A custom 1970 Challenger R/T with a Hemicuda heart emerges as a stunning one-of-zero Mopar masterpiece.
A one-of-a-kind 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T tribute car has surfaced from a private collection, fusing some of the rarest elements of Mopar muscle history into a handcrafted, street-legal legend.
Dubbed a “one-of-zero” creation, the Challenger blends factory-correct R/T heritage with a bold array of tribute components—including a 1971 426 Hemi V8 from a Plymouth Hemicuda, a cross-ram intake system, and a Dodge Challenger T/A lift-off hood. The result is a Frankenstein’s monster of muscle—a perfectly mismatched, yet deeply authentic homage to the golden era of Detroit power.
Originally built as a 383 R/T model and sold new to a U.S. service member stationed in Spain, the car features a rare export-only speedometer in kilometers and was originally finished in gold. Over time, it underwent extensive modifications by a skilled owner who acquired it in 1991 and spent decades transforming it into the ultimate E-body tribute.
Most notably, the engine bay now houses a real-deal 426 Hemi V8 sourced from a 1971 Plymouth Hemicuda—one of just 114 built that year. Even rarer, the engine came from one of only 48 Hemicudas paired with a TorqueFlite automatic. But the Challenger received a four-speed manual swap complete with a Pistol Grip shifter, putting true control in the hands of the driver.
From the custom cross-ram intake and handmade air cleaner to the period-correct tach and original interior with just under 25,000 miles, every detail is a labor of love. The car was repainted canary yellow by the owner himself—in the same barn it had rested in for decades.
Though it never rolled off an assembly line in this configuration, this 1970 Challenger may be the most authentic tribute Mopar never built. Combining heritage, rarity, and bespoke craftsmanship, it stands as a roaring tribute to the spirit of American muscle—and to the hands that made it happen.
