Since 2010, the Mopar aftermarket division has been offering customized and limited edition Chrysler Group products that offer a unique look and improved performance over the non-Moparized versions of the same vehicle. In 2010, the Mopar 10 Dodge Challenger was the first Mopar branded vehicle ever followed by the Mopar 11 Dodge Charger and the Mopar 12 Chrysler 300C – all of which were powered by the 5.7L Hemi V8. For the Mopar 13, the company went a different route and selected the Dodge Dart to be built up for Mopar use but based on the teaser that we saw last week, the Mopar 14 will almost assuredly be based on the Dodge Challenger once again.
We don’t know anything about the Mopar 14 but with that model expected to debut in the next couple days at the 2013 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, we want to know which previous Mopar brand vehicle you thought was the best.
Was it the Mopar 10 Challenger with the traditional Mopar muscle styling and the Hemi V8 or is it the Mopar 11 Charger with the same powerplant as the Mopar 10 but with more seating? What about the Mopar 12 Chrysler 300C with the drivetrain of the Mopar 11 Charger but a more luxurious approach? Finally, was your favorite Mopar vehicle that Dodge Dart based Mopar 14 with less power than the others but with improved fuel economy, spirited 4-cylinder performance and the great handling of the sport compact world?
"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.
Since 2010, the Mopar aftermarket division has been offering customized and limited edition Chrysler Group products that offer a unique look and improved performance over the non-Moparized versions of the same vehicle. In 2010, the Mopar 10 Dodge Challenger was the first Mopar branded vehicle ever followed by the Mopar 11 Dodge Charger and the Mopar 12 Chrysler 300C – all of which were powered by the 5.7L Hemi V8. For the Mopar 13, the company went a different route and selected the Dodge Dart to be built up for Mopar use but based on the teaser that we saw last week, the Mopar 14 will almost assuredly be based on the Dodge Challenger once again.
