1970 A66 Go Mango Challenger Dealer Demo! Current pics!

[benlavigne]

Very nice and cool storied history.
I also vote for the butt stripe to return.
Note if changing is a consideration, the longer the other stripe is on the more likely it will leave a shadow whiteness when removed.

Thanks @YellowThumper the butt stripe will be back... I am not worried about ghosting of the old stripe, as the car has almost always been inside, out of the sun... More worried about the holes from the T/A spoiler that will need to be repaired, but that will be covered by the bumble bee stripe anyway!

Ben

[benlavigne]

Getting closer to factory-specs!
Longitudinal stripe gone, T/A spoiler gone, and bumble Bee stripe done in Semi-Gloss vinyl (to better hide the scars from the spoiler), which matches the V21 hood decal.
Go-Wing is on order, should be on for Carlisle!

Ben

[anlauto]

If you did the body work on the deck lid, why not paint the black stripe on ? When do the 14" Magnums and whitewalls go on ?

[benlavigne]

If you did the body work on the deck lid, why not paint the black stripe on ? When do the 14" Magnums and whitewalls go on ?

Only temporarely patched the holes from the spoiler with filler, real repair will happen next Fall and stripe will be painted then, I might also get the hole from the antenna filled on top of the LH quarter...

First owner added the whitewall Michelin radials in 71-72, original setup was with RWL Polyglas, exactly like that setup some guy in Ontario is selling on Kijiji... but I like the Rallyes better than Road Wheels...
I'm also keeping the wheelwell trim and pop-up gas cap!

Ben

[E74cuda]

I'm probably in the minority but wheel well trim on A66 Challengers just looks out of place to me.

[benlavigne]

I'm probably in the minority but wheel well trim on A66 Challengers just looks out of place to me.

Thing is most people do not know what an A66 is or that they did not have the wheelwell trim, which was standard on all Challengers (except for the Hemi and T/A's also...). Interesting that they were deleted at first because of the standard 15'' wheels, but not put back when the standard specs changed to 14'' later in the year.

Ben

[kawahonda]

I think that's backwards....early A66s had 14" Ralleyes. Later ones got the 15" Ralleyes.

[6bblgt]

at the debut of the $250+ A66 package - E60-15 RWL Polyglas GTs were STANDARD (you still had to pay additional for the mandatory rallye wheels & space saver spare ~$60)

this made a base 340 Challenger as expensive as a base Challenger R/T (with the R/T's STANDARD 383HP, gauge package, wheel lip mouldings, F70-14 RWL Polyglas tires, etc.)

the package was "restructured" early in production (Oct./Nov. '69 ??) to a ~$170 package eliminating the 15" tires as STANDARD equipment

[340challconvert]

As per the '70 Dodge "salesman's pocket guide" 9/23/69 version:

CODE A66 - Challenger 340 CID engine package - $258.90
NA Special Edition (29), NA R/T (JS)
15" Rallye wheels (W21) - required at EXTRA cost
collapsable spare (W34) - required at EXTRA cost

this changed at some point - as the following shows

per the '70 Dodge "dealership data book" no date found
CODE A66 - Challenger 340 CID engine package - includes
340 engine - E55
F70-14 RWL tires - T87
R/T hood
H.D. brakes
H.D. suspension
"bumble bee" stripe
"scat pack" decals
wheel lip mouldings "DELETED"

10/20/69:
Effective immediately, F70x14-inch RWL tires (T87) are standard with the 340 Performance Package. The E60x15-inch tires (U82) will be optional at extra cost. The Collapsible Spare (W34) and Rallye Wheels will no longer be required with the 340 Package. A Rear Spoiler in Dull Black (J81) will be available in early November. Effective immediately, Performance Axle Packages A31 and A36 are available with the 340 Package.

[benlavigne]

Original dealer for my car, which is about 60 miles away, has been closed since 2001, but the sign is still on the building, which still belongs to the same owner (bodyshop is still open). I passed by last weekend for a photo op, need to go back later with the owner to open the door and let me go through the old filing cabinets, he says he neve threw any thing away... I took some pics through the windows.

Ben

[340challconvert]

Ben
That would be so cool if you found some original paperwork for your car! 

[benlavigne]

Today, I went to see the son of the original owner of my car, and his mom, who still lives in the same house as when the car was new. The dad unfortunately passed away a few years ago.
I wanted to re-take the pictures that were taken in 1973, when they were about to trade the car in for a new Pontiac Grand Prix.
As soon as she came out of the house, the lady said: ''Hey, that's my Challenger!''. I had heard that the father, who was a policeman then, had a pretty heavy foot, but she confirmed she also drove it pretty fast...
The son came by with his Nova, he had looked for the car multiple times, found it, but the timing was never right fo him to get it back. He obviously now has first refusal rights if I ever decide to let it go!
The old plates (They were replaced annually then) were still in the garage, we put the same one from 1973 on the car...
Everyone went for rides, we took pictures, it was a great morning!

Ben

[7E-Bodies]

That's so good of you to do that. Says a lot about you and the good people in this hobby. I tried reaching out to a previous owner of mine, now 76 and he wouldn't return my contacts that I'd sent US mail.

[ClarkWGrizwald]

That's a really cool full circle deal there! Congrats on a great story! Can't wait to hear what you find in the dealership files!!  You need to bring help and take photos of every mopar thing you can!

Sent from my LG-H932 using Tapatalk

[anlauto]

Did they mentioned your wing was on backwards 

Great day for sure Ben