In only its second year of production, the Dodge Challenger R/T would be available with every performance
engine that Chrysler put on the table. Standard was the 383 Magnum rated at 300 horsepower which was down from the previous
year's 335 due to a drop in compression ratio to 8.5:1.(down from 9.5:1 for unleaded gas) The smaller 340 was used as the
first option and it's horsepower was still rated at 275 @ 5000 with 340 ft/lbs. of torque at 3200. The 440 Six Pack was
next with 385 horsepower but the single four barrel 440 Magnum wasn't offered for '71. The top of the line powerplant was,
of course, the king of all Chrysler V-8's the 426 Hemi. With 425 horsepower @ 5000 RPM and 490 ft/lbs.@ 4000 of torque,
the Hemi would kick holes in the ground for one last year.
The '71 Challenger R/T was not really noted for doing anything first but rather for doing things last. It was
the last year for the 383 cubic inch engine which was discontinued and replaced with the 400 for 1972, the 426 Hemi was
also having it's last dance and would be gone forever after the '71 model year, (at least for the 20th century) the 440
Six Pack would be gone from the Chrysler line and the 440 in any form would be gone from the Challenger. Lastly, 1971
would be the last year for the R/T. In 1972 the performance version would be known as Rallye and the 240 horsepower 340
would be the top engine.
Sales for the Challenger R/T took a drastic drop in the '71 model year with just over 4600 cars sold and only
71 with the 426 Hemi. Rising insurance rates and the new Camaros and Firebirds taking a huge share of the pony car market
left the Mopar pony cars out in cold and the Challenger R/T went out with more of a pop than a bang but it was a great car.
It just happened to come along at a not so great time. . - Dan Davis. |
