Dodge was a latecomer to the pony car sales war n 1970, but it brought pleny of style and performance to the game with the Challenger.

The Dodge Division at Chrysler had a new spokesmodel for 1970: California actress Cheryl Miller. The brand had a its first entry in the pony car category as well, and both are featured in this 1970 spot. The Dodge Challenger and corporate sibling Plymouth Barracuda shared Chrysler’s new-for-’70 E-body package, the Challenger opting for a slightly longer 110-inch wheelbase. As a variation on the mid-sized B-body platform, the E-body could comfortably accommodate big-block V8s, and the Challenger was offered with nearly every engine in the Chrysler catalog, from a 198 cubic-inch Slant 6 to the mighty 426 Street Hemi.

With Carl “Cam” Cameron’s clean yet muscular styling, arguably the best of the first-generation Detroit pony cars, the Challenger clicked all the boxes for a viable Mustang and Camaro competitor. Sales were respectable, too, at least in the first year, at more than 83,000 cars.

But in truth the pony car market was already beginning to contract, and the presence of two Chrysler entries in the category, Challenger and Barracuda, effectively split their sales in two. Volume fell dramatically after the first year, and the first-generation Challenger was discontinued in 1974. But here in the 21st century the Challenger is a hot property, with some engine and trim combinations pulling astronomical sums on the collector market. Here’s Cheryl Miller, the Dodge Material girl, with the full Challenger rundown for 1970.