The Escalantes '70 Challenger R/T "EL HEMI"

[hvychev]

This is one of the coolest stories I have ever read on this website.

[XXXGoldL34M20]

what a fantastic story,nothing better to restore a car in honor of your dad.
i have been a chevelle guy all my life until i bought a 1970 challenger a few years ago,they are such a great looking car and man do they go like stink when a hemi or 440 six pack is tuned and running great!
attached is a photo of my 70' chally R/T S.E. 440 six pack 4 speed car.
all the best and i cant wait to see that hemi car finished

[el hemi]

Thanks for all your wonderful comments. I happen to be visiting Caracas this week. El Hemi spent 24 yrs in Venezuela. Earlier today I drove around the city. Talk about going down memory lane! Anyhow, I am posting more pictures to show you how the car started evolving through the years.

Picture below is the earliest recorded picture we have. This picture was taken just days after my father took delivery of the car Dec 12, 1969. I am not sure if it precedes the picture where I am sitting on top of the fender posted earlier. Notice the car does not have the rear window louvers. Taillight panel is body color (as it should be). Look at the bottom part of driver side fender...you can see dad had already put a blue Chrysler insignia decal.

This picture is circa March 1970. Just a few months after getting the car dad started making changes (very much the way many people did back then). He puts a set of rear window louvers (courtesy from a close friend that worked at Chrysler's design dept at the time). Taillight panel is now painted black (just like T/A did). Take a look at the THRUSH MUFFLER decal on the rear bumper. Yup, out with the OE resonators...in with a set of Thrush Glass Pack part#3163 (I have the original invoice form the shop he purchased mufflers from). Last...check out the back seat. Its myself and brother Gus. Looks like mom is warming up the car and dad took the picture.

Green '70 Challenger SE next to El Hemi was purchased by a fellow Venezuelan college student and car enthusiast. Car went to Venezuela. Original owner sold car in the mid seventies. Car passed through several hands. Car´s fate is unknown.

[el hemi]

Keeping up with the spirit of WINTER here a picture taken 40 winters ago in Jackson, Michigan. This is a still shot from an 8mm movie we have. In this picture you can continue to see changes Jose made to EL HEMI. Here you can see t/a style trim rings. Check out what appears to be an OLDS and a Mustang in the background.


Myself and my brother Gus 38 yrs ago (Circa 1972). I am the one wearing the Challenger t-shirt...of course.

[mockingbird812]

Wonderful photographic documentation and history of a terrific muscle car. Just priceless!

[Xplantdad]

[ QUOTE ]
Wonderful photographic documentation and history of a terrific muscle car. Just priceless!

[/ QUOTE ]

Agreed!

[MrsBillyBobcat]

[ QUOTE ]

Myself and my brother Gus 38 yrs ago (Circa 1972). I am the one wearing the Challenger t-shirt...of course.


[/ QUOTE ]

That is a CUTE pic!!!

btw...I noticed your shirt right away!

[el hemi]

Keeping pace with the changes JOSE (RIP) made to El Hemi back in the day...take a close look and see if you can spot them. First picture shows the mods. Second picture was taken when new.

1) Rat Roaster Intake 2) Spark plug wires 3) Mallory Distributor 4) Fender mounted turn signal indicators.
I am seriously thinking about putting the RR intake back on it again. Just to add to the DAY TWO look the car has now. I know this intake is not the best and has its drawbacks but I just love the looks of it. So if you see the car this driving season..take a look inside the engine bay. It may be a little different. Ohhhh I also have the Mallory distributor and coil



Compare with picture below taken when new. Take a look at the overspary on the firewall. We replicated this as close as we could during the resto.

[dreemz]

Absolutely wonderful story

[el hemi]

I am back in the US from an emergency trip to Venezuela. Will explain later.

Soon after EL HEMI was brought home a T/A hood was put on. The hood came from a friend of my dad's who worked in the design department at Chrysler back then. We didnt know the significance of the hood until car was undergoing resto.

The hood is believed to be a prototype piece. The main differences from a production hood are the raised dodge insignia seen on the front center,position of the scoop set 2" further back, there are no windshield squirters and the air vents are narrower, deeper and use a different mesh.


Juan & Gus some 40 years agooooo