Jeremiah 29:11

I don't know about the price between $19K and $26K........that is a bit of a stretch but I have been wrong before.

Local car buffs excited about new Dodge Challenger

By Jeff Stahl
NewsChannel 3

Dodge is rolling out a new muscle car paying homage to one of it's classics from the late 60's and early 70's. Execs are hoping it'll be the next Mustang or P.T. Cruiser, cars that they just can't keep on the lot. Area car lovers are excited about the return of the new retro Challenger.

It doesn't take much to see the love Glenn Forebush has for his classic 1974 Dodge Challenger with its pistol-gripped shifter and 440-four barrel engine. Turning a three-month repaint into a three-year renovation, he stripped this car down, repainted it to its original color, installed custom wheels and a number of other after market features.

"Aftermarket manifold, carburetor, air cleaner, chrome valve covers."

Now his classic ride is getting a new look from a new generation, it's so new dodge doesn't even have video of it yet. But the automaker is going back to its roots once again introducing a new Challenger, retro in design, a two-door, 425-horse power V-8 engine, drawing its heritage from those classic cars from the 70's.

"The cars look fast, just sitting still. Just sitting there they look powerful."

Featuring their huge engines and a number of custom modifications, many of the people who own these 1970's Challengers say they're planning on buying the new Challengers when they come out next year. Dodge is hoping other people will do the same.
"If they build it like the concept car, I love it. I saw it up at the Mopars at the strip show in Vegas this year. I love it. There will be one in my garage."

"It's about time. They've done a good job in the photos I've seen and the articles I've read. If it comes out like that, it's going to be a real nice tribute to the old muscle car era."

Dan Campbell's all-original 1972 Challenger has 59,000 original miles, no more.

Milton Beauchamp owns a completely restored 1970 Challenger. He says his wife is even into the new model.

"She's saying this is what we want to do. We're going to trade in another car we have, buy that and park it right next to this one right in the garage if it goes well."

All this attention is just what Dodge wants to generate, a buzz that will bring in car buyers to their dealerships.

"As soon as the car was unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show, everybody seems to feel the car is readily available, and of course it isn't. We're getting 3 to 5 calls a day."

It is a 2008 and likely not coming out until late next year. Still, at classic auto shows like this one in Redlands, where chrome, polish, and American cars are still king, the new Challenger is offering some promise of bringing back a time when the big three auto-makers dominated the highways.

And classic owners are enjoying the ride.

If you're in the market for one of those new 2008 model Challengers, expect to pay between $19,000 and $26,000, depending on what engine you get and other options.