Est. 425 bhp, 426 cu. in. “Hemi” V-8 engine, dual four-barrel carburetors, A-833 four-speed manual transmission, independent front suspension with torsion bars, live rear axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs, and front disc, rear drum hydraulic brakes. Wheelbase: 110"

• Preserved for 35 years until 2006; a low-mileage, time warp example

• Sold new and upgraded with Stage III tuning package by “Mr. Norm”

• Accompanied by original Chrysler and Grand-Spaulding Dodge paperwork

• Almost completely original as-sold condition and extremely rare

Although the Dodge Challenger was the last entrant to the “pony car” club already occupied by Ford’s Mustang, Chevrolet’s Camaro, AMC’s Javelin and Plymouth’s Barracuda, it enjoys near-mythic status today. Development began in late 1966, led by Chrysler design chief Bill Brownlie, who envisioned a clean and formal two-door coupe similar in basic style to Mercury’s Ford Mustang derivative, the Cougar. While other proposals were also considered, Brownlie’s original design ultimately moved to production, along with his choice of the “Challenger” nameplate.

The enduring appeal of the Challenger stems not only from its handsome and athletic “Coke-bottle” styling but also from its ability to accommodate the entire Chrysler engine range by virtue of the front sub-frame, which was borrowed from the larger B-bodied Charger and Coronet models. The Challenger also adopted the B-body rear suspension system, providing an aggressively wide rear track and allowing the use of the wider and lower-profile tires that were becoming available by 1970.

The Challenger quickly earned a formidable reputation on both the street and the racetrack. In 1970, the Challenger was campaigned in the immensely popular SCCA Trans Am road-racing series, but Chrysler factory support lasted for only that season, as factory involvement in motorsports became a liability. In drag racing, however, the Challenger found its stride and immediate success in the hotly contested Super Stock and Pro Stock ranks, while Chrysler’s famed Ramchargers adopted the sleek Challenger body style for its six-second AA/Funny Car. On the big screen, the white Challenger R/T driven by anti-hero Kowalski, as portrayed by Barry Newman, proved more than a match for the police in the cult classic Vantage Point.

Already extremely rare and desirable as one of only 71 Hemi Challenger R/Ts produced for 1971, this “time warp” example is even more so on several counts. Firstly, it is one of only about 12 Challenger R/Ts for 1971 originally equipped with the legendary Code E-74 426 “Hemi” V-8 and four-speed manual transmission, plus the Code A34 “Super Track Pack” (including a Sure-Grip rear end with 4.10:1 gears) and “Shaker” hood options. Original Chrysler documentation accompanies the sale of the car and confirms all of its factory-original equipment and options, including the original Broadcast Sheet, the 1971 Model – Challenger Order Form, the Advance Dealer Shipping Notice, the Dealer Invoice and the Window Sticker (Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price Label).

Once completed, the Hemi Challenger was shipped to “Mr. Norm’s” Grand-Spaulding Dodge, the famed Chicago high-performance Chrysler dealership. Owned by Norm Krause and named after its location at the corner of Grand and Spaulding Avenues in Chicago, Mr. Norm’s is one of America’s earliest high-performance new car dealers and one of the first to establish a high-performance parts department. Krause associate Gary Dyer developed one of the earliest and quickest “funny cars” from a Chrysler altered-wheelbase car, and the dealership built the prototype 383 Dart, with these and many other achievements solidifying Mr. Norm’s high-performance reputation. Dyno-tuning was a heavily promoted specialty, and the dealership quickly gained notoriety for converting Chrysler’s hottest factory muscle cars into wicked street/strip-dominating machines.

The Challenger’s original owner, Charles Starr, traded in a 1969 Super Bee and specified further performance upgrades from Mr. Norm, including a Stage III dyno-tune, plus exhaust headers, aluminum wheels and a lightweight fiberglass lift-off hood. Predictably, Mr. Starr terrorized the streets of Madison, Wisconsin during the summer of 1971, and the car accumulated 5,200 miles, with a fair number of them a quarter-mile at a time. Soon after in late 1971, the Challenger was sold to a friend, who recognized its rarity and desirability and had the foresight to coat the car in WD-40 and place it into storage, where the car remained for the next 35 years!

In 2006, a noted muscle car collector acquired the Challenger, and Mopar historian Galen Govier was present to witness the car’s emergence from long-term storage and to document it. Although very dusty, it was incredibly well-preserved, and the Challenger received a gentle clean-up and a basic tune-up, with only the tires, wheels and R/T stripes needing replacement to return the car to its wonderfully preserved and highly original state. The Challenger even made a show appearance at the Barrington Concours d’Elegance in Illinois under its third owners, and it was featured in a host of publications. More recently, the knowledgeable and fastidious current owner acquired the Challenger and placed it within his outstanding private collection.

As offered, the Challenger is a stunning, virtual time warp back to the pinnacle of the early 1970s high-performance era. In addition to the aforementioned performance options, the car is also equipped with such original features as power front disc brakes, a flip-top locking gas cap, a rear spoiler, a “pistol grip” shifter, Music Master AM radio and more. Accompanied by the aforementioned original Chrysler documentation as well as fascinating Grand-Spaulding paperwork including the Bill of Sale and even hand-written notes listing the car’s features and options, its originality and authenticity is undoubted. Blessed with Mr. Norm history and upgrades when new, incredible originality today and just four owners from new, this 1971 Hemi Challenger shows only about 5,400 miles today. Despite being maintained and properly stored by the current owner, this incredible Challenger has not been driven by the current owner and is only being sold to free up space for his other automobiles and projects. As one of the most highly preserved, original, low-mileage and high-specification Chrysler Hemi-powered cars in existence today, this 1971 Challenger is offered at auction for the first time in its existence. Its desirability and intrinsic value are assured.