Classic Dodge Charger Packs Hellcat Power, Headed to SEMA360

Dodge Charger with 850 horsepower is part of the ‘Builder Challenge powered by CTEK.’

Since the Hellcat Hemi was first introduced in the current version of the Dodge Charger and Challenger, shops around the United States have been installing the supercharged V8 into classic Mopar muscle cars. Many of these Hellcat-equipped classics have a custom look to go with the modern engine, but not all of them. The 1969 Dodge Charger shown here was built by Tony Arme with the goal of creating a car that performs like a modern muscle car while preserving the old-school look.

We would say that he succeeded in every way, as this 1969 Dodge Charger looks relatively stock, shy of the big aftermarket wheels. However, it has the heart of a Hellcat car, delivering 850 horsepower of street-friendly fun. In addition to satisfying the demands of Arme’s customer for whom this Mopar monster was built, it is also a part of the 2020 Builder Challenger powered by CTEK.

American Legends 1969 Dodge Charger Hellcat

If you walked up to this stunning, black 1969 Dodge Charger with its hood closed, you might mistake it for a flawless original with custom wheels. When Arme and his team at American Legends began this project, the customer asked for a “high-performance car that still looks like a ‘69 Charger, but anybody could hop in and drive”. With that in mind, Arme performed a high-end restoration on the exterior, returning classic Mopar to its factory form. In fact, it is probably nicer now than it was when it rolled off of the assembly line more than 50 years ago.

The interior also got a proper restoration, preserving the classic look while introducing some modern touches. For instance, this 1969 Charger has Bluetooth connectivity for the sound system and plenty of sound deadening material, making it a better cruiser.

When this 1969 Dodge Charger project took a hard left away from a traditional restoration process was the drivetrain. Rather than an old school engine, Arme installed a modern Hellcat Hemi, but not a stock Hemi. This supercharged V8 has been modified to offer 850 horsepower, making for one wicked classic muscle car. The car is also equipped with a CTEK charging system that is mounted on-board, so the owner simply has to plug the car in when not in use and he or she won’t have to worry about a dead battery when they want to hit the road.

“We knew out of the gate we weren’t painting or polishing the underside of the car because it’s not designed as a show car,” said Arme. “This Charger is meant to be driven.”

Click here for more details on this Charger and the builder on the CTEK website. This is also the page where you can vote for this car in the Builder Challenge.

2020 Builder Challenger powered by CTEK

While the 2020 SEMA Show in Las Vegas has been cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic, a handful of companies have continued with their plans on a virtual level. The folks at CTEK are sponsoring the 2020 Builder Challenge, which is now taking place online rather than at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

The 1969 Dodge Charger shown here is joined by a handful of other custom vehicles, all of which are battling for the title in this CTEK-sponsored program. The other competitors include a 1967 Chevy Nova, a 1991 Porsche Baja 911, a 1936 Ford Sedan, a 2001 Honda S2000, a 2008 BMW 335i, a 2018 Ford F-250 and a 2020 Jeep Gladiator. You can check out the full field of competitors by clicking here.

Photos: CTEK Chargers

Join the Dodge Forums now!

Patrick Rall

"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.

"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.

"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.

"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.

"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.

"Being based on Detroit," says Rall, "I never miss the North American International Auto Show, the Woodward Dream Cruise and Roadkill Nights, along with spending plenty of time raising hell on Detroit's Woodward Avenue with the best muscle car crowd in the world.

Rall can be contacted at QuickMirada@Yahoo.com

Facebook   Twitter