Notably, the factory dashboard, interior door panels, and quarter panels remained untouched. Due to regulations prohibiting the modification of the car’s body to accommodate larger tires, the rear quarter panels were instead flared to provide additional clearance for the tires. Finally, clips and straps were added to secure the front and rear windows.
Sheet metal was welded between the back seat area and the trunk. The battery was relocated to the trunk. A chin spoiler, crafted from aluminum, was bolted on to assist with front downforce. For the rear spoiler, a Camaro spoiler was used due to the unavailability of a Mopar spoiler in time.
Initially, only corporate race teams received funding due to company politics, but by the end of 1970, even this support ceased. Independent teams like Performance Research Racing lacking factory sponsorship, couldn’t afford an engine. Consequently, their car was sold without one.
The new proprietors procured a Keith Black engine to complete the car and prepare it for racing. Feeding through a single Holley 730 cfm carburetor, the racing engine would produce around 450 hp.
Behind the engine, an A-833 4-speed manual with NASCAR gearing replaced the 727 3 spd auto. The rear axle was a stock 8¾ with 3.55 gears.
The car resurfaced on October 3, 1971, to race at Riverside Raceway in California, once the green flag dropped, the Challenger ran 13 laps but succumbed to engine failure.
This de-stroked 340 cid engine proved to be unreliable for racing. Originally not designed for racing, the 305 cid suffered from oil starvation issues going through corners at speed.
SCCA regulations prevented the use of dry-sump lubrication, which would have been an instant fix.
Raced for the 1974 season until engine let go, plus the car was ill-handling in the turns due to the fact that it was so nose-heavy. At this point, the new owner decided to move the firewall back to distribute the weight more evenly and help run on the oval track. He started on the project, but he just did not have time. The car was covered and put in the corner.
His son, in 2005, after looking at the car for 30 years, decided to restore it as it raced in Riverside back in 1971, the last attempt by an independent team.
