The muscle car fanbase is feasibly the most hardcore community in the automotive space, especially regarding American-built ones. Take for instance the Dodge Challenger, our vocal point today. It took its first breath all the way back in the '70s, and since then, the support behind the Challenger has grown to heights we never thought were possible – some even regard the classic Challenger to be one of the holy grails of American-built classic cars.
The Dodge Challenger headlined in mainstream films like Vanishing Point, was the go-to option for any budget-conscious speed freak, and it will live on with the EV revolution through the likes of the Charger King Daytona.
That said, we're not here today to talk about the Challenger's historic significance, nor are we here to look into the future of the Dodge muscle car. We're here to look at the underrated variant of the Challenger, the Scat Pack. Sure, it might have a slightly questionable name, but that's beside the point. This is truly one of the best modern muscle cars money can buy.
10 The Scat Pack Dodge Challenger's Naturally-Aspirated V8 Engine
That's right folks, although most high-performance Dodge products, such as the surprisingly powerful Hellcat Charger, feature gargantuan supercharged V8s, the Challenger Scat Pack receives its oomph from a naturally-aspirated one.
This particular powertrain has a displacement of 392 cubic inches (6.4 liters) and produces a total of 485 hp and 475 lb-ft of torque. We'll get into what these figures mean in just a moment.
9 The Scat Pack Dodge Challenger Has An Optional Widebody Kit
Usually, the only way to add a widebody kit to your car is via means of sourcing one from a third party. But Dodge does as Dodge does, and they're never one to follow the conventional way of doing this.
As a result, Dodge gives you the chance to spec out your Challenger Scat Pack with wider wheel arches, meatier tires, and a more aggressive look from the factory. This does however come at a slight premium... about $6,000. Is it worth it? Hell, yeah!
8 The Scat Pack Dodge Challenger Has A Menacing Design
Flaring fenders, or not, the Dodge Challenger Scat Pack remains a violent-looking machine. Although it does have a rather high roofline that sits almost 200 inches from the ground, its 75.7-inch width makes up for that.
Not to mention its timeless demeanor. Since the first modern Challenger came to fruition in 2008, all of its newer models adopted the same relative design. After all, if it ain't broken, why fix it?
7 The Scat Pack Dodge Challenger Is Offered With A Manual Transmission
Nowadays, it's scarce to come across a sports car with a manual transmission, not even to mention an actual fun-to-drive one. There are only a handful of 2023 sports cars that offer a stickshift transmission that we're actually excited about.
The Dodge Challenger Scat Pack has two different gearbox options to choose from. One is a six-speed manual, and the second is an eight-speed automatic. There's no need to say which one we'd prefer...
6 The Scat Pack Dodge Challenger Gives The Perfect Balance Between Money And Power
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There's an endless debate among muscle car fans in regard to the Challenger Hellcat and Demon: Does more horsepower equal a better car? Well, to put it blatantly, no. And their price tags are even less justifiable.
That's where the Scat Pack Challenger comes into play. The Scat Pack starts at $48,440, which is more than $20,000 cheaper than the Hellcat. Equally important though is its 485 horsepower; the right amount of absurdity.
5 The Scat Pack Dodge Challenger Has A Comfortable Ride
This is where we ought to tell you where the Scat Pack name comes from. Well, the Scat Pack has existed in Dodge's lineup since 1968, and it refers to the old-fashioned term meaning to skedaddle away - a.k.a. scat. That's not all though, way back then, an iconic Super Bee logo was everywhere to be found on the Dodge, and this tradition translated into the latest Scat Pack Challenger as well
And this is where our overdue pun fits in: Float like a butterfly, and sting like a bee. Despite the Challenger's brutal nature, it still boasts that classic cloud-like muscle car ride and evidently floats around corners too.
4 The Scat Pack Dodge Challenger's Performance Figures
In traditional muscle car fashion as well, the Challenger Scat Pack is a drag strip dominator. It reaches 60 mph from a standstill in just 4.2 seconds and continues to complete the quarter-mile in 11.7 seconds.
And when all logic goes the window, the Scat Pack can go on to reach a top speed of 174 mph. Impressive, no?
3 The Scat Pack Dodge Challenger Is A Burnout Machine
Are you sensing a trend yet? The Challenger Scat Pack embodies everything that used to make classic muscle cars great and brings them into the 21st century.
Not only does the Scat Pack Challenger send all of its power to the rear wheels, but it also has a Line Lock mode to ensure you burn as much rubber as possible.
2 The Scat Pack Dodge Challenger Has A Vast Array Of Customization Options
From the factory, the Challenger is quite customizable as a whole. It features a unique set of wacky color options, some massive wheels, and a plethora of interior trim levels too. Not to mention there's a special edition called the Challenger Jailbreak that exceeds our imagination.
Perhaps you'd like to tinker with the Scat Pack yourself though. Well, you're in luck, as the aftermarket scene for the Dodge Challenger is one of those most supported communities in the tuner scene.
1 The Scat Pack Dodge Challenger Is One Of The Last True Muscle Cars
If it hasn't been blaring obvious yet, the Challenger Scat Pack is everything gearheads miss about older muscle cars. From its ginormous size, its sloppy handling, to its ghastly naturally-aspirated V8 engine, the Challenger Scat Pack has it all.
Now, there's only one thing left to decide. Will its electric replacement be enough to keep the muscle car alive, or has it finally reached its tragic end?