'Black Ghost' 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T SE to be auctioned

A muscle car legend goes under the hammer for the first time. A 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T SE, known as the "Black Ghost," will be featured in a Mecum sale at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis from May 12-20.

The car was originally owned by Godfrey Quarles and was given to his son Gregory in 2015; it has officially been part of the National Register of Historic Vehicles since 2020. Gregory Quarles has now decided to part ways with the car.

The Challenger R/T SE is special in its own right because it is a one-off with a gatorskin-style vinyl roof, white tail stripes, and a 426 Hemi V-8 under the hood. But what makes this car stand out is its original owner.

Qualls Sr. was a Detroit police officer by day and a mysterious street drag racer by night. He would show up at Detroit landmarks like Woodward Avenue and Telegraph Road, win a street race, and then disappear for weeks or months.

Quarles, a Purple Heart Award-winning veteran, finally parked his Dodge in 1975 and kept it hidden for decades. Quarles finally introduced his son to the car and the story behind it in 2014. Quarles passed away a year later, but not before giving his son the keys and papers.

No estimated price was given, but it would not be surprising if it approached seven figures.

"When you combine a Purple Heart-awarded veteran with a unique '70 Challenger and the mythical street racing of Detroit's secret cops, muscle car, drag racing, and Mopar enthusiasts take notice," Mecum's vice president of consignment sales Frank Mecum said in a statement.

Even those who missed out on the winning bid for the original Black Ghost may be able to get their hands on a modern tribute. The modern car is one of the last-call special editions that Dodge will roll out for the 2023 model year, marking the end of the current Challenger and Charger muscle cars. A total of 300 will be built, all with the same black exterior and the same gator skin-style roof vinyl as the original.