A Forty One Year Commitment to a 1970 Dodge Challenger

Teaching life lessons through a 1970 Dodge Challenger 340 four barrel is Steve and Sharon Makinson’s mission in life. Showing that commitment and traditions are valued in the Makinson home to their three children and seven grandchildren. Married 41 years ago, the very ride they rode off into the sunset in they still own to this day. We bring you the Rate My Ridez entry for this week.

Staying with the value of tradition, this MOPAR has been maintained to original specs and design, aside from new paint in 1992, an engine rebuild in the 90s by Hamburger Performance, and replacing worn out parts as needed. Though not a daily driver, this ride is no trailer queen, either. With 30,000 miles on it when purchased back in the early 70s for a mere $2,100.00 this ride has seen track, show, and street time.

With a garage full of more than a 100 trophies, Makinson’s commitment to original parts goes all the way down to finding the original plates that he had traded years earlier that he would come to regret. Eventually finding the correct style plates again at a later date, on an old scrap van, Makinson was able to register them to the Challenger, thus maintaining the 70s look and style.

The Dodge Challenger was the answer to the Mustang and Camaro pony wars in the late ’60s. A late entry into the muscle car battle, the Challenger caused a rumble and a stir amongst its competition. Over the years through daily wear and tear the carpet, upholstery, bumpers, hood hinges, radiator, dash horn and tail light housings have all been restored to original design.

Improving performance on this already angry beast, Makinson added the Six-Pack Carb, which was an original option for the 1970 Challenger.  A special model, this ride is equipped with the A66 Performance Package. Top of the line for its era this package came with the 340 4 Barrel engine backed by a 3 speed console shift 727 transmission, a 150 MPH speedometer with the Rally dash and needle gauges, 11 inch rear drum brakes, a heavy-duty suspension package along with front sway bars, and 15 inch rally wheels.

Moving to the interior and exterior package this ride also included a raised hood with call out emblems along with the traditional racing-inspired paint stripe, scat pack decals in the rear, front and rear chrome bumper guards, a black vinyl roof and a black stripe on the rear of car trunk finishing off a mean stance.

This angry ride now has 89,000 original miles with the original style and look intact, just as it did the day it rolled off of the showroom floor. In Steve Makinson’s words, he was MOPAR when MOPAR wasn’t cool! We’re still trying to figure out when that was, though. With modifications and bolt-ons popular in the scene today, there is something to be said for preserving an original work of art in its natural state as the Chrysler boys intended. What is your preference? Keep it pure or modify it?