‘Hellrunner’ Dazzles at the SEMA 2021 RacingJunk Booth

Part Hellcat, part Roadrunner. The ‘Hellrunner’ is a Mopar mashup of epic proportions.

RacingJunk, is the flagship site of the Internet Brands Auto Classifieds. So, it is only fitting that a flagship Dodge build would be on display at the RacingJunk SEMA booth. The 1973 Plymouth Roadrunner is a wonderful classic car. The 2016 Dodge Hellcat is a modern powerhouse. Put them both together and a special car is born. However, to truly earn the ‘Hellrunner’ name the car has to be extra special. Well, this car has 1,000 reasons that make it extra special. Under the hood is a 1,000 horsepower 426 Hemi Hellephant powerplant.

The car is owned by Vance Kershner and was built in Delaware by Jems Classics. According to Chip Romano, the owner of Jems Classics the build took an entire year. That includes 40 hours straight the days before the start of SEMA. The inspiration for the build came from Kershner. The first car that he ever bought new was a 1973 Roadrunner. And when the Hellephant engine was released, he knew that he wanted it married to a classic Roadrunner.

But Kershner wanted more than just an engine swap. He wanted the drivetrain and other parts from a Hellcat. So, he purchased a wrecked 2016 Hellcat. What you basically have here is a Hellcat INSIDE of a Roadrunner. When you consider that, it is hard to believe it only took one year to complete the build.

The Hellephant is the heart and soul of this car. 426 cubic inches of supercharged awesomeness. Sure, the crate engine might cost 30 grand but that is only a measly 30 bucks per horsepower. What a deal. However, while the engine might be the star, there is so much more to this car.

The color is similar to the color of that 1973 Roadrunner that Kershner bought brand new all those years ago. But the look is much more modern. Up front the LED headlamps are much more 2021 than 1973. Beautiful chrome wheels look classic and modern at the same time. The car just looks right.

While we didn’t get a chance to drive it, we bet it drives right as well. The front and rear suspension were taken from a Corvette. But if you were to lose control you can take some comfort in the fact that the car has a full roll cage welded inside.

Also, inside are custom seats with the Hellephant logo embroidered on them. The rest of the inside would have you convinced you were sitting in a 2016 Hellcat.

SEMA offers so many fantastic cars and terrific builds that it is impossible to pick a favorite. But if you are a Mopar fan you would be hard pressed to not put this one at the top of your list. Let us know what you think of the ‘Hellrunner’ in the Dodge Forum forums.

Photos: Michael Palmer

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Joe Kucinski

Joe has been obsessed with cars since he got his very first Matchbox toy in the 1970s. In 2003, he found a new obsession in track days that led to obtaining his SCCA competition license in 2015. In 2019, he became a certified driving instructor for the National Auto Sport Association. His love for all things four wheels has never wavered, whether it's driving some of the best cars in the world on the racetrack, tackling 2,000-mile road trips in 2-seat sports cars or being winched off the side of a mountaintop in a Jeep. Writing for the suite of Internet Brands Auto Communities sites, including Rennlist.com, Ford Truck Enthusiasts, 6 Speed and more allows him to share that knowledge and passion with others.