Dodge’s intermediate Coronet, available in six body styles, dominated sales from 1965 to 1970, surpassing 1.1 million units and outshining its Plymouth counterpart, the Belvedere, by a significant margin.
Notably, the Coronet birthed one of Dodge’s iconic muscle cars, the Charger, in 1966, initially a high-powered fastback before evolving into a mainstream muscle car by 1968. The introduction of the Super Bee in the same year provided a more affordable alternative, sharing the Coronet’s platform.
While the Charger and Super Bee were marketed as muscle cars, the Coronet offered Chrysler’s potent big-block V8 engines and introduced the high-performance R/T package, equipping it to rival its sportier siblings.
Despite the Coronet’s popularity, the R/T version, exemplified by this 1970 model, remains rare, with only 2,615 units ordered with the R/T package, accounting for a mere 2.2% of total production.
This rarity extends to the convertible models, with only 1,220 featuring the retractable soft-top, further limited to higher trim levels. Among these, a mere 296 were equipped with the R/T package, emphasizing its exclusivity.
Powered by the 440-cubic-inch (7.2-liter) Magnum V8, coupled with a Torqueflite automatic transmission, this Coronet exemplifies Mopar craftsmanship. While its auction bid reached $70,000, it failed to sell, underscoring its status as a coveted collector’s item.