Vanishing Point Car: Kowalskis’ 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T

This is the ultimate resource on the legendary Vanishing Point car.

In this comprehensive article, I’ll uncover all the facts, figures, and details for both the 1971 motion picture release and the 1997 made-for-television release, including:

• The year, make, model, engine, and transmission
• How many vehicles were used during production
• How many vehicles survived each film
• And more!

Let’s look closely at the Vanishing Point car, shall we?

The Vanishing Point Car

Before diving into the details of Kowalski’s famous Dodge Muscle car from the 1971 movie and 1997 television show, let’s do a quick recap of the movie muscle car for those who haven’t yet seen the film.

Vanishing Point Summary (1971 Movie)

Vanishing Point (1971) is an action film directed by Richard Sarafian and starring Barry Newman, Cleavon Little, and Dean Jagger. It was originally released in the United States on March 13, 1971.

This cult classic is the story of a man named Kowalski who makes a bet with his drug dealer that he can deliver a 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T from Denver, Colorado to San Francisco, CA in 15 hours.

During the span of this 1,200-mile road trip, Kowalski uses an amphetamine to stay awake, and through a series of flashbacks, we learn that he is a Vietnam veteran, former race car driver, and former police officer.

When two motorcycle police officers try and pull him over for speeding, he manages to force one off the road and elude the second officer by jumping over “no-name creek” causing a 1,034-mile manhunt by the authorities.

A blind disc jockey named “Super Soul” listens to police scanners and encourages Kowalski on his radio program to evade police. This piques the interest of the news media and listeners who gather to show their support.

Kowalski suspects that the police are controlling Super Soul to aid his capture. Indeed, he was being led into a trap.

However, he was able to spring the trap at the California border with the help of a biker named Angel, who created a diversion using a siren, a small motorbike, and a red headlight strapped to the roof that allows Kowalski to slip through.

Kowalski arrives 166 miles outside of San Francisco, CA, in a town called Cisco, CA, where California police have finally caught up to him and set up a roadblock.

As he drives full speed towards the barricade, Kowalkski smiles, then rams into the bulldozer blades at high speed, where the Vanishing Point car explodes in a fiery blaze.

Both the movie and television show were similar, with only a few key differences.

What car was used in Vanishing Point?

The muscle car used in the 1971 and 1997 remakes of the Vanishing Point was a 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T hardtop in Alpine White with a black vinyl interior.

Vanishing Point Car Specs (1971 Movie)

• 1970 Dodge Charger R/T
• 440 CID V8 “U” code
• 375HP
• 480 ft-lbs of torque
• 4bbl carburetor
• 4-Speed manual transmission “A-833”
• 4.10:1 Sure-Grip differential
• Pistol grip shifter
• Alpine white
• Black vinyl interior
• Bucket seats
• Heavy-duty shocks
• Rallye wheels

Vanishing Point Challenger Specs (1997 TV Show)

• 1970 Dodge Charger R/T
• 426 CID V8 “R” code
• 425HP
• 490 ft-lbs of torque
• Dual 4bbl carburetors
• 4-Speed manual transmission “A-833”
• Pistol grip shifter
• Alpine white
• Black bucket interior
• Rallye wheels

What engine did the Vanishing Point car have?

The Vanishing Point Challenger (1971) had a 440 CID V8 with a 4-speed manual transmission. In the 1997 television movie, the ’70 Challenger R/T was powered by a 426 Hemi V8 with a 4-speed manual transmission.

How many cars were used in Vanishing Point?

The number of 1970 Challenger R/Ts used during the 1971 production is controversial. Some claim four, some claim five, while others claim as many as eight.

According to the film’s director, Richard Sarafian states, on the 2005 DVD release, eight ’70 Dodge Challenger R/Ts were used during filming.

However, in the March 1986 issue of Musclecar Review, the film’s star (Barry Newman) and stunt driver (Carey Loftin) agreed that only five Challenger R/Ts were used during filming.

All five were loaned to Cupid Productions by Chrysler for promotional consideration. Four were equipped with a 440 CID V8 and a 4-speed manual transmission, while the fifth was a 383 CID V8 with an automatic transmission.

During the television remake of Vanishing Point (1997), a total of five 1970 Dodge Challenger R/Ts were used during production.

How many Vanishing Point cars survived?

The number of Vanishing Point vehicles that survived the 1971 production is also controversial. Some sources state that the cars were all scraped, while rumors of one actually surviving still abound.

According to Loftin, all five were returned to Chrysler after filming had ended. What Chrysler did with them is up for debate.

They are all believed to be scrapped. Had any survived, it would be extremely difficult—if not impossible—to verify without proper documentation from either Chrysler or Cupid Productions.

Contrast that with the 1997 television remake, where all five of the 1970 Dodge Challenger R/Ts used during production survived. In fact, all five were acquired from the production company by a single buyer.

One was completely restored, while the remaining four were left as is to preserve their iconic history.

Vanishing Point Challenger Trivia (1971)

• While it was rumored that the 1970 Challenger R/T was powered by a 426 Hemi or a Six-Pack 440, it had a 440 CID V8 with a single four-barrel under the hood.
• All five ’70 Dodge Challengers were loaned to Cupid Productions from Chrysler.
• The color of the Vanishing Point Challenger was Apline white for no other reason than so the car would stand out against the landscape during filming.
• In one shot, the film shows the ’70 Challenger R/T as a righthand drive vehicle.
• The only special modification to the Vanishing Point vehicle was heavy-duty shocks on the car used for jumps.
• Kowalski’s Vanishing Point Challenger had a Colorado license plate “OA-5599.”
• An engineless and derelict 1967 Chevrolet Camaro was loaded up with explosives and used to smash into the bulldozer at the end of the film.
• The 1967 Camaro was pulled into the blades of the bulldozer by the 383 CID V8-equipped ’70 Challenger R/T in the original film.
• The “number five car” with the 383/automatic was used as the camera car on straight runs.
• Max Balchowsky was the lead mechanic on the Challengers and help keep them operating when damaged during filming. Balchowsky was the same mechanic used in the Bullit movie starring Steve McQueen.
• While the Vanishing Point car is identified as a supercharged vehicle in the film, it was not.

Vanishing Point Trailer (1971 Movie)

Vanishing Point Trailer (1997 TV Show)

Well, there are some of the most interesting facts on the 1970 Vanishing Point Challenger we could find. Be sure to subscribe to see more content like this!

Ryan

Ryan has owned muscle cars since 1986 and currently owns a 1972 Dodge Charger Rallye. He combines passion and experience to create engaging content for fellow muscle car enthusiasts. In 2018, he founded Muscle Cars Illustrated, authoring hundreds of articles on tips, history, and trends in the muscle car industry. He attends national car shows, auctions, and museums to stay current with the latest developments in the muscle car industry.

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