman arm, idler arm, correct sway bar links/bushings front and rear. 

Undercarriage: There is no evidence body damage, rust repair, or floorpan replacement.  New parts as follows: stainless steel fuel lines and brake lines, stainless steel emergency brake cables, fuel tank, pick up, straps, tank pad, filler pipe seal, correct bolts and hoses.  Undercoated.

Transmission: New parts as follows: Kiesler 5 spd Tremec with aluminum bellhousing, metal inspection cover, flywheel, clutch, pressure plate, Z bar, linkage, bushings.

Trunk: Painted, Correct space saver spare, space saver bottle, jack and trunk mat.

When market forces demand fine original examples be stored and displayed in personal musuems, a good recreation has its place.  In a landscape littered with "Hemi Barraclonas" and "Challenger Changlings"  it is rare and remarkable to find a truly recreational vehicle that pays attention to both detail and driveability.  This 1971 Challenger R/T convertible is both a tribute to rarity, originality AND she's a proven boulevard bruiser.