Restoring a Legendary 70 Dodge Coronet Hemi R/T Convertible: A Graveyard Carz Masterpiece

It’s widely known in the collector car world that finding a Hemi-powered vehicle, such as a 1970 dodge coronet super bee for sale or specifically a 1970 Dodge Coronet R/T convertible, signifies significant value today. However, this wasn’t always the case. By the early 1970s, many muscle cars were seen as disposable and were generally unfavored, a sentiment that extended to those equipped with a Hemi. Factors like the gas crisis and escalating insurance rates were the primary drivers behind the decline of these large-displacement, fuel-hungry machines. Consequently, numerous examples ended up in local junkyards, as their scarcity wasn’t fully appreciated by most people at the time.

Nonetheless, within the dedicated Mopar community across the country, a select few individuals recognized the inherent rarity of Hemi-powered cars early on. These enthusiasts began to acquire and restore them gradually. Some of these vehicles, including the incredibly rare 1970 Hemi Coronet R/T Hemi convertible that is now part of the esteemed Brett Torino Collection, after undergoing a meticulous restoration by the renowned crew at Graveyard Carz, stand as rolling testaments to the foresight and dedication of those early pioneers. This particular 70 dodge coronet R/T is one of just two convertibles produced in 1970 equipped with a 426 Hemi engine. One was built with a 727 Torqueflite automatic transmission, while this specific car was optioned with a highly desirable 4-speed manual transmission.

A Rare Junkyard Find

Brett’s car was originally discovered in a Canadian junkyard during the late 1970s. The individual who found it clearly possessed enough knowledge to identify the “R” in the VIN as denoting a Hemi engine, deeming it worthy of saving. Unfortunately for the rescuer, the car was already missing its original drivetrain. The 426 Hemi engine and A833 4-speed transmission were gone, along with some exterior and interior components. Despite these missing pieces, the enthusiast was undeterred and pulled the rusty Dodge from the yard, eventually undertaking a restoration to bring it back to its former glory.

A close-up view of the front bumper and grille of a restored 1970 Dodge Coronet R/T.

The First Life After the Junkyard

Restoring these classic B-Body cars today, like the 1970 dodge coronet super bee, can present challenges due to a more limited availability of reproduction parts compared to some of the more common Mopar models. However, when this car was first restored, you could still purchase New Old Stock (NOS) parts directly from dealerships, junkyards were plentiful with donor cars, and running examples could be acquired for just a few hundred dollars. In the early 1980s, this specific 1970 dodge coronet convertible for sale R/T convertible began appearing at North East Hemi Owners meets in the Tri-State area, frequently showcased at their holiday events at least twice a year. It had received what would be considered an era-appropriate 1980s-level restoration, complete with period-popular Day-Two Cragar wheels.

Entering the Brett Torino Collection & The Need for a Second Restoration

Eventually, this rare R/T convertible found its way into Brett Torino’s extensive and impressive collection of classic Detroit iron. It was still wearing the paint applied during the 1980s restoration and was beginning to show signs of wear, with a noticeable dent in the front fender being the most apparent flaw. However, the true catalyst for another, more in-depth restoration occurred when the car was started, and the Hemi engine began exhibiting internal noises accompanied by a drop in oil pressure. At this point, Brett contacted Mark Worman at Graveyard Carz, a team that had already performed restoration work on other vehicles within his collection.

The Graveyard Carz Transformation

After being transported to Mark’s shop, the Coronet remained for several years before the restoration commenced. Eventually, the team initiated the work, following their established procedure of a complete teardown to prepare the R/T for an acid bath. Given that the car initially appeared to be in very good condition and complete, the plan was to utilize as many of the existing good parts as possible during reassembly. Brett even expressed a desire to keep some components, such as the bumpers, in their unrestored state to preserve some originality. However, after the 70 dodge coronet R/T convertible returned from the acid dip, the hidden flaws beneath the surface were revealed. The most significant challenge the restoration team encountered involved the rear quarter panels. During the previous restoration after its junkyard recovery, replacement panels had been applied over portions of the original quarters and then finished with a considerable amount of body filler (Bondo). When the Graveyard Carz team reached this stage, their options were limited. At the time, no reproduction quarter panels were available, leaving them with the choice of either finding another set (a difficult task) or working with the ones that were already on the car. They chose the latter, removing the incorrectly hung panels and properly reattaching them. The car then moved to the paint booth, where it was sprayed in a custom-mixed Deep Burnt Orange Metallic, a color not widely popular, requiring a special formulation. They applied the PPG 2-stage base coat/clear coat paint system.

The Hemi engine was also sent out for a comprehensive refresh. This particular engine, which was installed during the car’s first restoration, notably lacks a serial number on the block. According to Mark Worman, it is a 426 replacement block that could be purchased over the counter from Chrysler dealerships back in 1972. The A833 4-speed transmission and Dana 60 rear axle were also given full rebuilds. While the restoration began slowly, once momentum picked up, everything came together seamlessly. For those interested in understanding the entire process in more detail and seeing this magnificent car in its fully restored state, you can watch the transformation on the MotorTrend App, specifically season 10, episode 13 of Graveyard Carz.

A detailed view of the engine bay showcasing the meticulously restored 426 Hemi engine in the 1970 Dodge Coronet R/T convertible.

Key Specifications

Here is a breakdown of the specifications for this restored 70 dodge coronet R/T Hemi convertible:

• Engine type: 1972 426 cubic-inch big block
• Bore x stroke: 4.255 (bore) x 3.750 (stroke) inches
• Block: 1972, 426 cast-iron replacement block
• Rotating assembly: Stock forged crank, stock forged connecting rods, aluminum pistons
• Cylinder heads: 1970 cast iron
• Camshaft: Stock Chrysler
• Compression: 10.25:1
• Induction: Stock Chrysler cast iron manifold, dual Carter AFB carburetors, factory Ramcharger hood
• Electronics: Stock Chrysler distributor
• Oiling system: Stock oil pan, high volume oil pump
• Exhaust: Stock cast iron exhaust manifolds, stock pipes, stock mufflers
• Cooling: Stock 26-inch radiator
• Transmission: A833 18-spline heavy duty 4-speed
• Shifter: Factory 4-speed Pistol Grip shifter
• Driveshaft: Stock Chrysler
• Rearend: Stock Dana 60 posi with 4.10:1 gears
• Front suspension: Factory original torsion bars (restored), stock shocks
• Rear suspension: Factory original leaf springs (restored), stock shocks
• Steering: Factory original power steering box (restored)
• Front brakes: Chrysler original 10.5-inch discs
• Rear brakes: Chrysler original 11-inch drums
• Sheetmetal: Original sheetmetal (excluding corrected rear quarters)
• Paint: PPG 2-stage Deep Burnt Orange Metallic
• Stripe: Reproduction from Phoenix Graphics
• Convertible top: 1970 Crush Grain reproduction
• Paint and bodywork performed by: Graveyard Carz
• Instrumentation: Original Chrysler instrumentation
• Dash: Original dash
• Steering wheel: Original steering wheel
• Upholstery: Original seats with reproduction covers, reproduction carpet
• Audio: AM 8-track radio
• Wheels: Chrysler Rallye Wheels 15 x 7 (front and rear)
• Tires: Goodyear Polyglas GT F60-15 (front and rear)

Full front view of the stunningly restored 1970 Dodge Coronet R/T Hemi convertible in Deep Burnt Orange Metallic.

Conclusion

From a rusty shell found in a Canadian junkyard, this ultra-rare 1968 dodge super charger for sale sibling, the 1970 Dodge Coronet R/T Hemi convertible, has completed an incredible journey. Thanks to the dedication of early Mopar enthusiasts and the expert craftsmanship of the Graveyard Carz team, one of only two ever built now stands as a pristine example of muscle car history. Its restoration highlights the challenges and rewards of bringing such significant vehicles back to their former glory, making it a must-see story for any classic car fan.