Murphy’s Unique ’69 Hellcat Charger Has an International Pedigree

Started in New Zealand by Australian Race Ace Greg Murphy, it was Finished in America

Here’s a story about an American muscle car built by a New Zealander who made his name racing Holdens in Australia. ‘CAPTIV’ is a unique ’69 Dodge Charger wholly re-imagined by Kiwi racing legend Greg Murphy. He rose to fame racing a Holden on Aussie V8s. The project was completed by Wisconsin outfit RingBrothers in the US.

Murphy Built a Dodge Charger Like No Other

But enough about that, what about the car? A Charger like no other, it’s the result of ‘an incredible amount of blood, sweat, tears, and dollars’, according to its creators. It also took several years to build the car.

The project was also completed 8,000 miles from where it all started, across the Pacific Ocean. Work on Murphy’s Charger started in New Zealand. But the car was later shipped to RingBrothers in Spring Green, Wisconsin for completion in 2021.

It’s all-new under the skin, too. Powered by a 707 HP 650 lb.-ft Mopar Hellcat crate V8, it’s supercharger top pokes through a shaker hood. The car is cobbled together from a plethora of bespoke parts. To make it a Dodge Charger unlike any other you have ever seen.

707 HP Hellcat and Six Speed Manual ‘Box

Murphy’s Charger gets a six-speed manual trannie punching power through a carbon fibre driveshaft to the rear axle. CAPTIV rides on enormous HRE custom wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres.

Moving inside, the cabin matches the car’s exterior promise. Boasting a modern take on its classic interior, the Charger steps up to a digital dash display behind its flat bottomed carbonfibre steering wheel.

“I still haven’t quite found the words to express my gratitude to the awesome RingBrothers team for this unforgettable experience and this stunning build,” Murphy admitted via social media. “Cannot wait for it to get back to NZ.”

Twice Built in America

“This project has been years in the making,” RingBrothers‘ Jim Ring added. “Greg and his guys did phenomenal work before it came here. “It was a joy to work together on an amazing build. “It’s also the second time this car was built in America. “First, in Detroit back in ‘69 and now again here in Spring Green in 2021.”

Images: Ringbrothers

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Michele Lupini

Once a handy engine and chassis tuner, and a combative racer and rally driver, Michele took up the pen to express his passion for cars, racing and motoring over 30 years ago. He published South Africa’s go-to enthusiast motor magazines Cars in Action and Bakkie — some say against all odds — for a quarter century. In that time, Michele had a hand in nurturing many of South Africa's motoring media leaders. Today Michele keeps himself busy with his a range of international motoring media duties alongside his own theauto.page. And a little racing on the side.