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The year is 1969. The muscle car wars are in full swing, and the roar of American V8s echoes across the nation's highways. Dodge, a key player in this automotive brawl, is looking for ways to distinguish its brand-new Challenger from its platform-sharing sibling, the Plymouth Barracuda. Enter the 1970 Dodge Diamante, a one-off show car that might be the most valuable Mopar ever built,
The story begins with the 1970 Challenger itself. This new offering from Dodge aimed to carve a niche in the market dominated by the iconic Chevrolet Corvette. While the Challenger shared the E-body platform with the Barracuda, it lacked the established brand recognition of its Plymouth counterpart. Dodge needed a way to turn heads and generate excitement for the their new Challenger.
Their answer came in the form of a concept car - the "Yellow Jacket." This initial iteration started its life as a unique distinction - the very first convertible Challenger and the first E-body to be graced with the legendary 426 HEMI engine. Built on the Challenger assembly line, the all-black car was then shipped to Synthetex, Inc. in Dearborn, Michigan. There, it received a suite of modifications, including a custom Targa roof with a retractable rear window, a bespoke power spoiler, side-exit exhaust, and the now-iconic Shaker hood.
Painted in a vibrant shade of Pearl Yellow, the Yellow Jacket toured the car show circuit in the latter half of 1969. While generally well-received, it didn't generate the buzz Dodge had hoped for. However, rather than relegating it to the scrap heap, Dodge saw an opportunity. You see Plans for a two-seat E-body sports car for dodge were shelved, but the concept car got itself a new lease on life.
You see The Yellow Jacket was sent back to Synthetex for a second round of modifications. This time, the Targa roof remained, but the car underwent a more radical transformation. The wheel wells were widened to accommodate a more aggressive stance, the Shaker hood was swapped for a custom design, and the front fascia received a makeover, taking inspiration from the aerodynamic designs of the Charger Daytona and Superbird. This metamorphosis was complete with a new name - Diamante, the Spanish word for "diamond."
14 окт 2024
