Some automotive facts are just so outrageous. Have you ever heard of a car manufacturer that started with making stoves? Hold on; they did not start there. The Dodge brothers were making bicycles in the beginning. They did not move from there to cars or motorcycles, oh no, they started making stoves before getting into car part manufacturing in 1910. And those are the builders of one of the best muscle cars in history, the legendary Dodge challenger.
When we talk about muscle cars, there is almost no viable challenge to what the Challenger can do, both on the road and track. Over the years, the Challenger has grown to be a legend. Here are ten little known facts about the muscle car.
10 The Challenger Is A Movie Star
When it comes to vehicle movie stars, the Dodge Challenger is one of the coolest cars we've ever seen in movies.
The Challenger is loved by many movie stars and TV show producers due to its unrivaled power and performance. Most famously, the Challenger was driven by Kowalski in Vanishing Point, which also led to it being featured in Tarantino's Death Proof. The car has also been featured in movies such as The Last Dragon in 1985 and The Good Guys in 2010.
9 The Second-Generation Challenger Was Badge-Engineered
Surprisingly, the second-generation of the Challenger was not produced by Dodge; it was a rebadged Mitsubishi Galant Lambda – a two-door coupe dubbed the Colt Challenger.
The 'Colt Challenger' was powered by a 1.6-liter, inline-four engine that produced 77 horsepower. The engine could be upgraded to produce 105 horsepower. The rebadged Challenger brought the legend down from 80,000 sales a year to roughly 12,000. The car struggled for another six before Dodge scrapped it off the market entirely in 1984.
8 The Challenger Returned in 2006 After A 20+ Years Hiatus
After 20 plus years off the market, the Challenger returned with a bang in 2006. Chrysler advertised the all-new Challenger in almost all major auto shows in the world. Thanks to the former glory, the car received instant love and became insanely popular. The body looked similar to the 1970s models, but inside was a whole new machine.
Based on the rear-wheel LX platform, the Challenger had a long hood and flawless styling. Under the hood was a 6.1-liter Hemi that, together with the exciting design cues, made the Challenger an instant threat to all other performance cars.
7 The SRT Lineup Brought The Challenger's Glory Back – 2008
The 2006 return did not really place the Challenger where it belongs – at the top. However, two years after the return, Dodge released another beast, the Challenger SRT8. This was a true threat, and it helped the Challenger take over the streets as the best muscle car.
The SRT8 featured insane performance and a fantastic design. Apart from the outward appearance and powerful engine, the car also had the latest technology the automotive industry had to offer. The seven different color trims to choose from just made the Challenger a beauty to behold.
6 The SRT Hellcat Replaced SRT8 As The Best Muscle Car Ever in 2015
In 2015, Dodge removed the SRT8 from the market. And just when the market was about to complain, the company sent in one bigger and madder version of the Challenger, the SRT Hellcat. The Hellcat came with an 8-speed ZF 8HP automatic transmission mated to a 6.4-liter Apache V8 engine with 485 horsepower and 475 ft-lb torque.
The new Hemi Challengers featured a functional hood scoop instead of just a design. The exteriors were given a noticeable facelift – which contributed to the unrivaled beauty of this muscle car. The SRT Hellcat was insanely fast, accelerating from 0 – 60 mph in 3.6 seconds, with a top speed of 199 mph.
5 Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye is The Quickest Muscle Car
In 2019, Dodge launched the most powerful Challenger ever, the SRT Hellcat Redeye – it was possessed by a demon. The car featured a mighty supercharged, high-output Hemi, with 797 horsepower. The quickest, most powerful, and fastest muscle car ever.
The car weighed 4,514 lbs., which, equipped with the mightiest engine, made the Redeye a real demon on the road and track. The SRT Hellcat Redeye can run a quarter-mile in 10.8 seconds, and in 81 miles, the Hellcat Redeye can burn up to 16.7 gallons of gas.
4 There's A Challenger For Every Wallet Size
From the restored models of the 1960s to the modern Challengers, this car remains a gem – not everyone can afford it. Restored first editions of this car can fetch up to six figures in price. Unsurprisingly, people will still pay to own such a rare piece of the automobile history.
The modern Challenger can be found much cheaper. The 2021 Dodge Challenger base model starts at $28,295, and the price goes up with the trim levels. The Challenger, from the classic ones to the new models, offers something for every wallet.
3 The Hellcat Engine Almost Didn't Get Made
The Dodge Challenger Hellcat is equipped with the most powerful engine the company has ever made. It is the first supercharged HEMI that Chrysler has ever produced. It is also the highest output engine the company has ever made. It was an expensive venture that almost never came to be. Chrysler put the idea on hold in an attempt to conserve funds.
After several months of persistent pushing by the SRT team, the project was finally approved, and the mighty supercharged HEMI came to life.
2 The First Hellcat Went To Charity
All the efforts, time, and money that the SRT team put in place to build the Hellcat were all worth it. The Hellcat's first production model fetched a staggering 1.65 million dollars; it all went to charity. At Barrett-Jackson's Las Vegas auction, the car was bought by Rick Hendrick for $825,000. Engelstad Family Foundation matched the amount, and 1.65 million dollars was donated to Opportunity Village.
That first Hellcat, the one that went to charity, was not just the first production model; it also featured some unique treatments, one of which is the Viper-exclusive Stryker Red finish. The only one with that kind of finish.
1 The First Dealership Hellcat Didn't Last An Hour
A sad fact. The first Challenger Hellcat production model made available to the public was totaled. The 34-year-old car owner lost control and smashed the Hellcat into a tree. It was barely an hour's drive from the dealership.
Perhaps the car was a little too much for him to handle? After all, it's a Challenger, you know! The police ruled out factors like alcohol and speeding, but the driver was charged with careless driving. He and the other two passengers were just fine. Sadly, we couldn't say the same about the Hellcat.