- A unique street version
- Sported performance improvements
- A powerhouse stock engine
Sports Car Club of America racing series
The SCCA Trans American Sedan Series had become quite popular throughout the late 1960s. “Pony Cars” from the era, Camaros, Firebirds, Mustangs, Cougars and Javelins, were battling it out door-to-door, fender-to-fender on America’s top racing circuits, and the on-track rivalries were fast-paced and exciting. Chrysler Corporation was releasing their new-for-1970 Pony Cars, all-new Dodge Challenger and completely revised Plymouth Barracuda, to the buying public in late 1969 and through independent teams, both Dodge and Plymouth decided to get involved, with full factory support, in this colorful Sports Car Club of America 1970 racing series.
The Dodge factory had geared up to create a truly unique street version of the Challenger T/A, albeit available in limited numbers, most agree it was approximately 2400 cars for US distribution, plus some 118 for Canadian export. Dealers were instructed to order their Challenger T/A cars by specifying “JH23” model code and sales code “A53” -Trans-Am Package and printing the words “Trans-Am” in large block letters across the top of the order form.
The Dodge factory had geared up to create a truly unique street version of the Challenger T/A, albeit available in limited numbers, most agree it was approximately 2400 cars for US distribution, plus some 118 for Canadian export. Dealers were instructed to order their Challenger T/A cars by specifying “JH23” model code and sales code “A53” -Trans-Am Package and printing the words “Trans-Am” in large block letters across the top of the order form.
The street Challenger T/A was special
First and foremost, the engine was not just the standard 340-cid V8, but a uniquely equipped version that sported numerous performance improvements.
Cylinder heads on T/A cars were upgraded with larger intake port cross-sections, for additional porting capabilities, longer pushrods with special ends to fit the adjustable T/A-specific offset rocker arms which provide a better pushrod angle and the rocker shafts had additional lubrication grooves to accommodate the revised design. The snap rings in the hydraulic lifters were also of heavy-duty design.
Also for improved engine breathing, the camshaft profile was changed for the 340 T/A powerplant, as lift was .429 (I) and .444 (E), with 268-degrees duration (I) and276-degrees duration (E).
Another treat to this engine
Perched atop the special block and heads was another treat specific to this engine, an aluminum Edelbrock hi-rise intake manifold that mounted a trio of Holley 2300-series dual-throat carburetors totaling some 1210 total cfm. The center carb used an accelerator pump, with the front/rear carbs operating via vacuum diaphragms.
This triple carburetion system, its design borrowed directly from the big-brother 440 Six Pack big block engine, worked fabulous on the hopped-up small block engine package and the vacuum-operated mechanisms on the end carbs prevented bogging, plus was a visual thing of beauty in appearance when the hood was opened.
Factory ratings for the engine were 290-hp at 5000 rpm, with torque at 345-lbs./ ft. at 3450 rpm. The 340-6 was a powerhouse engine even in completely stock form.
Add in the 10.5:1 compression ratio pistons of the standard 340 engine, 2.02-inch intake valves,1.60-inch exhaust valves, double roller timing chain, factory wintage tray and streamlined exhaust manifolds, this tri-power 340 is one very strong package for the street.
The rear suspension components consisted of HD shocks and springs, plus an oversized sway bar, and these cars sat up in the rear slightly higher than a Hemi Challenger. Why? Because the camber of the rear springs was increased, providing the needed ground clearance for the trumpet-type tipped side exhausts.
“Scat Scoop” is what Dodge Public Relations called the elevated hood scoop that appeared as standard equipment on Challenger T/A cars. The entire hood was lightweight fiberglass finished in a flat black hue and came with twin hood pins and lighter hood springs to deal with the decreased weight. Designed to force fresh air into the engine, this scoop incorporated jet aircraft technology with its “boundary layer” style, which differed from conventional hood scoop designs.
A truly special car
To further add individuality and identification to the road-race-inspired production car, a pair of longitudinal matt-black stripes adorned the sides, running on the front fenders, doors and rear quarter-panel, terminating at the forward edge of the C-post. “T / A” lettering was inscribed in 5-inch sized lettering on the front fenders. Directly below “340 Six Pac” bold markings were featured, insuring nobody would miss the fact that this is a truly special car, like no other in the Dodge lineup.
The radio antenna was mounted on the right rear quarter panel, with the antenna cable routed down the right side sill, and spot taped in place. The reason for the relocation of the antenna is because of the fiberglass hood, which would have caused radio interference.
Up front, large diameter (0.92-inch) Hemi-spec torsion bars, large diameter sway bar and HD shocks were fitted.
A beautifully restored “Panther Pink” paint code FM3. This featured car belongs to a serious car collector and it is an all-time favorite for this long-time car fanatic. When the opportunity came along for him to purchase a numbers-matching, fantastically detailed example, and one that was factory delivered in a “high impact” color, he hardly could turn away the chance to get such a rare and visually enticing car.
He took this Challenger T/A out to see how it would perform down the quarter-mile and he was able to reel off a 13.94 elapsed time at 100.67-mph.
“It’s the most beautiful vehicle in my collection,” says the dyed-in-the-wool Mopar devotee. And when he has had over 80 cars over the years, some rarer, some more valuable, this is the one that sticks out. That really says something about how well these sexy Challenger T/ A machines were designed back in the day.
