The Challenger is an American muscle car produced by Dodge from 1969 to present. The Challenger has had three generations, two of which were pony cars, and one an economical compact vehicle. The first generation was built on the Chrysler E platform and shared most major components with the Plymouth Barracuda. The second generation was a rebadged Mitsubishi Galant, produced from 1978 to 1983. The third generation was introduced in 2008, and variants are still being introduced today.
The Challenger is an American muscle car produced by Dodge from 1969 to present. The Challenger has had three generations, two of which were pony cars, and one an economical compact vehicle. The first generation was built on the Chrysler E platform and shared most major components with the Plymouth Barracuda. The second generation was a rebadged Mitsubishi Galant, produced from 1978 to 1983. The third generation was introduced in 2008, and variants are still being introduced today.
The new SRT8's chin spoiler was enlarged to create more downforce, and resemble the original 1970 Challenger R/Ts. The SRT8 received a new 392 cu in. 6.4-liter Hemi V8, officially rated at 470 hp and 470 lb ft of torque. Dodge engineers stated they sacrificed peak horsepower ratings for low-end torque, stating a 90 lb ft increase over the outgoing 6.1L V8 at 2,900 rpm. If you fancy rowing your own gears, you’re in luck, because today’s example mates that massive V8 to beautiful a six-speed manual. The 2012 model year for the SRT8 also saw the introduction of two-mode adaptive suspension, featuring both Auto and Sport modes.
This Challenger is beautiful. It features a clean white paintjob with gray accent stripes on classic Dodge 5-spoke wheels. The paint is great, but there are some minor imperfections. There are two small scratches on the rear bumper, and one very small rock chip in the front bumper. There is minor curb rash on both rear wheels. That is really all the damage noticeable on the outside. Since the odometer is under 25,000 miles over 10 years, we aren’t particularly surprised to see that this Challenger has been lovingly maintained and in such great condition. Well done.
The interior to this Challenger is all black with clean redline accents in all four seats. The dash and all gauges are clean and function properly. The leather wrapped steering wheel is in great shape and the shifter is stunning. The driver’s seat shows a little bit of wear at the bottom, but it doesn’t raise any red flags, and both front seats are supremely comfortable. The center console features a stock Sirius XM LED screen featuring satellite radio, satellite navigation, and regular AM/FM radio. Furthermore, the whole screen can swivel out to reveal a CD changer. The back seats feature the same red accents as the front and are fantastically clean akin to the ones up front.
We are pleased to report that the underside of this Challenger SRT8 is clean. Clean might even be an understatement. The floor pans are in great condition, and the Corsa performance exhaust doesn’t even sport any kind of discoloration whatsoever.
The Car Fax on this Challenger suggests that there have been two owners, but we have been told this is inaccurate. This Challenger is a single owner car. The seller purchased the car from the dealership in 2012 and then refinanced the car in 2015, which is why the car is marked as having two owners. In 10 years, the seller has only amassed 21,685 miles which is an impressive feat to say the least. The seller thoroughly enjoyed using the car to get around on weekends and has taken great care of the vehicle. The Challenger has only been serviced by the dealer, and within the last 3,000 miles, all the tires were replaced and have plenty of tread left to go. The seller has kept the car mostly stock, but a $3,000 Corsa exhaust system was installed for a more exciting noise. However, the seller was quick to note that Corsa was purposefully chosen because the sound isn’t as over the top as other exhaust systems from other brands.
The Challenger will always represent true American muscle, and the SRT8 is the most powerful version offered at the time of production. Furthermore, with less than 25,000 miles on the clock, dealer-only servicing, and exclusive weekend usage, it becomes abundantly clear that the seller has gone to great lengths to keep this example in tip top shape over the last 10 years. Bravo. This single-owner Challenger is in great condition, and the lucky winner will be taking home a fantastic representation of American motoring.
The Market by Bonhams is thrilled to offer this Challenger SRT8 for online auction with an estimate between $25,000 and $30,000.
