Dodge Shakedown Challenger: Old-School Swag with Modern Flavour

Paying homage to the classic 1971 Challenger.

For the 2016 Specialty Equipment Market Association Show (SEMA) at the Las Vegas Convention Center this year, FCA showed up large with 6 new modified vehicles from Jeep, Dodge,  Ram, and Chrysler. With some love from Mopar, these everyday rides got a huge dose of personalization, as you’d expect from a SEMA show car.

All six concepts are noteworthy, no question, but the 485-hp Dodge Shakedown Challenger powered by a  Viper Tremec T6060 six-speed transmission engine with its “Bitchin’ Black” exterior (yes, that’s the name), is what we feel like focusing on. And why not?

Paying homage to the classic 1971 Challenger

A take on the classic 1971 Challenger, the Shakedown flavour merges old-school muscle with 21st century technology and aesthetic. The Dodge Shakedown Challenger sees a unique hand-built, one-off frame with a removable body, rolling on concept SRT Hellcat Slingshot-designed 19-inch by 9 1/2-inch front and 20-inch by 9 1/2-inch rear wheels, providing a “coiled” stance. For more throwback flair, the 1971 Shaker hood scoop is added with help from select parts from the Mopar brand’s modern-day Shaker hood kit, feeding fresh air to the HEMI powerplant. 

Add black re-trimmed Dodge Viper front seats and Viper steering wheel, a black leather shift boot capped by an SRT Hellcat gearshift knob, and a Mopar instrument panel with black gauges contrasted with the gloss carbon fiber instrument panel cluster trim, and we seriously wish SEMA was a quarterly thing every year so we get cars like the Dodge Shakedown Challenger more often. Until next year.

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News Editor
Bringing the latest news including release dates, pricing announcements, product updates. With some glossy concepts and special edition rides in the mix.