"I guarantee you one thing: when I'm gone, he'll drive it. Drive the wheels off of it! That's what it's all about," said Basil Ford as he smiled at his grandson Sawyer. Basil is the owner of this stunning 1970 Dodge Charger 500 SE, which was recently reviewed by Mike Musto as part of Hemmings' TESTED video series. In this episode, Musto takes a closer look at the details of this almost completely stock muscle car and considers how it holds up more than 50 years after it rolled off a Dodge assembly line.
1970 Charger SE - "A Coke Bottle Icon"
For those unfamiliar with Hemmings' TESTED, this series takes classic cars and reviews them much like an automotive journalist would review a new vehicle. This includes a discussion of the history, design, and trim levels, an examination of the interior and exterior features, and finally a road test. Our first exposure to the series was the episode featuring a 1969 Z/28, which you can check out here.
As a fan of the Dodge Charger and an owner of two, host Mike Musto admits he may be a little biased in his appreciation for this muscle car. But he also mentions that it's been a long time since he has driven one that's unmodified, as this car is — minus the addition of a factory-style pistol grip shifter.
Basil's Charger was purchased from a U.S. Coast Guard officer who bought it from the estate sale of the original owner, a pineapple plantation owner in Hawaii. The officer eventually got stationed in Puerto Rico and agreed to sell the car, and Basil has had it ever since.
Above: Basil and his grandson Sawyer have bonded over the car. Sawyer says he was frequently picked up from middle school in it, and it always made him feel like the coolest kid in his class.
This Charger has the luxurious SE trim package combined with the 500 package, which added high-backed leather bucket seats, an electric clock, wheel opening moldings, and special Charger 500 emblems.
During the road test, Musto remarked how the Charger's acceleration still feels relatively modern with the 383ci V8, but also notes that there's a bit of body roll and the steering feel is a little vague due to the old Saginaw power steering system. While this car wasn't designed for carving corners with extreme precision, it's truly in its element cruising smoothly on the open highway.
We couldn't be happier to see this 1970 Charger in beautiful condition and ready to be passed on to the next generation of classic car enthusiast. Check out the full video from Hemmings below:
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