As the weeks until SEMA tick by, so do the announcements of just a fraction of the super cool cars we can expect to see at this year’s SEMA show in Las Vegas, Nevada. Of the many restorations, customs and one-offs, we’re particularly excited about a special ’70 Dodge Charger R/T that is getting what we like to call a “street touring” refresh. By “street touring,” we mean a build that might not be as over-the-top race car for the street as you might find with other pro touring builds, but a usable, functional classic muscle car that can stop, turn and handle as smoothly and predictably as any new sports car that you can find in a dealership today.

That’s exactly why Greg and Valerie Monette took their original ’70 440-powered, 4-speed R/T to Jason Bair of Bair Customs. Externally, the Charger is getting a near-perfect OE restoration. It’s a point of pride for Bair, who strives to keep the originality of the classic Mopars he builds. Rather, all of the modernization happens just below the skin, as this Charger is getting an all-new suspension RMS in the form of their Tubular K-member Coil Overs Street Lynx rear suspension. Modern 14-inch Wilwood 6-Piston calipers clamp down on drilled and slotted discs that spin Boze wheels wrapped in huge Mickey Thompson rubber (20″x10″ rears, 20″x8″ fronts).

Beneath the hood, the big B-Body is getting an 572 Aluminum Hemi from Muscle Motors producing over 700HP fed by a F.A.S.T. 2.0 EFI system with Aeromotive plumbing. A full MSD ignition sparks the elephant. Other goodies include a March Performance Serpentine System and a huge Mark 7 Radiator. The factory 4-speed has been exchanged for a Silver Sport Transmission Tremec 5-speed with a stout Scott’s Driveline Dana 60 with street-friendly 3.55 gears. A polished TTI complete exhaust system finishes the powertrain.

While Bair finalizes the changes, Grabill Automotive is finishing the body and paint, which is a proprietary Sherwin Williams mix from its Rod & Restoration line, PCCL12 “Sublime”. Inside, the cabin is being furnished by Interiors by Thomas/Big Hemi with Instrument Specialties/Big Hemi gauges, Classic Auto Air, sounds from Vintage Radio and full polishing by Lee Scott.

Bair notes some extras including custom billet Hemi valve covers, air cleaner and aluminum block From HP Performance, custom painted tail stripe and hood black outs, LED taillights, H4 conversion headlights, custom upholstered trunk, painless Wiring, and Hushmat soundproofing. We’re very excited to see this build in its completion and have already scheduled to have a full blown feature on this mean machine once SEMA closes up.

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