My First Car

I bought my first car when I was 17 or 18 years old. It was one way by which I expressed my independence. It was a 1970 Dodge Challenger T/A and it looked just like this:

1970  Dodge  Challenger T/A
In order to race in the Sports Car Club of America’s Trans American Sedan Championship, Dodge built a street version of its race car called the Dodge Challenger T/A. Although the race cars ran a destroked version of the 340, street versions took the 340 and added a trio of two-barrel carbs atop an Edelbrock aluminum intake manifold, creating the 340 Six Pack, rated at 290 hp.

The engine breathed air through a suitcase-sized air scoop molded into the pinned down, lift off matte-black fiberglass hood. Dual exhausts ran to the stock muffler location under the trunk, then reversed direction to exit in chrome tipped “megaphone” outlets in front of the rear wheels.

The T/A was the first production car to use different size tires front and rear: E60x15 in the front and G60x15 in back. Bold stripes and a ducktail spoiler added to the package.

The T/A would only be available for 1970 as Dodge would pull out of Trans Am racing.

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