"Last call" for modern muscle
There may not be a vehicle more emblematic of modern American muscle than the Dodge Challenger. With an impressive power-to-weight ratio, huge horsepower, and the latest safety technologies -- passionate fans enjoy the best of all worlds in the iconic brand’s most recent iteration.
While production of the Challenger has come to its conclusion, the opportunity to purchase a new one still exists. For now. With six special editions, a whole bunch of unique options and a nostalgic aluminum nameplate signifying “Last Call,” the HendrickCars.com blog wanted to highlight the end of a legendary era and remind enthusiasts there is still time to grab your piece of history.
A Cultural Icon
The Challenger was introduced in 1970. It came in two models, highlighted by the R/T, with a Special Edition standout that boasted a 425-horsepower HEMI V8, pistol grip shifter, and four-speed manual gearbox. From a vehicle standpoint, it was an instantly desirable right off the assembly line.
The car is very popular with collectors today with its relatively smaller production run of 20,000, along with a featured placement in the cult classic, Vanishing Point; an Alpine White Challenger that quickly became a silver screen icon.
One of the most endearing parts of that car was how little the production company had to modified the vehicles. With a 440 cubic inch V8 and four-speed manual transmission, the factory Challengers reported to have “too much power for the body,” further bolstering its muscle car status among aficionados. Motorius.com did note a fifth car was needed, one that had an automatic transmission and 383 cubic inch V8, to perform the more involved stunts seen throughout the movie.
Recently, another famous Challenger also made headlines as the rare “Black Ghost” HEMI Challenger R/T sold for $1,072,500 (including auction fees). According to CarScoops.com, original owner Godfrey Qualls, a decorated Army vet and former Detroit police officer, built the car to use in street racing events around the Motor City. Legend has it that Qualls would periodically show up, race to win, and disappear into the night for an ‘indefinite period of time.’
The car was as special as it was mysterious. Listed as a Special R/T Edition that included a 426 HEMI, Hurst pistol grip shifter, a four-speed manual transmission and 4.10 ratio gears, the “Black Ghost” and its modest exterior were not revealed during its ‘heyday.’ With only 23 HEMI four-speed built that year, it was a unicorn in many respects.
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Marrying Nostalgia with Modern Day Technology
Fast forward to today. The modern Challenger, which first received life in 2008, is still very desirable and now comes in nine different models and almost endless amounts of personality. Starting with the 303-horsepower SXT and SXT AWD, all the way up to the 807-horsepower SRT Hellcat Redeye and the wide-body SRT Super Stock version, the 2013 Challenger lives up to its legendary bonafide.
Challenger fun starts with the SXT, GT, and their all-wheel-drive stablemates, each powered by the brand’s 3.6-liter Pentastar V6, one of Ward’s Autos ’10 Best’ engines in 2019. The new R/T is a powerful performer highlighted by a Scat Back edition, which offers a ‘best-in-class’ 485 horsepower 392 HEMI V8 -- what the manufacturer calls as best value for money in its category.
The power then gets crazy. The now legendary SRT Hellcat boasts 717 horsepower in its supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI engine. Need more? The Hellcat Redline thunders to 797 overall horsepower, heady stuff for the high-horsepower crowd and those who enjoy tackling a dragstrip or two over the weekend.
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Personal Appeal
Horsepower matched with appeal, Dodge listened to enthusiasts and added a variety of performance and appearance packages for 2023. The new “Jailbreak” models were introduced to provide customers access to Dodge’s entire lineup of personalized options – including popular wide body designs and 1320, T/A, Shaker, featuring a variety of striped, graphics and nostalgic packages.
Along with the Jailbreak packages, first introduced in 2022, many of the brand’s heritage colors also return, highlighted by Plum Crazy and B5 Blue, two of the 14 exterior colors offered for 2023. Other offerings include HEMI Orange and SRT “Black packages,” that includes Midnight Grey Metallic badging.
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Drag Racing Still a Part of the Challenger DNA
The SRT Super Stock is the flagship version of the Challenger lineup. Based on the limited-production 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon, this powerful mount is inspired by equipment such as the standard Torque Flight 8HP90 eight-speed automatic transmission and Bilstein’s adaptive dampening suspension, both tuned specifically for drag racing. The suspension allows weight to shift as much as possible to the rear for maximum traction at launch. You can also tune the shocks with five different race settings.
Lightweight, all-aluminum Brembo four-piston brake calipers, 14.2-inch vented rotors and a performance-tuned asymmetrical limited-slip differential both bolster the vehicle’s factory inspired drag racing credentials.
Speaking of competition, the Challenger R/T Scat Back 1320, named for the distance of a quarter-mile dragstrip, features a 485-horsepower 392 HEMI V8 and a starter kit for the grassroots drag racer. At 475-foot pounds of torque, this modern muscle car hits the quarter mile at 11.70 seconds at 115 mph straight from the factory. It is considered the fastest naturally aspirated, street-legal vehicle currently available.
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Then There’s This…
The Demon 170. History’s first-ever eight-second factory muscle car, traveling the quarter mile in 8.91 seconds at 151.17 mph, which is significantly quicker than race-exclusive NHRA Pro Stock cars back in the day.
Wut?
With an astonishing 1,025 horsepower from the factory, the Demon 170 is a race car from front to tow and is considered “The World’s Quickest 0-60 Production Vehicle.” With the most G-Force acceleration ever in a production-based vehicle at 2.005 Gs of acceleration force.
Other “go-fast” parts on the Demon 170 include an updated supercharger, high ethanol fuel-blending, reinforced driveline and massive, Mickey Thompson ET Street R drag radials. The Demon 170 is also the first factory car built with staggered wheels.
Safety Features Abound
Safety features are also a big part of the modern day muscle car. Rear-back up camera, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, forward-collision detection and strengthened space frame give customers a sense of comfort behind the wheel. Additional features include hill-start assist, all-speed traction control and electronic stability control to build additional confidence during any driving condition.
In the interior, active front head restraints reduce the chance of driver and passenger injury, while a system to dry the brakes help create consistency and rain-sensing wipers that detect moisture on your windshield automatically.
No matter what flavor you choose, there’s a bit of American muscle car history awaiting its place in your garage. Visit a HendrickCars.com Dodge dealership today to secure yours – before the opportunity vanishes.
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