Dodge’s big news for 1970 was the introduction of the new Challenger line, aimed at the Mustang and Camaro crowd in the pony car market. The 1970 Chargers were mostly left alone, except that the base Charger, Charger 500 and Charger R/T all received a heavy loop front bumper that surrounded the full-width grille with a single horizontal bar across the middle and hidden headlights. The Charger 500 lost its exposed headlights and flush-mounted rear window and the wild Daytona aero car was discontinued, though the design was generally replicated on the Plymouth Road Runner Superbird.

Base engine for the plain Charger and Charger 500 was now the 145 bhp, 225 cid slant-six or the 230 bhp, 318 cid V-8. Two 383 cid V-8s were also available, with either 290 bhp or 350 bhp. The 375 bhp 440 cid V-8 was standard in the R/T model and it was good for 0-60 mph in about seven seconds and a 13.9-second quarter-mile at 101.4 mph. The 425 bhp, 426 cid Street Hemi was even faster but the massive cost discouraged all but 112 buyers. An additional 116 customers opted for the 390 bhp 440 “six-pack” engine with three two-barrel carburetors. A 3-speed gearbox was standard.

Total Charger production for 1970 was 49,800 units, but only 300 were sold with six-cylinder engines. The base Charger came with a vinyl bench seat, but buckets were a popular option. The 500 included bucket seats and fancier trim. The R/T was equipped with the 375 bhp 440 cid engine, heavy duty suspension, sway bars, handling package, dual exhaust and a rear bumblebee stripe or side-stripe. The Special Equipment option (SE) on all models offered leather seats, deep dish hubcaps, hood-mounted turn signal lights and gratuitous wood trim effects on the interior.

Other options included air conditioning, power steering, power brakes, power front disc brakes, power seats, console, power windows, AM/FM 8-track, cruise control, rally suspension, and vinyl roof.

Dodge offered plenty of colors for the 1970 Charger, including Silver, Dark Gray, Light Blue, Bright Blue, Dark Blue, Plum Crazy, Bright Red, Light Green, Bright Green, Dark Green, Sublime, Green Go, Go Mango, Dark Burnt Orange, Beige, Panther Pink, Light Turquoise, Red, Tan, Dark Tan, Hemi Orange, White, Black, Banana Yellow Cream, Light Gold, Bahama Yellow, Orange, and Rally Green.