When Horsepower Is All The Inspiration You Need 70 Dodge Challenger
We’ve all seen them—the black-bordered motivational posters hanging in dull offices, preaching about perseverance and positivity. "Hang in there, baby" with a kitten dangling from a branch. Cute. But let’s be real—that kind of motivation has never worked for us. What does? The kind that shakes the ground beneath your feet. The kind that snarls to life at the turn of a key, sending a deep, borderline-offensive V8 growl through the air.
And as a 543-cube Mopar monster barks awake, the hairs on the back of my neck salute. The pavement trembles. suddenly, motivation makes perfect sense.
And as a 543-cube Mopar monster barks awake, the hairs on the back of my neck salute. The pavement trembles. suddenly, motivation makes perfect sense.
THE CHALLENGER THAT CHECKED A BOX
For Richard Irwin, this ‘70 Dodge Challenger wasn’t just another car—it was another checkmark on the list of life’s hard-earned rewards. The man started with nothing and built himself a business that now fuels his passion for American muscle. While others collect watches or wine, Richard collects horsepower, and frankly, we approve of this vice 100 percent.
His mission? To own an icon from each of the Big Three—Ford, Chrysler, and Chevy—from the golden era of muscle. His ‘67 Mustang (which you might remember from our June issue) ticked the first box. But that Mopar itch needed scratching.
After scouring eBay, Richard locked onto this‘70 Challenger R/T SE out of California. It looked solid enough, so he called in Ash Waldorf from American Connection for a closer look. With the green light given, the Challenger was packed into a shipping container bound for Durban, where it sat untouched—waiting its turn—until the Mustang build was complete.
Then, the real work began.
MODERN MUSCLE, CLASSIC SHELL
The first order of business was converting it to right-hand drive, which meant fitting anRHD rack and pinion setup. Next came a Ride-tech air suspension system to dial in the stance, and a Wilwood 13-inch 6-pot braking system to rein it all in. All of this had to be fitted and checked before the serious bodywork could begin.
Once the mechanicals were in place, the car was stripped down and sent toDave at Harden Panel Beaters for a fresh coat of paint. Richard didn’t stick to factory Mopar colors—he wanted something different. He landed on aFord Focus ST pearl orange, a bold modern shade that somehow looks right at home on this vintage muscle car. Under sunlight, the slight pearl in the paintwork makes the Challenger come alive, giving it an almost iridescent glow.
This wasn’t just a simple repaint—Richard had some key modifications in mind. Inspired by Troy Trepanier’s legendary ‘70 Cuda build, he wanted the car to look sleeker and more refined. The team at Harden Panel Beaters deleted the side markers and exterior door handles, replacing them with hidden poppers for a cleaner look. The rocker panels were extended by two inches, giving the car a more aggressive stance. Both the front and rear valences were extended, and the rear edge of the trunk was raised to smooth out the profile. A flush-mounted fuel filler cap was added to keep the lines uninterrupted. The end result? A Challenger that looks factory, but somehow…better. Park it next to a stock one, and the differences are night and day.
THE HEART OF THE BEAST
The Challenger originally came with a440 Six Pack—a legend in its own right. But for Richard, "legendary" wasn’t enough. He wanted something that would make the earth move.
Out went the 440, and in its place, a 543-cubic-inch stroker kit from440 Source. The ported aluminum heads were sent to Ben at Promax, who has been named Mopar Magazine’s Engine Builder of the Year more than once. The engine was fully rebuilt at Speedway Motors, turning it into a monster that makes ridiculous power and torque.
Greg and Brad took care of the stainless brake lines and fittings, linking them up to a Hydro-Boost hydraulic braking system to ensure this heavyweight had stopping power to match its go-fast capabilities. The entire electrical system was rewired front to back by Willie from Ace Looms, while Mark from Mark1 Auto installed the727 automatic transmission with a paddle shift conversion. That last mod is a game-changer—it effectively turned this old-school Mopar into a six-speed beast.
THE AFTERMATH
With the build complete, Richard took the Challenger to Kimberley for the Street Rod Nationals, where it instantly stole the spotlight. It didn’t just turn heads—it collected trophies, proving that hard work and vision pay off in the most rewarding ways.
You’d think that after all this effort, Richard would sit back and enjoy the ride. But no—because when you’re truly passionate about performance, the job is never done. As you read this, the Challenger is back in the shop for another round of upgrades.
Because when horsepower is your motivation, there's always room for more.
For Richard Irwin, this ‘70 Dodge Challenger wasn’t just another car—it was another checkmark on the list of life’s hard-earned rewards. The man started with nothing and built himself a business that now fuels his passion for American muscle. While others collect watches or wine, Richard collects horsepower, and frankly, we approve of this vice 100 percent.
His mission? To own an icon from each of the Big Three—Ford, Chrysler, and Chevy—from the golden era of muscle. His ‘67 Mustang (which you might remember from our June issue) ticked the first box. But that Mopar itch needed scratching.
After scouring eBay, Richard locked onto this‘70 Challenger R/T SE out of California. It looked solid enough, so he called in Ash Waldorf from American Connection for a closer look. With the green light given, the Challenger was packed into a shipping container bound for Durban, where it sat untouched—waiting its turn—until the Mustang build was complete.
Then, the real work began.
MODERN MUSCLE, CLASSIC SHELL
The first order of business was converting it to right-hand drive, which meant fitting anRHD rack and pinion setup. Next came a Ride-tech air suspension system to dial in the stance, and a Wilwood 13-inch 6-pot braking system to rein it all in. All of this had to be fitted and checked before the serious bodywork could begin.
Once the mechanicals were in place, the car was stripped down and sent toDave at Harden Panel Beaters for a fresh coat of paint. Richard didn’t stick to factory Mopar colors—he wanted something different. He landed on aFord Focus ST pearl orange, a bold modern shade that somehow looks right at home on this vintage muscle car. Under sunlight, the slight pearl in the paintwork makes the Challenger come alive, giving it an almost iridescent glow.
This wasn’t just a simple repaint—Richard had some key modifications in mind. Inspired by Troy Trepanier’s legendary ‘70 Cuda build, he wanted the car to look sleeker and more refined. The team at Harden Panel Beaters deleted the side markers and exterior door handles, replacing them with hidden poppers for a cleaner look. The rocker panels were extended by two inches, giving the car a more aggressive stance. Both the front and rear valences were extended, and the rear edge of the trunk was raised to smooth out the profile. A flush-mounted fuel filler cap was added to keep the lines uninterrupted. The end result? A Challenger that looks factory, but somehow…better. Park it next to a stock one, and the differences are night and day.
THE HEART OF THE BEAST
The Challenger originally came with a440 Six Pack—a legend in its own right. But for Richard, "legendary" wasn’t enough. He wanted something that would make the earth move.
Out went the 440, and in its place, a 543-cubic-inch stroker kit from440 Source. The ported aluminum heads were sent to Ben at Promax, who has been named Mopar Magazine’s Engine Builder of the Year more than once. The engine was fully rebuilt at Speedway Motors, turning it into a monster that makes ridiculous power and torque.
Greg and Brad took care of the stainless brake lines and fittings, linking them up to a Hydro-Boost hydraulic braking system to ensure this heavyweight had stopping power to match its go-fast capabilities. The entire electrical system was rewired front to back by Willie from Ace Looms, while Mark from Mark1 Auto installed the727 automatic transmission with a paddle shift conversion. That last mod is a game-changer—it effectively turned this old-school Mopar into a six-speed beast.
THE AFTERMATH
With the build complete, Richard took the Challenger to Kimberley for the Street Rod Nationals, where it instantly stole the spotlight. It didn’t just turn heads—it collected trophies, proving that hard work and vision pay off in the most rewarding ways.
You’d think that after all this effort, Richard would sit back and enjoy the ride. But no—because when you’re truly passionate about performance, the job is never done. As you read this, the Challenger is back in the shop for another round of upgrades.
Because when horsepower is your motivation, there's always room for more.
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