I don't think I would call the new Challenger's door handles "very true to the original design". Close, but not really the same design.
I remember a number of people back in the day that ended up breaking off the outside door handle, for one reason or another.
I never had any problems, but I grew up in Sunny Southern California...My RT/SE never saw snow, and only a little rain from time too time.....mostly sun and dry conditions....