SpeedKore Dodge Charger ‘Ghost’: B-Body Hellcat Hunter
Known for their mesmerizing craftsmanship and innovation, the SpeedKore ‘Ghost’ is both an artpiece and a hi-po street bruiser.
SpeedKore unveiled its latest masterpiece, “Ghost,” at the 74th Grand National Roadster Show in Pomona, California. And boy, talk about being an attention-grabber for all the right reasons!
“Ghost” is a fusion of heritage and cutting-edge technology, and stands as a testament to SpeedKore’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of automotive engineering.
Alluring & Ethereal
At first glance, the car captivates with an ethereal white finish, a departure from SpeedKore’s signature aesthetic. This is the first time they have used painted pre-preg carbon fiber on a vehicle, and it is fittingly named for its spectral allure. Dodge’s iconic 1970 Charger is fully reimagined with a 100 percent custom-made carbon-fiber body meticulously crafted in-house.
“This car has the most carbon content of any build we’ve done so far,” said Tom Porter, Senior Business Development Manager at SpeedKore. “What’s also unique about this car is that even the tail panel is fully carbon fiber, and that is first one one we ever done–and that we are even aware of.”
Porter mentioned they were tired of trying to retrofit an OEM ’70 Charger rear tail with their builds and decided to develop some tooling to fabricate their own. He also mentioned that it is a “privately commission build,” and the customer requested the Alpine White hue. “Our paint department was quite excited to take on this project,” he said.
The end result is a seamless blend of timeless design and “aerospace-grade” materials, mounted onto a in-house SpeedKore chassis for unrivaled performance and agility.
Classic Muscle Reimagined In a New Way
Jim Kacmarcik, President and Owner of SpeedKore, expressed his vision behind “Ghost,” stating, “Our goal is to meld timeless design, advanced composites, and reliable performance to redefine what the American muscle car should be.” Indeed, this mission prevails in every detail of “Ghost;” from its reworked supercharged HEMI to its meticulously engineered suspension system.
‘Don’t call it a restomod–this Charger takes the ‘form follows function’ quip and turns it on its head with satin carbon fiber, ‘floating’ seats and 660 RWHP at roughly 3,900 pounds without its interior.’
Beneath the hood, “Ghost” roars with power, thanks to a reworked, retuned Hellcat V8 mated to a TREMEC TR-6060 six-speed manual transmission. The carbon-fiber bodywork not only enhances the Charger’s aesthetics but also lowers its center of gravity, while the SpeedKore perimeter frame conceals essential components for both safety and visual appeal.
“It’s a two-by-four design frame that we created in-house, and we run all of the fuel lines and oil lines within frame itself,” said Porter.
On the road, “Ghost” commands attention with its dynamic handling, facilitated by a host of performance-enhancing features including Penske dual-adjustable coilovers, Detroit Speed front suspension, and custom Brembo brakes. Every aspect of its design, from the sleek carbon-fiber exterior to the meticulously crafted interior, exudes a perfect harmony of form and function.
Aesthetically Driven, Functionally CraftedÂ
Inside the cabin, “Ghost” continues to impress with its bespoke detailing, featuring a custom carbon-fiber dash, leather-clad seats, and a state-of-the-art audio system.
But don’t call it a restomod–this Charger takes the “form follows function” quip and turns it on its head with satin carbon fiber, “floating” seats and 660 RWHP at roughly 3,900 pounds without its interior.
‘Floating Seats’
Lyle Brummer, Head of Design for SpeedKore, elaborated on the blurred-line aesthetic they employed for the interior–specifically regarding the seats.
“The seats aren’t actually resting on the floor, they sit on what we call the ‘exo-skeleton,'” said Brummer. “The truss that we see here ties into a crossmember which is part of the rollcage, and also supports the transmission crossmember. There’s other flanged pieces that are attached on both sides of the truss that attach to the frame rails, and those pieces are what they are actually resting on.
It’s bit hard to imagine here, but essentially, the subframe is what supports the seats. And that is both innovative and functionally strategic.
“We’ve done this on other projects, but the idea of it started off aestehtically. Then we started getting into, and realized there is also a practical side to this,” said Brummer. “This car having a carbon fiber floor, as well as these pieces, makes having the seats tied in like that a stronger structure for us.”
In the realm of automotive excellence, “Ghost” stands as a beacon of innovation, a testament to SpeedKore’s unwavering dedication to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in American muscle car engineering. With each meticulously crafted detail, “Ghost” reaffirms SpeedKore’s status as a pioneer in the pursuit of automotive perfection.
Photos: Larry Chen; Video: Derin Richardson
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