The 1973 and 1974 Dodge Challenger
Photo donated by Barry Bumgardner of Rutherfordton, North Carolina.
Because there was little difference between these two years and the 1974 model run was only a few months long (ending in March '74) I have grouped the two model years together here on the same page. Listed below are only the changes from the last years production. Please refer back to previous model years for more detail.
Body
There were a very few minor changes from the '72 model. The front bumpers had to change yet again due to new laws and were now built to take a 5 mph impact with no damage. They looked heavier and protruded farther from the car. The large rubber pads on the over riders and slots to take the bumper jack allow you to quickly tell these models from the '72 version.
Photo donated by Joe Dickman of Dallas, Texas
The Rallye model was no longer a model in its own right but just a option package for the base model.
Exterior Paint
Challenger Rallye still had the dummy air ducts on the front fenders with the strobe stripe extending along the door but the base models could now have a painted accent stripe that traced the upper contours of the body.
There was a huge range of colours available to Dodge so there may be the odd
car finished in a different colour to the ones listed below. You can see a paint
chip chart for 1973 HERE and for
1974 HERE.
1973 Exterior Paint Colours
| Paint Code | Colour Name | Chrysler No. | Ditzler No. |
| A5 | Dark Silver | AY70JA5 | 2513 |
| B1 | Light Blue | AY69HB1 | 2424 |
| B3 | Super Blue | | 2423 |
| B5 | Bright Blue | AY70GB5 | 2306 |
| E5 | Bright Red | AY69FE5 | 2136 |
| F1 | Pale Green | AY69JF1 | 2515 |
| F3 | Light Green | AY70GF3 | 2316 |
| F8 | Dark Green | AY70JF8 | 2514 |
| L4 | Parchment | AY69HL4 | 2427 |
| K6 | Autumn Bronze | AY70GK6 | 2312 |
| V2 | Hemi Orange | AY1EV2 | 2186 |
| W1 | Eggshell | AY69EW1 | 2033 |
| X9 | Black | AY69TX9 | 9300 |
| Y1 | Top Banana | AY69FY1 | 2211 |
| Y3 | Honey Gold | AY69JY3 | 2517 |
| Y6 | Golden Haze | AY70JY6 | 2509 |
| Y9 | Dark Gold | AY70Y9 | 2510 |
1974 Exterior Paint Colours
| Paint Code | Colour Name | Chrysler No. | Ditzler No. |
| B1 | Light Blue | AY69KB1 | 2626 |
| B5 | Lucerne Blue | AY70KB5 | 2627 |
| E5 | Bright Red | AY69FE5 | 2136 |
| E7 | Burnished Red | AY70GE7 | 2321 |
| G2 | Frosty Green | AY69KG2 | 2629 |
| G8 | Deep Sherwood | AY70KG8 | 2631 |
| J6 | Avocado Gold | AY70KJ6 | 2632 |
| L4 | Parchment | AY69HL4 | 2427 |
| L8 | Dark Moonstone | AY70KL8 | 2633 |
| T5 | Sienna | AY70KT5 | 2534 |
| T9 | Dark Chestnut | AY70KT9 | 2590 |
| W1 | Eggshell | AY69EW1 | 2033 |
| X9 | Black | AY69TX9 | 9300 |
| Y4 | Golden Fawn | AY69KY4 | 2635 |
| Y5 | Yellow Blaze | AY69KY5 | 2636 |
| Y6 | Golden Haze | AY70JY6 | 2509 |
| Y9 | Dark Gold | AY70Y9 | 2510 |
'73-'74 Accent Stripe Colours
| Colour | Paint No. |
| White | 2033 |
| Black | 9000 |
| Light Bright Blue | 14016 |
| Medium Gold | 23724 |
| Light Green | 44647 |
| Parchment | 23740 |
Vinyl Top
The 1971 gold colour came back for '73 and '74. The other colours remained the same.
Interior
Very little change here either. The seats were reworked for more comfort and the pedal pads were slightly different.
Interior colours were Black, White, Blue and Dark Green.
Brakes
Power front disc brakes were still optional but were now the re-designed one piece rotors. These do not fit the earlier models.
Wheels and Tyres
Only 14 inch wheels were available but could still be had in the Chrome Road or Rallye styles with a 5.5 inch width.
1973-74 Challenger Tyres
| Engine | Standard | With Disc Brakes | Optional | Recommended Brand |
| 318 | 7.35x14 | F78x14 | F78x14 F70x14* | Goodyear(F70/78),Firestone(7.35) |
| 340** | F78x14 | F78x14 | F70x14* | Goodyear |
| Rallye 340** | F70x14 | F70x14 | | Goodyear |
| 360*** | F78x14 | F78x14 | F70x14* | Goodyear |
| Rallye 360*** | F70x14 | F70x14 | | Goodyear |
* Only with heavy duty suspension.
** 1973 only.
*** 1974 only
Engines
The six cylinder 225 c.i. engine was dropped. This left the 318 as the base engine with the 340 4bbl optional in '73.
The 340 was dropped in '74 in favour of the 360 which had better low end torque.
All engines now had electronic ignition as standard as well as hardened exhaust valve seats for unleaded petrol.
1973-74 Engine Options
| Option code | Size (cu. in.) | Size (c.c.) | Type | Carb. | Net Power (B.H.P.) |
| G | 318 | 5212 | V8 | 2 bbl. | 150 |
| H* | 340 | 5573 | V8 | 4 bbl. | 240 |
| L** | 360 | 5900 | V8 | 4 bbl. | 245 |
* 1973 only ** 1974 only
Transmission and Drivetrain
A three speed manual was standard with a 4 speed or an automatic optional.
Options
Avalible options for the 1973-74 model are listed below. Please refer back to the 1970 page for a discription of each option.
Light Package ( A01)
Basic Group (A04)
Performance Axle Package (A36)
Floor Console (C16)
Rear Window Defroster (H31)
Air Con. (H51)
Body Sill Mouldings (M25)
1973 & '74 Production Figures
As there was only one model now I have not made a table of figures as in the other model years. Also the six reference books I have all disagree on the number of cars produced so take your pick.
1973 production was (pick one of these)
1974 production was (pick one of these)
- 6,063 (I am told this figure is for cars with the 360 engine)
- 11,354
- 16,437
Photo donated by Barry Bumgardner of Rutherfordton, North Carolina.