Over the weekend, Dodge made good on its promise and unveiled its Drag Race Package for the 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT-8 at the 29th Annual Mopar Mile-High Nationals in Morrison, Colorado. Dodge will sell similar cars to NHRA race teams, giving them engine and specific race-oriented options.
Unlike the production version, the NHRA-spec Challengers will offer a choice of three engines and two transmissions. They will also be about 1,000lbs lighter than the production versions, thanks to the elimination of production components and systems that aren’t needed in a dedicated race car. In addition, certain steel body panels and windows were replaced with composite, polycarbonate or otherwise lightweight components under the Package Car program. Other structural changes include a wheelbase that is half an inch shorter than the production car, and a front cradle with bolt-in crossmember and solid engine mounts.
Dodge’s high-performance division, Mopar, will build at least 100 Challenger Drag Race Package cars that meet NHRA requirements. Starting life off as body-in-white examples from the Brampton, Ontario production line, all unnecessary components such as body sealer, sound deadening and undercoat will not be applied. The windshield wiper assembly, HVAC system, airbags, rear seats, power steering, exhaust and heat shields, side impact door beams, rear bumper beam and rear decklid spoiler are also all gone.
Racers can then pick between the 6.1- or 5.7-liter Hemis or a 5.9-liter Magnum Wedge, mating each to either an automatic or manual transmission. They will then have to finish building their cars to meet other NHRA-mandated rules and regulations. The cars will be able to run in the NHRA’s three Eliminator categories, Comp, Super Stock and Stock, in up to 40 classes.
NHRA drag racing legends Don “Big Daddy” Garlits and Judy “Miss Mighty Mopar” Lilly piloted the two cars at the event on their inaugural public runs.
Prices will range from the low to mid $30,000 range, Dodge said, with Mopar starting to take orders in late August.
07/14, 4:04 PM
posted by:
jumpoffit
low to mid 30s?? wow
07/14, 4:13 PM
posted by:
zeeck
Sick, I saw a Mopar Viper Competition Coupe last thursday, beautiful machine,
but are these 30K extra? or as buying the car straight from them? I don’t really know how it works with Mopar
07/14, 4:13 PM
posted by:
MugenSentraKen
===>>low to mid 30s for a STRIPPED DOWN CAR? wow.
uh-um. Wasn’t the partially stripped Lancer Evo VIII RS a couple thousand less than a regular Evo? again.
low to mid 30s for a STRIPPED DOWN CAR? wow.
07/14, 4:15 PM
posted by:
HemiRoadRunner
I like the one in the middle, white with the black hood. Maybe, just maybe, I’ll buy one of these instead of the R/T and just hold onto it.
07/14, 4:15 PM
posted by:
Astonman12
it looks so….old. the thing in this guise just looks like it really is from the old muscle car days.
07/14, 4:21 PM
posted by:
foster1
BAD ASS
…
low to mid 30’s that good.Remember how much is cost to lighten up a car. These have to be had built. Not on the assembly line. That’s why there expensive compared to say a v6 verson off the line. But hey it’s cheeper than buying one and putting another 30k in it to put the right rear end in it motor gear ratio’s and to lighten it up.
Really a bargon
07/14, 4:21 PM
posted by:
foster1
^ Hand built my bad
07/14, 5:07 PM
posted by:
bolex
MugenSentraKen, these arent street legal. they are ‘track ready production cars’. how much would mitsu sell a race ready lancer that you can take on the circuit the very next day? 80K to 100K..200K? now, a stripped down street legal Challenger? probably 5K less than an R/T i could imagine, hypothetically 25K?
07/14, 11:32 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
HemiR: you sound like you’re on the horns of an enema. Obviously it would depend a hell of a lot what on happens to Chrysler. Let’s face it, in the world of high finance speculation 100k large is nothing. I’d buy the most loaded street version and a drag car to hibernate in the garage, and a 6 speed RT to piss around with. Even if they don’t go bust you’re unlikely in the short term to lose a heck of a lot on depreciation compared to about 95% of the market. If Chrysler does implode- jackpot.
07/15, 1:09 AM
posted by:
Need4SSpeed
low to mid 30k for a stripped down drag ready Challenger eh? Not bad. Although they really seem to be marketing the Challenger to the drag racing crowd. First it was with the Super Stock, and now this.. Well I guess with the size of the Challenger it’ll probably be mostly on the drag strip then on an actual race track…
07/15, 8:34 AM
posted by:
subarutecnica
^ to be honest, it will be on the drag strip blowing more then we see them on the roads.
but maybe thats a good thing.