Talk about milking a car and its name for years and years. The Dodge Charger was introduced way back in 1966, but that was only a teaser to the "real" Dodge Charger that came in '68. The first one sold a few thousand, but the gorgeous second generation set the personal car world on fire. Sure, you could get a Charger with the venerable Slant 6, but the "real" Chargers, or at least the ones we all remember and lusted after more than that porn star on the Ivory Snow box (Google it), were the big and brawny ones packing a 383 or a 440 or even the sacred 426 Hemi. An engine spoken about in hushed tones by teenage boys, who couldn't afford squat or by the big guns of NASCAR and the NHRA. Years later the Charger name appeared on a four door sedan (sign of the times), but amongst those who still remembered, the Charger name meant the one from 1968 and it was powered by the gloriously temperamental Hemi.
So back to the scary, "whatever the heck is it" Hellelephant? The famous SEMA (Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association) show opened this week in Vegas and as per usual, there were some outrageous unveilings. Maybe none more so than the new crate motor from Dodge, the Hellelephant. An explanation, please. The original Hemi earned the name elephant, since it was such a big beast of a motor. Dodge's newest crazy powerplant is called the Hellcat, so marry the two and you get the Hellelephant. Simply put, an off the rack crate motor putting out 1000 hp! What a wonderful time we live in.Now you can't just pull back the curtain and roll out an engine. Well, maybe you can, but it's not awfully dramatic. No, your best bet is to wrap it in something spectacular and for Dodge, what could be more spectacular than a 1968 Charger? And maybe massage it a bit for added pizzazz. So may I present the latest gonzo motor from Dodge in the one off Super Charger.......
A wild child engine in a fast and furious modified '68 Charger. How appropriate.
Nothing like using the past to introduce the present.........
And just when you thought that the Hellcat's 800+ hp would top the charts, Dodge drops this Halloween treat on us. Simply go on line, order up your Hellelphant, drop by your local Dodge dealer, pick it up, put it in your beefed up Honda and head to the streets. What better way to announce that you have arrived?
What other wild and crazy intro's will come out of the SEMA show? Stay tuned.
Until next time........
(due to circumstances there will only be one posting from me this week - back on the 6th)
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