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Wikipedia: Dodge Challenger
Subtopics 1st Generation - 3rd Generation Page Sections History 1978 Specifications 1982 Specifications Photographs |
History
The following section is an excerpt from Wikipedia's Dodge Challenger page on 14 June 2016, text available via the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
The Dodge Challenger is the name of three different generations of American automobiles produced by Dodge. The Dodge Silver Challenger was produced from 1958 to 1959. From 1969 to 1974, the first generation Dodge Challenger pony car was built using the Chrysler E platform, sharing major components with the Plymouth Barracuda. The second generation, from 1978 to 1983, was a badge engineered Mitsubishi Galant Lambda. The third, and current generation, was introduced in early 2008 as a rival to the evolved fifth generation Ford Mustang and the fifth generation Chevrolet Camaro.
Dodge Silver Challenger (1958–1959)
The first car that carried the Challenger name was the introduction of a limited edition Dodge Silver Challenger Club Sedan to the 1959 full-sized Dodge Coronet (fourth generation) model line.[1]
The Silver Challenger came only in silver paint and exclusively on Chrysler's 217.4 in (5,520 mm) long two-door body style riding on a 122.0 in (3,100 mm) wheelbase. It was available with either the 230 cu in (3.8 L) "Getaway" L-head straight-six engine for $2,297, or powered by the 325 cu in (5.3 L) "Red Ram" V8 for $2,408.[1] This car was marketed for the spring selling season to the "new-car buyers who've been waiting to get the most for the least."[2] A column-shifted three-speed manual transmission was standard and an automatic was optional.
The 1959 Silver Challenger was marketed with extra features at no extra cost. These included premium white wall tires, full wheel covers, electric windshield wipers, as well as an upgraded interior with silver metallic vinyl and black "Manchu" fabric upholstery, dual arm rests and sun visors, as well as deep pile wall-to-wall carpeting.[2][3]
When the name lapsed Studebaker introduced its own Challenger model in 1964 which was an entry level version of the Studebaker Lark series.
Second generation (1978–1983)
The Challenger name was revived in 1978 for a version of the early Mitsubishi Galant Lambda coupe. It was known overseas as the Mitsubishi Sapporo/Scorpion and sold through Dodge dealers as a captive import. It was identical except in color and minor trim to the Plymouth Sapporo with the Dodge version emphasizing sportiness, with bright colors and tape stripes, while the Plymouth emphasized luxury, with more subdued trim. The cars were slightly restyled in 1981 with revised headlights and other minor cosmetic changes. Both cars were sold until 1983, until being replaced by the Conquest and Daytona.
The car retained the frameless hardtop styling of the old Challenger, but had smaller engines (inline-fours instead of the six and eight-cylinder engines of the old Challenger) and was a long way off in performance from its namesake. Nevertheless, it acquired a reputation as a reasonably brisk performer in its class, not least because of its available 2.6 L "Hemi" engine. Four-cylinder engines of this size had not usually been built due to inherent vibration, but Mitsubishi pioneered the use of balance shafts to help dampen this effect, and the Challenger was one of the first vehicles to bring this technology to the American market; it has since been licensed to many other manufacturers.
| Chassis | |
|---|---|
| Body Style | 5-passenger Coupe |
| Drivetrain | |
| Layout | Front engine, rear drive |
| Exterior Dimensions | |
| Length | 153.3" |
| Width | 66.0" |
| Height | 51.7" |
| Wheelbase | 99" |
| Ground Clearance | 5.7" |
| Track (F/R) | 54.0"/54.0" |
| Engine | |
| Type | Inline 4-cylinder |
| Displacement | 156 cu. in./2555cc/2.6L |
| Bore & Stroke | 3.59" x 3.86" 91.4mm x 98.0mm |
| Compression Ratio | 8.2:1 |
| Valvetrain | Overhead Camshaft (OHC) |
| Materials | Cast iron block, aluminum head |
| Construction | 5 main bearings |
| Fuel System | 2-barrel carburetor |
| Horsepower | 105hp @ 5000rpm |
| Torque | 139 lb.-ft. @ 2500 rpm |
| Oil Capacity | 4.8 quarts |
| Cooling System Capacity | 9.5 quarts |
| Transmission & Final Drive | |
| Transmission | 5-speed manual |
| Final Drive Ratio | 3.3:1 |
| Suspension & Steering | |
| Front | Indepedent struts w/coil springs & stabilizer link |
| Rear | Live axle, coil spring, tube shocks, upper and lower control arms |
| Steering | Recirculating ball w/power assist |
| Turns, Lock-to-Lock | 3.5 |
| Turning Circle, Curb-to-Curb | 16.7' |
| Brakes, Wheels & Tires | |
| Front Brakes | 9.9" disc |
| Rear Brakes | 9.6" disc |
| Wheels | 14x5.5" aluminum alloy |
| Tires | 195/70 HR14 rayon/polyester tubeless radial |
| Tire Pressure (F/R) | 28 psi/28 psi |
| Weights & Capacities | |
| Curb Weight | 2698 lbs. |
| Weight Distribution (F/R) | 1470 lbs./1228 lbs. |
| Fuel Capacity | 15.7 gallons |
| Trunk Capacity | 7.8 cu. ft. |
| Performance | |
| 0-30 mph | 4.6 seconds* |
| 0-40 mph | 7.8 seconds* |
| 0-50 mph | 10.1 seconds* |
| 0-60 mph | 14.7 seconds* |
| 0-70 mph | 20.2 seconds* |
| 0-80 mph | 28.2 seconds* |
| Quarter Mile | 19.4 second @ 69.5 mph |
| 30-0 mph | 37.3'* |
| 60-0 mph | 186.0'* |
| Power to Weight Ratio | 25.6 lbs./horsepower |
| Economy | |
| EPA Estimate | 24 mpg city/35 mpg highway |
| EPA Weighted Average | 28 mpg |
| Motor Trend 73-mile Test Loop | 29.2 mpg* |
| Price | |
| Base Price | $5,761 |
| 0-60 mph* | 12.1 seconds |
| 80-0 mph* | 286 feet |
| Cornering Capability* | 0.730g |
| Interior Noise @ 70mph* | 73 dBA |
| Fuel Economy* | 21.5 mpg |
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1971/2008 Indianapolis 500 Pace Car Built by Bob Deneen Photo ©2011 Bill Crittenden C.A.R.S. in Miniature February 2011 Meeting February 12, 2011 View photo of 1971 & 2008 Dodge Challenger Indianapolis 500 Pace Car - 2,227KB |
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1971/2008 Indianapolis 500 Pace Car Built by Bob Deneen Photo ©2011 Bill Crittenden C.A.R.S. in Miniature February 2011 Meeting February 12, 2011 View photo of 1971 & 2008 Dodge Challenger Indianapolis 500 Pace Car - 3,097KB |
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Second Generation Challenger by Mitsubishi
View Second Generation Dodge Challenger by Mitsubishi Advertisement - 18.6MB |
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Featured Vehicle Image Mid-2011 to January 2012 Photo ©2008 Bill Crittenden 28KB |
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Featured Vehicle Image January 2012 to Current Photo ©2006 Bill Crittenden 15KB |
