In the following article, we invite you to feast your eyes on this ’70 Dodge Charger turned fierce supercar, nicknamed “Tantrum”. The creators behind this beauty are the famous SpeedKore, based in Wisconsin. Part of their stellar reputation was gained by their collaboration with the Fast and Furious franchise, they are the ones behind the memorable 1970 Plymouth Barracuda in the 7th movie. By the way, “Tantrum” is also tied to Fast and Furious in a rather unexpected way, but more on this later.
The creation of “Tantrum” falls under pro-touring cars - or restomods, if you so prefer it - which is considered a new art form by some. But it is actually a hybrid form of expression, combining art and engineering. These cars are not built to just look pretty on display, they are built to be driven. While aesthetics are also taken into account, the main focus falls on performance. So, the general idea is to build around the original model, to keep what makes a particular model special and enhance it. It is an innovative and considerate way to bring a classic car into the high-performance muscle car league. This is something that Speedkore specializes in, elevating classic cars to one-of-a-kind speedsters while tipping their hats to their mechanical forefathers in the meantime.
The Origin Story
Tantrum started its new life in 2015. The story behind it is that it was created to test the creative and technical force of SpeedKore. And the resulting beauty stands as a testament of how far they can take it. According to the designer of this spectacular car, Sean Smith: “This is something we started internally to demonstrate the capabilities, our talent, and our team.” What makes the creation particularly special is how, despite the staggering number of different techniques employed, they do not clash; everything comes together in a harmonious and complementary fashion.
Tantrum is a car that bursts with creativity and emanates passion for the automotive industry. But what makes it exceed the ordinary is that the design is tamed and honed in, taking it to the next level of sophistication.
A Fresh Take On The Charger
The car has been recreated in a fresh way, but without being stripped of its original identity. The spirit of the Dodge Charger lingers on. "Tantrum" is a beast of beauty in so many ways.
What appears as a standard Charger body, at a closer look reveals its unique secrets. As the saying goes, the devil is in the details. A lowered body is smoothed to perfection, giving it a mysterious sheen. But the show-stopper of the exterior design is certainly the material manipulation pulled off by Speedkore. As the viewer’s eyes undress the car, it reveals a unique carbon fiber layer that voluptuously takes cover under black paint. The full carbon fiber body peeks up here and there, tempting enthusiasts. What is more, some parts of the car (front and back bumper, hood, fenders) are made completely from carbon fiber and these are showcased in their full splendor.
And So “Tantrum” Roars
“Tantrum” can turn it up to 1650 horsepower. You heard it right. The mechanical work of the car is just as stunning as its looks. The beast is powered by 9.0-liter twin-turbocharged Mercury Marine boat engine. Speedkore love to be unconventional and they sure love a challenge. That is why they went for a boat V8, rather than a standard one.
But this is not all. The strength of the engine is thoughtfully complemented by other mechanical flourishings. A Ford 9-inch rear end with a Tremec six-speed manual transmission turn this car into a manual. Another unexpected detail is the pistol-grip shifter. And so “Tantrum” breaks free of the technical speed limits of an original ‘70s Dodge Challenger, riding into a new era.
As the car speeds by, there is a distinctive and powerful roar that follows. Music to the ear, some would say. This is not a car that can be tamed by just anyone.
The Story Goes On
A beauty such as “Tantrum” was not kept hidden from curious eyes, but proudly showcased on a number of occasions. In 2016 it made an appearance at the Grand National Roadster Show in Pomona, California. What is more, it also featured on Jay Leno's Garage where it was discussed in detail. Of course, he could not resist the temptation of taking the car for a spin.
“Tantrum” also made it into Fast and Furious. After all, it is such a fitting car for the franchise. But this is not where this story ends… Vin Diesel was lucky enough to receive this special vehicle on his birthday, on the set of Fast and Furious 9. What better present could he have asked for?
This is the story of car evolution, from 70’s Dodge Charger to “Tantrum”. So, where to next?