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Karps TA
07-14-2008, 03:00 PM
http://jalopnik.com/398484/mopar-dodge-challenger-drag-pack-finally-revealed

http://jalopnik.com/assets/resources/2008/07/Mopar_Drag_Dodge_Challenger.jpg


Center Line, Mich., Jul 13, 2008 - Mopar® is bringing the iconic Dodge Challenger muscle car to National Hot Road Association (NHRA) drag-racing competition. Mopar revealed two Dodge Challenger Drag Race Package Cars at the 29th Annual Mopar Mile-High Nationals today before thrilled fans at Bandimere Speedway in Morrison, Colo. Mopar Mile-High Nationals is the longest-running NHRA sponsorship.
"Big Daddy" Don Garlits and Judy "Miss Mighty Mopar" Lilly were behind the wheels for their inaugural track run. Garlits drove the car featuring the Stone White paint scheme. Lilly was behind the wheel of the "Mopar Liquid Metal" prototype. NHRA named Garlits the #1 driver of the Top 50 drivers from its first 50 years. His victories and accomplishments are virtually unmatched in drag-racing history. "Miss Mighty Mopar" is one of the female pioneers in drag racing. Spending 12 years on the NHRA circuit, Lilly is the only female driver to win two NHRA national events in one year.

Mopar built the first two Challenger Drag Race Package Cars for development and testing for its new Challenger Package Car program. Based on the Challenger SRT8®, the prototypes were finished in Stock Eliminator configuration. They ran successfully in June 2008 as proof-of-concept and for NHRA certification. Mopar dropped approximately 1,000 lbs. off the production Challenger SRT8 by eliminating major production components and systems. To accentuate the weight savings, they also feature added composite, polycarbonate and lightweight components designed for drag racing that will be part of the new Package Car program.

The engine was repositioned to improve driveline angle and weight distribution. The 116-inch wheelbase was shortened by ½ inch. They also feature a front cradle with bolt-in crossmember and solid engine mounts.

"Today is a great day for Mopar, Dodge, SRT, drag racers and motorsports enthusiasts everywhere. Not made for the streets, our drag-race-only Challengers will be running soon in NHRA competition—the best grassroots racing series in the world," said Sunil Lahoti, Mopar Marketing and Brand Manager, Chrysler LLC. "And who better to drive our new Challenger Package Cars on their inaugural track run than 'Big Daddy' and 'Miss Mighty Mopar'—the greatest drag racer of all time and a female pioneer of the sport."

New Dodge Challenger Drag Race Package Car Program by Mopar
The first drag-race, factory-prepped package cars built in 40 years, the new Challenger Drag Race Package Car by Mopar builds on the heritage of the limited-edition 1968 HEMI®-powered Package Cars. Those '68 Dodge Darts and Plymouth Barracudas solidified the Mopar brand as a quarter-mile force.

Mopar will build a minimum of 100 Challenger Drag Race Package Cars to meet NHRA requirements. Based on the production Dodge Challenger SRT8, Mopar's modern factory-prepped Challenger Drag Race Package Car will begin as a special Body-in-White (BIW) from Chrysler's Brampton, Ontario, Canada, assembly plant. The body sealer, sound deadener and undercoat will be eliminated. To reduce vehicle weight, major production component and systems will also be eliminated including: windshield wiper assembly, complete HVAC system, all airbag components, rear seats, power steering system, exhaust system and underbody heat shields, cross-car and side impact door beams, rear bumper beam and rear deck lid spoiler.

The drag racer has three engine options—6.1-liter or 5.7-liter HEMI or 5.9-liter Magnum® Wedge—as well as manual or automatic transmission.

A build book/owner's manual will be provided to document the modifications made to the Challenger SRT8 as well as provide recommendations to finish the Package Car for Stock Eliminator competition. To accentuate weight savings, there are unique drag-race components in the Package Car program including: composite lift-off hood with functional scoop, Viper-style front seats, polycarbonate door windows, lightweight cooling module with electric fan, manual rack and pinion steering, special cable-operated deck lid release, special lightweight front brake assembly and special cable-operated throttle linkage and pedal assembly.

The Challenger Drag Race Package Car will be eligible to run in three Eliminator categories—Comp, Super Stock and Stock—and potentially 40 classes.

Depending upon the configuration selected, the U.S. Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for the Challenger Drag Race Package Car program will range from the low to mid $30s. Each car will carry an identification plate with sequential serial number.

The Challenger Drag Race Package Car will be available for order in late August to early September. A toll-free number will be designated for ordering. Details will be posted on www.mopar.com.

Now in its fifth decade, NHRA is the world's largest motorsports sanctioning body with 80,000 members, 140 member tracks, more than 35,000 licensed competitors and more than 5,000 member-track events. NHRA is second only to NASCAR in terms of fan attendance.

70 Years of Mopar
When Chrysler bought Dodge in 1928, the need for a dedicated parts manufacturer, supplier and distribution system to support the growing enterprise led to the formation of the Chrysler Motor Parts Corporation (CMPC) in 1929.

Originally used in the 1920s, Mopar (a simple contraction of the words MOtor and PARts) was trademarked for a line of antifreeze products in 1937. It was also widely used as a moniker for the CMPC. The Mopar brand made its mark in the 1960s—the muscle car era. The Chrysler Corporation built race-ready Dodge and Plymouth "package cars" equipped with special high-performance parts. Mopar carried a line of "Special Parts" for super stock drag racers and developed its racing parts division called Mopar Performance Parts to enhance speed and handling for both road and racing use.

Today, Chrysler LLC's Global Service & Parts division is responsible for the manufacturing and distribution of nearly 250,000 authentic Mopar replacement parts, components, restoration parts, accessories and performance parts for Chrysler, Jeep® and Dodge vehicles sold around the world. To assure quality, reliability and durability, all Mopar parts and accessories are designed in strict adherence to Chrysler engineering standards.

Prince Valiant
07-14-2008, 03:16 PM
I think it's pretty cool you can still get an LA based engine in the challenger...

HRSEPLA
07-14-2008, 03:20 PM
I really like this car!!!

70 cutlass 442
07-14-2008, 05:56 PM
hidious graphics, but pretty cool..... i bet the guys who are on the camaro project are feeling pretty salty by now

70challenger452
07-14-2008, 09:34 PM
so badass!! I sure hope somebody turns one of those into a pro-mod

Russ Jerome
07-14-2008, 09:34 PM
["Big Daddy" Don Garlits and Judy "Miss Mighty Mopar" Lilly were behind the wheels for their inaugural track run.



I recoreded the NHRA event, odd MPH ending but I beleive both cars
were in the 11's with BDDG trapping in the 120's and Ms Mopar rolling
thru the traps like the car nosed over or broke down?

70challenger452
07-14-2008, 09:36 PM
I recoreded the NHRA event, odd MPH ending but I beleive both cars
were in the 11's with BDDG trapping in the 120's and Ms Mopar rolling
thru the traps like the car nosed over or broke down?

she odviously got out of it, who wouldn't let Big Daddy win in respect to the legend he is?

WickedSix
07-14-2008, 09:47 PM
damn cool that this is coming through. If nothing else it envigorates muscle car fans to keep their hobby goin :thumbsup to Mopar

STANMAN
07-14-2008, 11:04 PM
I was hoping that they would come up with something like this. Ever since the Cobra R's that were put out no-one else has even attempted this. All the way down to no power steering even, wow!!! Great for ma Mopar. Now give me a sublime color choice and I will get in line!!

Moparjim
07-16-2008, 11:01 AM
Allpar's article, similar but has more info:

http://www.allpar.com/cars/dodge/super-stock-challenger.html

Unfortunately I read somewhere that you are going to have to be "existing, actively campaigning race team" to be able to order one... I assume because they want them out on the track being raced generating publicity, not being ordered up by collectors and stuck in storage hoping to cash in on the next collectable Super Stock cars.

Russ Jerome
07-16-2008, 05:09 PM
Allpar's article, similar but has more info:

.

Thats a great article, small insert:

The modern factory-prepped Challenger Drag Race Package Car begin as a special Body-in-White (BIW) from Chrysler’s Brampton, Ontario, Canada, assembly plant. The body sealer, sound deadener and undercoat are eliminated along with windshield wipers, the HVAC system, airbag components, rear seats, power steering, exhaust, underbody heat shields, cross-car and side impact door beams, rear bumper beam, and rear deck lid spoiler. Unique components include a composite lift-off hood with functional scoop, Viper-style front seats, polycarbonate door windows, lightweight cooling module, manual rack and pinion steering, cable-operated deck lid release, lightweight front brake assembly, and cable-operated throttle linkage and pedal assembly.

Im guessing you or I trying to find a manual rack that drops in would be
hard to get! Neat options, bet we could trim a few hundred more pounds
out before we raced one ;)

70challenger452
07-16-2008, 10:31 PM
I wish they made a street legal version of that car

Reverend Cooper
07-16-2008, 10:49 PM
when it comes woth the big motor and t56 i will have one of these in orange or black

Crawlin
07-18-2008, 05:19 PM
ok, now that I have one at my store, I can honestly say it's a pretty decent car. Obiously not the drag pack car. But just the regular $42k sticker price one. It sounds pretty badass. It rides semi decently(just around the parking lot). It's pretty solid feeling in regards to quality.

I really hope they make a couple versions of this car. v6 and a v8. base version for the kiddies, and the powerful version for the enthusiasts.

ours is black/black. there was an orange one on the trailer too, and that one was pretty badass looking. I personally would have to go with one of the 'classic' colors from the musclecar era. Just wouldn't feel right otherwise.

Prince Valiant
07-18-2008, 05:39 PM
I really hope they make a couple versions of this car. v6 and a v8. base version for the kiddies, and the powerful version for the enthusiasts.They'll have a base 3.5, 255hp v6 for a smidge under 22G; The R/T will feature the 375hp 5.7 v8 for just under 30G, and then of course, the SRT-8 (which is likely to get a healthy power boost in the next year or two).