1973 · Dodge · United States
1973 Dodge Challenger: the six is gone
The six was gone: every 1973 Challenger hardtop had a V8, the 318 standard and the 340 optional, with the Rallye now sold as a package.
United States · researched through 2026-09-23
This record's own dek describes 1973 as the year the six was gone: every Challenger hardtop had a V8, the 318 standard and the 340 optional, with the Rallye now sold as an optional package rather than its own model. This record's own overview states that the standard car paired the 318 V8 with a three-speed floor shift, the 340 four-barrel remained the sole optional engine, and the Rallye package added a performance hood, blacked-out grille and deck panel, fender scoops with strobe stripes, a Rallye instrument cluster, heavy-duty shocks and suspension, and F70x14 whitewalls; energy-absorbing bumper guards front and rear raised the catalog's listed length to 198.2 inches.
This record's own production section states that output rose for the year, documenting two competing totals: period and later reference tables print 32,596 cars, while a second lineage of books prints 27,930 hardtops. This record's own production notes state plainly that no Rallye package installation count or 340 installation count was found for 1973, leaving those figures as a documented gap rather than an assumption of zero.1,2
Two engines are documented, the standard 318 V8 and the optional 340 V8 with bright-tip dual exhausts, though this record carries no power or torque rating for either, a gap in this record's own engines section rather than an omission of a rating the source actually gave. This record's own key facts state that the four-speed manual with a Hurst shifter was available only with the 340, alongside the standard three-speed manual and the optional TorqueFlite automatic, offered with either a column or floor shift, documented in this record's own transmissions section.
This record's own options section documents the Rallye package in full alongside more than a dozen individually priced sales codes drawn from an estimated window-sticker table: A57 Rallye Package at $182, E55 340 V-8 Package at $181, D21 four-speed and D34 TorqueFlite each at $203, A36 Performance Axle Package at $63, H51 Airtemp air conditioning at $369, C16 console at $59, a vinyl top at $81, High Impact paint at $13, and T87 raised-white-letter tires, listed as no charge when ordered with the A57 Rallye package.3
Sixteen exterior colors are documented, with Top Banana (FY1) called out in this record's own key facts as the single extra-cost color among them. This record's own interiors section documents a single all-vinyl front bucket-seat trim offered in four colors, and its specifications section carries a 110-inch wheelbase, the 198.2-inch overall length driven by the bumper guards, an 18-gallon fuel tank, 8.6 cu ft of trunk capacity, front manual disc and rear 10x2.5-inch drum brakes, and separately stated axle ratios for the 318: 3.23:1 with the three-speed manual, 2.76:1 standard or 3.23:1 optional with TorqueFlite.
This record's own identification section documents the catalog's form number, 81-205-3050, lithographed in August 1972. Its conflicts section logs the same 32,596-versus-27,930 production dispute already summarized in the overview, with this record's own treatment presenting both lineages and noting that for 1971, 1972 and 1974 the higher lineage is described by Mueller and Glatch as including exports, a pattern the treatment says may apply to 1973 as well but states is not confirmed for this year specifically.
Fact sheet · 1973 · United States
The numbers
1973 Dodge Challenger — The six was gone: every 1973 Challenger hardtop had a V8, the 318 standard and the 340 optional, with the Rallye now sold as a package.
Coverage: Partial — researched sections are shown; missing ones are not yet sourced. Researched through 2026-09-23.
Every figure is labeled with how sure we are. Reported means a manufacturer, registry, or reference figure we cite but have not reconciled against factory records ourselves. Disputed means credible sources disagree and both are shown. Rows are separately scoped; don't add them together unless the note says they make up a total.
Key facts
- The 318 V8 was standard and the 340 V8 optional; the four-speed with Hurst shifter came only with the 340.
- Top Banana (FY1) was the one extra-cost color among 16 listed.
Production
| What was counted | Count | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| All 1973 Challengers (Standard Catalog lineage)1,4,5 Challenger incl. Rallye package · 2-door hardtop · V8 · not stated | 32,596 | built, model-year | Disputed |
| All 1973 Challengers (Sessler lineage)2,6,7 Challenger · 2-door hardtop · V8 · not stated | 27,930 | built, model-year | Disputed |
No Rallye package installation count or 340 count was found for 1973.
Prices when new
| Model | Price | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Challenger hardtop1,4 | $3,011 | factory price as reported, 1973 model year |
| Base price, Challenger hardtop with 318 V-8 (Ross window-sticker estimate)3 | $3,011 | estimated MSRP (Ross, from the Standard Catalogue), 1973 model year |
Prices are the nominal dollars of the day, not adjusted for inflation.
Engines
| Engine | Factory rating | Availability | Built |
|---|---|---|---|
| 318 V8 318 cu in · 2-barrel | standard | Not yet sourced | |
| 340 V8 with bright-tip dual exhausts 340 cu in · 4-barrel | optional | Not yet sourced |
Ratings are the manufacturer's advertised figures under the standard shown (SAE gross before 1972, SAE net after). They are not dyno results, and gross and net ratings can't be compared directly.
Transmissions
| Transmission | Availability | Built |
|---|---|---|
| 3-speed manual, floor-mounted, fully synchronized | standard | Not yet sourced |
| TorqueFlite 3-speed automatic (column or floor) | optional | Not yet sourced |
| 4-speed manual with Hurst shifter | optional, 340 only | Not yet sourced |
Options and packages
| Code | Option | Price | Installed |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Rallye Package: performance hood, black-out grille and lower deck panel, fender scoops with strobe stripes, Rallye instrument cluster, heavy-duty shocks, Rallye suspension with front sway bar, F70x14 whitewall bias-belted tires | — | Not yet sourced |
|
Performance Axle Package (340 only): Sure Grip, high-performance radiator, fan shroud, heavy-duty 3.55 axle | — | Not yet sourced |
|
Light Package | — | Not yet sourced |
A57sales code |
Rallye Package3 | $182 | Not yet sourced |
E55sales code |
340 V-8 Package3 | $181 | Not yet sourced |
D21sales code |
4-speed manual transmission3 | $203 | Not yet sourced |
D34sales code |
TorqueFlite automatic transmission3 | $203 | Not yet sourced |
A36sales code |
Performance Axle Package3 | $63 | Not yet sourced |
H51sales code |
Airtemp air conditioning3 | $369 | Not yet sourced |
C16sales code |
Console3 | $59 | Not yet sourced |
|
Vinyl top3 | $81 | Not yet sourced |
|
High Impact paint3 | $13 | Not yet sourced |
T87sales code |
F70x14 raised-white-letter tyres (no charge with A57 Rallye)3 | — | Not yet sourced |
Paint
| Code | Color | Built |
|---|---|---|
HB1 |
Light Blue | Not yet sourced |
TB3 |
Super Blue | Not yet sourced |
GB5 |
Bright Blue Metallic | Not yet sourced |
FE5 |
Bright Red | Not yet sourced |
FY1 |
Top Banana (extra cost) | Not yet sourced |
JY3 |
Light Gold | Not yet sourced |
JY6 |
Gold Metallic | Not yet sourced |
JY9 |
Dark Gold Metallic | Not yet sourced |
JF1 |
Pale Green | Not yet sourced |
GF3 |
Light Green Metallic | Not yet sourced |
JF8 |
Dark Green Metallic | Not yet sourced |
GK6 |
Bronze Metallic | Not yet sourced |
HL4 |
Parchment | Not yet sourced |
JA5 |
Dark Silver Metallic | Not yet sourced |
EW1 |
Eggshell White | Not yet sourced |
TX9 |
Black | Not yet sourced |
Color names are the factory's. We don't show color swatches, because a screen color is no guide for a restoration.
Interiors
| Code | Trim | Built |
|---|---|---|
|
All-vinyl front bucket seats with integral head restraints in Blue, Green, Black, or White | Not yet sourced |
Specifications
| Measure | Value | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Wheelbase | 110 in | 2-door hardtop |
| Overall length | 198.2 in | 2-door hardtop |
| Overall width | 76.4 in | 2-door hardtop |
| Overall height | 50.9 in | 2-door hardtop |
| Fuel tank | 18 US gal | all |
| Trunk capacity | 8.6 cu ft | all |
| Brakes | Front manual disc; rear 10 x 2.5 in drum | standard |
| Axle ratios, 318 | 3-speed manual 3.23; TorqueFlite 2.76 standard, 3.23 optional | 318 V8 |
| Tires | 7.35x14 polyester BSW (Challenger); F70x14 bias-belted WSW (Rallye) | by model |
Identification
- Catalog form number
- Form 81-205-3050, lithographed 8/72.
Where the sources disagree
Identification
Read a 1973 Dodge VIN
The VIN decoder runs in your browser and never sends the VIN anywhere. How the factory numbered this year's cars:
Same model year
Also in 1973
- AMC AMX The Javelin AMX's best year. 5,707 were built, a quarter of them with the 401, alongside the Trans Am Victory decal and the Pierre Cardin interior.
- AMC Gremlin X and Spirit AMX The V8 Gremlin X continued, with new stripes and an available Levi's denim-look interior. No production split has been found.
- AMC Javelin The SST name dropped away and new twin 'TV-screen' taillights arrived. Javelin production reached 25,195, alongside the Trans Am Victory decal package.
- Buick Riviera Stage One (260 hp net) joined a separate GS handling package; 1,234 Stage Ones and 3,933 GS cars of 34,080.
- Buick Skylark Gran Sport, GS and GSX On the new Colonnade A-body the GS became a Century Gran Sport package; 6,637 were built, 728 with the 455 Stage 1.
- Chevrolet Chevelle and Malibu SS The Colonnade Chevelle's only SS year: RPO Z15 on the Malibu coupe and, for the first and only time, the station wagon, with a 245 net hp 454 available.
- Chevrolet Chevy II and Nova Hatchback appears in the source body table; SS offered with any engine per the source. Enthusiast-compiled production: 369,509 cars; Super Sport 35,542.
- Chevrolet El Camino SS The new Colonnade El Camino could still be ordered with RPO Z15 SS equipment; no El Camino SS count was found.
- Dodge Charger The Charger's best-selling year of the original era, 119,318 cars, came as the 440 lost its Magnum name and the car moved toward personal luxury.
- Dodge Dart GTS, Swinger and Demon Renamed Dart Sport, the fastback's 340 model sold 11,315 in the 340's final year.
- Ford Maverick Grabber The 200 six became standard as the 170 was dropped; Classic Industries counts 32,350 Grabbers.
- Ford Ranchero GT The Ranchero GT continued on the 1972-76 Ranchero; 15,320 GTs were built, per reference-site counts in the Standard Catalog lineage.
- Ford Thunderbird The 429 4V was standard and the 460 4V optional in the sixth generation's best-selling year.
- Ford Torino The 1973 Torino kept the 1972 body behind a heavier bumper; the Gran Torino Sport fell to 51,853 SportsRoofs and 17,090 hardtops while the 351 Cobra Jet remained the performance engine.
- Mercury Cougar The last Cougar convertible and the last 351 Cobra Jet year, with production up to 60,629 as buyers shifted to the XR-7.
- Mercury Montego GT The Montego GT fastback's second and last year; a vehicle profile reports 4,464 built.
- Oldsmobile Cutlass, 4-4-2 and Hurst/Olds On the new Colonnade Cutlass the 4-4-2 was a W-29 appearance and handling option, and the Hurst/Olds came in white or, for the first time, black: 1,097 built.
- Plymouth Barracuda and 'Cuda V8 only: the 318 became standard on both Barracuda and 'Cuda, the 340 moved to the option list, and production rose for the only time after 1970.
- Plymouth Duster 340 and 360 The 340's last year in the Duster produced 15,731 cars with power front disc brakes now standard, and the Spacemaker Pak fold-down rear seat joined the line.
- Plymouth GTX, Belvedere and Satellite For 1973 the GTX name survived only through the Road Runner's optional 440 four-barrel, which came with TorqueFlite only; Mueller's Muscle Car Source Book counts 749 of them.
- Plymouth Road Runner A secondary count puts production back up to 19,056, the highest of the 1971-1974 Satellite-based years.
- Pontiac Firebird and Trans Am The Super Duty year: 4,802 Trans Ams, 252 of them SD-455s.
- Pontiac GTO A GTO option on the new Colonnade LeMans, with the 400 standard and a 455 optional; 4,806 built.
- Pontiac Grand Am Pontiac's Colonnade GT with an Endura nose and a 400 or 455; 43,137 built, the Grand Am's best year, with 1,058 four-speeds.
- Pontiac Grand Prix The Colonnade-body Grand Prix arrives, with the 400 standard and the 455 in the SJ.
- Pontiac Tempest and LeMans The Colonnade LeMans arrives, with GTO and GT options for the two-door models and a Super Duty 455 listed for the LeMans in Pontiac's dealer book.