BOLD RIDE
Today, the mention of 700 horsepower or the words “Dodge Challenger” bring to mind one car in particular—the infamous Dodge Challenger Hellcat. But back in 2008, netting a 700 horsepower Challenger wasn’t as easy as strolling into a Dodge dealership. You had to build one.
More interesting still, it recently came up for grabs on eBay, and is said to be owned by ex-New York Giants punter Steve Weatherford. Quite the set of weekend wheels.
Circa 2008, the 6.1-liter V8 underneath the hood of the Challenger generated 425 horsepower—a substantial offering by any measure. The turbocharged Group 5 G5/R setup allegedly adds 275 ponies to that mix, aided in part by a Vortech intercooler, new long tube headers, and custom cat-back exhaust.
H&R lowering springs, sturdier axle shafts, and grippy Nitto tires on 20-inch five-spoke wheels help the boosted Challenger stretch its legs from zero to 60 mph in a claimed 3.1 seconds. If true, that makes it quicker off the line than a Hellcat on stock rubber.
Outside, the racy Challenger features a sleek black and silver two-tone paint job, capped off with blacked-out taillights, a ducktail spoiler, plus a helping of manufacturer and aftermarket decals running the length of the side skirts.
Inside, the Dodge boasts a Katzkin leather interior, pistol grip shifter (it is an automatic, though), rear seat roll cage, as well as chassis bracing in the engine compartment and trunk.
Like most cars that stroll onto the SEMA show floor in Las Vegas, this custom-built Challenger carried a steep original price tag—claimed to be $105,000.
Then again, with no Hellcat in sight back in ‘08, perhaps that wasn’t such a crazy figure.
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