Written by independent automotive journalist Steve Magnante

Pure Punishment: This custom 1970 Dodge Charger (Lot #770) combines classic looks with the best in modern technology. Look for it crossing the Las Vegas auction block at No Reserve.

When the 1966 Dodge Charger made its debut, American automakers were on a fastback kick. From Ford’s sleek Mustang 2+2 to American Motors’ somewhat clunky Marlin, the attraction of a gently tapered greenhouse was as big a styling trend as hatchbacks and SUVs would be in later decades.

Joining the fray for 1966, the first Dodge Charger was essentially a hastily adapted fastback roof applied to the square lines of Dodge’s midsize Coronet hardtop. Though packed with special features like hideaway headlights, rear bucket seats, electroluminescent night-glow instrumentation and more, first-generation Charger sales never met expectations.

But when Dodge stylist Bill Brownlie and his underlings reimagined the Charger for 1968, everything clicked. Drawing inspiration from the curvaceous Coke bottle, the 1968-70 Charger was a huge sales success. Thanks in part to popular attention in movies and television (as “Bullitt” and “Dukes of Hazard” fans will attest), the second-generation Charger turned heads on the road everywhere it went.

Today, the second-generation Charger stands as the most desirable midsize Dodge of the muscle-car era. So how could one be made even more desirable? That was the goal behind “Punishment,” the sleek, mean 1970 Charger Resto-Mod featured here … and soon to find a new owner when it crosses the Barrett-Jackson auction block in Las Vegas at No Reserve.

Based on an XS29 1970 Charger R/T, Punishment is one of 9,509 built in the second-generation Charger R/T’s final year. Though initially equipped with the beefy U-code 440 Magnum, a more modern 6.1-liter gen-III HEMI took its place in efforts to take advantage of the 6.1’s electronic fuel injection and 620 horsepower, nearly 250 more than the wedge-head 440. Backing up the gen-III HEMI is a Tremec 6-speed manual transmission with double overdrive for easy highway cruising.

And while the factory R/T suspension was among the best in the industry, the front torsion bar suspension has been replaced by a transverse leaf spring and double wishbones borrowed from a C6 Corvette. It’s true! Many hours of planning and execution made the swap possible and gave the Punishment exceptional corner-carving ability. Out back, the original live axle and parallel leaf springs give way to an equally exotic layout consisting of a four-link and coilover springs. More compact than the stock design, the modernized rear suspension is well-matched to the adopted Corvette goodies up front.

Inside, occupants are forgiven for thinking they’re sitting in a 2017 Charger instead of a half-century-old classic. Hand-stitched Italian leather surfaces, carbon-fiber accents, a custom round-dial gauge cluster, and one-off door and side panels bring the people space up to modern standards. A closer look reveals more details, like flush-fit window glass with power lifts and a Vintage Air climate control system.

Making the most of the 1970-only hoop-style front bumper, the hefty chrome bumper has been rendered in carbon fiber to encircle the iconic retractable headlamp covers. Out back, the stock horizontal taillamps are replaced by the “race track-style” LED lamp system pirated from a 2010 Challenger. Lending a business like severity to the car is the tasteful use of metallic gray tones on the body and underhood areas. Reminiscent of a high-altitude spy plane or deep-sea defense submarine, the anti-hue hints at Punishment’s all-business nature.

Stopping power is assured by Wilwood six-piston calipers and 14-inch disc brake rotors all around. As good as the original R/T-spec 11-inch drum brakes were, there’s no arguing with Punishment’s modern binders and anti-bling rim choices. One area that’s been left unchanged is the Dana 60 rear axle. Without a doubt the muscle-car era’s most indestructible third member, here it reinforces the all-out vibe found in the rest of the car.

No matter where Punishment is shown, people take notice. Beyond numerous car magazine feature articles, SEMA included Punishment in its Top 15 Muscle Car accolades and it has also stunned crowds at many Goodguys show events. $380,000 was spent in creating this superb reimagining of the iconic second-generation Dodge Charger. Blending the stock lines of Brownlie’s soda bottle-inspired body shell with modern underpinnings and interior features, Punishment stands ready to cruise or show at your wishes.

For up-to-date information on this vehicle, click HERE. For a look at all the vehicles on the Las Vegas Preview Docket, click HERE.