Dodge Challenger R/T Classic harkens back to '70s muscle

Dodge is evoking the spirit of the original 1970 Challenger with a special edition car it will introduce later this month.

Dodge quietly placed the Challenger R/T Classic special edition car on its Detroit auto show stand during press days but won't announce details until later this week.

The Challenger R/T Classic will be offered initially in Hemi Orange and Torred. A B5 Blue edition will come in late February or early March along with other Challenger colors.

The R/T Classic is set apart by racing stripes and the original Challenger script on the front fender sides, instead of on the grille, as in the current vehicle. It will be the only Challenger R/T with a working hood scoop.

Dodge also will launch a B5 Blue version of the SRT8 in March. The Hemi cranks out 376 hp when mated to the six-speed manual transmission.

The automatic transmission version generates 372 hp.

By Bradford Wernle