"Challenger Dodge" - the legend of American roads

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:42

The history of the Dodge Challenger car has been going on for several decades and does not intend to end. The car is a legend, a classic muscle car that defies the times. Created as a response to competitors - "Mustang" and "Camaro", "Challenger" continues to fight and does not lose ground.

Swift design was created by Carl Cameron in 1969. Already in the first 1970 year of sales, almost 77 thousand cars were sold. After things got worse, the demand for cars fell sharply and in 1974 the production of the model was discontinued. Even the restyling carried out in 1972 did not save the Challenger - Dodge was selling worse, environmental standards were getting tougher, and constant attacks from the press finally "finished off" the car.

This first generation car boasted a wide range of units - from the "small" 3.7-liter Slant 6 to the monstrous V-shaped "eight" 426 HEMI with 425 horsepower! The 1969 Dodge Challenger was sold with three transmission options - a three-speed hydromechanical "automatic" and a three- and four-speed "mechanics".

BIn February 2008, the Challenger reappeared at the Chicago and Philadelphia auto shows - the Dodge "rose from the ashes." As expected, his return made a splash - all copies of the produced cars were sold out even before the official start of production. The designers managed to make a beautiful modern car, while retaining the recognizable classic features of the old Challenger. But the “stuffing” has become completely modern - a 3.6-liter V6, 5.7-liter Hemi V8 and a top Hemi V8 with a volume of 6.4 liters are paired with a 5-speed “automatic” and a 6-speed “mechanics”.

There is also a second generation Challenger - Dodge is available in three versions: SE, R / T and SRT8. The simplest modification of the SE is equipped with a Chrysler SOHC 3.5 V6 engine with a capacity of 250 l / s. Also included in the basic package are light-alloy 17-inch wheels, air conditioning and cruise control. There is an option package SE Rallye, which already contains 18th wheels, a spoiler, carbon fiber inserts in the cabin and double stripes on the hood and trunk. The middle class (if this concept is applicable to a car like the Challenger) is the R / T version, the name of which stands for "Road and Track". These are semi-sports cars with more than 370 horsepower in their arsenal. At the request of the client, it is possible to additionally supply a limited slip differential and an adjustable rear suspension. At the end of 2010, a small series of Challenger Dodge was released - Mopar'10 - gray cars boosted by another 10 "horses" with three stripes on the body. But the most "cool" modification- SRT8 - has a huge 6.4 HEMI engine that develops 470 hp and "shoots" an almost two-ton car to a speed of 100 km/h in less than five seconds.

Such a charismatic machine as the "Challenger" could not be deprived of the attention of filmmakers. Auto appears in dozens of Hollywood films and even animated series, as well as in many computer games.

In America itself, the Dodge Challenger price starts at $40,000, but this does not bother buyers from all over the world - cars are in deserved demand and are not going to leave the market. It's not for nothing that Challenger is translated as "challenging".