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1971 Dodge Challenger Front Angle

1971 Dodge Challenger - Yella' Fever

Dana Motes Spends 17 Years To Build This High Impact Challenger To Take His Crown As The "King"
By Kevin DiOssi
Photography by Kevin DiOssi
1971 Dodge Challenger Front View
Dana didn't know the Challenger... 
   
  read full caption
1971 Dodge Challenger Front View
Dana didn't know the Challenger was High Impact Citron Yella until he pulled over to get gas and noticed that it had changed color.
Each of us had an influence that made us fans of Mopar. For 46-year-old Dana Motes, this influence dated back 36 years, to when he was 10 years old. "I was working on a Volkswagen with my father in a one car garage and he was slowly turning me into a gear head," he recalls. Thankfully, his time spent with "the People's car" didn't last long; otherwise this may be a feature in VW Muscle. Two years later, in 1974, Dana's brother, Calvin, purchased a brand new '74 Road Runner with a 400 engine backed by a Pistol Grip four-speed. After that, and with the support of his father, Dana's life would eventually be consumed by his passion to build the ultimate Challenger with his family by his side.

1971 Dodge Challenger Rear View
He became addicted to muscle cars and power after his brother's Road Runner, and several years later, he would purchase the car from his brother when he was 15 years old-before he even had a driver's license. Dana modified the Road Runner almost as soon as he got it, swapping the 400 for a 440 that was bored .030-over, and then dropped the four-speed out in favor of an automatic with a Cheetah valvebody. The power was sent to the ground with a 4,500-stall and a 5.38 rear gear. A pair of 12x32-15 slicks absorbed the punishment of the big-block and tall gear. "My dad was proud but also very worried that I would get hurt."

1971 Dodge Challenger Front Headlight Angle
Rallye wheels certainly do... 
   
  read full caption
1971 Dodge Challenger Front Headlight Angle
Rallye wheels certainly do say "muscle car." These were sourced from a donor car as well.
When the pair arrived at John's house Dana wasn't too happy. The Challenger had collected three years worth of dust, had four flat tires, some white interior pieces, and boxes of extra parts from swap meets. There was a lot of work to be done. However, just as John described, the body was in perfect shape and the price was a firm $2,700. After some internal debate, Dana finally decided to take the convertible back to Oxford, Michigan, with him.


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