Well, I thought I'd seen it all! This old bunny has been around awhile and I've seen a lot of crazy engine swaps, wild mods, and one-offs that would make even George Barris blush. But this one has got to be up there with the best of them. If you like the rather niche coupe utility vehicle segment - think the Chevrolet El Camino and Ford Ranchero - but were always a Dodge man then this is the car for you. The Hellcat-powered 1969 Dodge Charger "Hellcamino." Let's check out what it is and how it was done. And if you think it involved a Sawzall you're probably not far off!

Yes, It's A Dodge Charger ... Sort of

The concept started in the mind of designer Abimelec Arellano who also penned a crazy Hellcat sleigh awhile back. Arellano began with a simple question: what if Chrysler came out with a Ranchero-El Camino based vehicle of their own? And thus was birthed the "Hellcamino." Starting with the iconic 1969 Dodge Charger as a jumping off point, Abimelec Designs began work on the project.

How It Was Done

A Dodge Charger donor car was stripped down to bare metal and then built back up repairing any defects. Everything in front of the firewall was left mostly stock as was the side profile. But once Arellano got to the back end that's where the "Hellcamino" began to take shape. The roof was slashed off to accommodate the pickup bed with a sharp cutoff at the back of the cab. A supercharged 6.2 liter Hellcat engine resides under the hood with a Torqueflite 8-speed transmission. The Hellcamino is outfitted with matte-gray wheels and side exit exhaust system.

Why Or Why Not?

The end result is pretty sweet. Arellano even riffed on the Dodge Demon logo adorning it with antlers for a Christmas vibe. I think even Saint Nick would be proud to deliver his presents in this creation. And while I was never too fond of the vehicle segment, I think this would've been a worthy addition to the El Camino-Ford Ranchero universe of cars. What do you think? Buckle up.

Source: Car and Driver