History of The Dodge Challenger

In the 1960s, Hutchinson families took pleasure in long Sunday drives in cars that promised comfort and community. At the time, cars were manufactured for long, leisurely trips where families could take advantage of the new interstate highway system to travel to national parks and neighborhoods outside of the cities.

However, the debut of the Ford Mustang in 1964 changed the way drivers saw cars and how they expected them to look and perform. The Ford Mustang created a desire for cars that pushed their engines to their limits and gave their drivers the thrill of a lifetime. Rival automakers struggled to design a vehicle that could match the Mustang’s power and presence, but it eventually met its match with the 1970 Dodge Challenger.

The First Editions

The 1959 Dodge Silver Challenger was the first edition of the Dodge Challenger that was marketed to the general public. A large, two-door coupe that was only sold in the color silver, the vehicle was more of a sedan than a muscle car, and the model lapsed after it’s debut. When Ford’s Mercury Division developed a longer version of the Mustang and named it the Cougar, Dodge reinvented the Challenger. The new Challenger was two-inches longer than the Cougar and debuted in 1970 with a 440 “six-pack” engine that had 335 hp and could go from 0 to 60 mph in six seconds. Drivers in Nickerson were in awe, and the Mustang finally found a worthy “Challenger.”

Retirement & Redemption

As excitement in Buhler and across the nation grew over the design and performance of muscle cars, the Challenger raced ahead with innovative engines and features until 1974, when production was halted. In 1983, the Challenger was discontinued and replaced with the Dodge Daytona.

With the Challenger retired, the Ford Mustang continued to out-preform with engines and performance features that enraptured buyers. In 2002, the Mustang was redesigned with state-of-the-art technology and a new performance engine. A new kind of muscle car was born, and Dodge decided to brush off some old designs and jump into the race once more.

In 2008, the Dodge Challenger came roaring back onto the international stage with a design that paid tribute to its 1970 premier edition. Back in the headlines, the Challenger showed once again that quality design and performance engines can put you leagues ahead of the competition.

The Future of The Dodge Challenger with Allen Samuels Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram

The new Challenger models continue to make headlines, and so long as the nostalgia for American muscle cars remains, the Dodge Challenger will push its competitors, and Newton drivers, to their limits. Read more about the 2019 Challenger specs with Allen Samuels Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram and see our review of the 2019 Challenger Hellcat. When you’re ready to take the Challenger on a test drive you won’t forget, contact us and we’ll introduce you to our Challenger inventory and set you up with the muscle car that has inspired generations.