The Diamante, the most valuable Hemi muscle car

ONE-OFF Just as the sparkle of a diamond is always able to attract the interest of its enthusiasts, it is also known among automotive lovers that there is the car models that deserves to be likened such it. Well, of the many beautiful and unique cars were present in the automotive world today, maybe not many shine like diamonds.

1970 Dodge Diamante Concept named as the "Most Valuable Mopar on the Planet" ever by Mopar Magazine in the 2012. (Picture from: JustACarGuy)

And one of the classic cars considered to have diamond-like appeal is an elegant, classic 1970 Dodge concept car that is so pretty, makes it look worthy of its name as the Dodge Diamante Concept, which 'diamante' is a Spanish word for "diamond".

1970 Dodge Diamante Concept built based on the Dodge Challenger convertible with the highest choice ever made as the triple black model with the first Hemi E-Body frame ever built. (Picture from: JustACarGuy)

As quoted from Moparwiki, even in 2012 this four-wheeled diamond, which was named by Mopar Magazine as the "Most Valuable Mopar on the Planet" ever. Born to greatness, this model started out as the Dodge Challenger convertible with the highest choice ever made as the triple black model with the first Hemi E-Body frame ever built.

1970 Dodge Diamante Concept was first appearance as the Yellow Jacket, intended to test the possibility of producing a car to compete with the Chevrolet Corvette and debuted at the 1970 Detroit Auto Show. (Picture from: AutoInfluence)

The donor car was sent to Syntex, Inc. in Dearborn where it was made into a mildly customized 2-seater and painted orange. Then, it was given the name of Yellow Jacket and intended to test the possibility of producing a car to compete with the Chevrolet Corvette.

1970 Dodge Diamante Concept was first appearance as the Yellow Jacket and seen that the shape borrowed heavily from the previous concept car Duster1, which was a Targa style 2-seater built on a 383 Plymouth Road Runner. (Picture from: MoparWIKI)

It clearly seen that the shape borrowed heavily from the previous concept car Duster1, which was a Targa style 2-seater built on a 383 Plymouth Road Runner. Besides appearing in orange, the Dodge-owned show car model was fitted with a unique shaker hood and made its debut at the 1970 Detroit Auto Show.

1970 Dodge Diamante Concept's new appearance updated with a longer nose and scooped hood and re-debuted at the 1971 Detroit Auto Show under a new heavy pearl white. (Picture from: MoparWIKI)

This made a small splash for the accessories, but after months of touring the orange paint started showing it's defects, the silver basecoat was showing through in many areas. Since the car was look so similar to the 1970s Challenger now in showrooms and on the streets all over the US, and it being less than overwhelming on the show circuit.

1970 Dodge Diamante Concept uses an 'elephant' 426 Hemi engine which can be spewed the power of 1,000 horsepower, along with 950 lb-ft of torque. (Picture from: MoparWIKI)

Then the car repainted to a heavy pearl white, and updated the car's shape with wider front fenders, a sloping hood replacing the shaker, and a pointed nose that was similar look to the 1969 Dodge Daytona and 1970 Plymouth Superbird. So, the low hood and pointed nose required shortening the radiator; and the wider fenders required converting the power brakes to manual. Then the car was shown back at the 1971 Detroit Auto Show under a new name as the Diamante.

The Diamante continued to tour the show car circuit through out the 1970 and 1971 before it was retired. Chrysler placed the car into storage for several years before it was finally auctioned off in 1978. The car eventually found its way into the hands of noted Mopar restoration specialist and collector Steve Juliano. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | MUSCLECARANDCORVETTENATIONALS | MOPARWIKI | BANGSHIFT | JUSTACARGUY | AUTOINFLUENCE | HOTROD ]

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