From Red Letter Dodge:

Production Number Set: The 6,400 Challenger Question
Jan 22, 2008 at 2:09PM

Mark Mallie

By Mark Mallie

Dodge Challenger Brand Manager

So the cat is out of the bag! We are going to build 6,400 Dodge Challenger SRT8’s for the 2008 model year. It was our most asked question this past week at Barrett-Jackson. It seems the collectors knew this car was going to be special and early indications are supportive with the first two Challengers selling for nearly a combined $600,000! A shocking amount given the production model has still yet to be revealed.

The volume and market timing trace their origins back to the Challenger feasibility study which was underway while the Challenger concept was still setting the auto show circuit ablaze. While manufacturing and engineering dictated market timing, we decide that the right go to market plan for Challenger was to launch as a short 2008 model vs a long running 2009 model. We had 35 years of pent up demand for Challenger and we felt the right approach was to hit the market with a bang - an exclusive limited-edition short run model that would begin to build the next Challenger legacy! To help indicate the exclusivity of this model, each vehicle will wear a unique interior dash plaque, 1 of 6,400 similar to the plaques on the Charger Daytona and Super Bee.

With customers clamoring for the car we knew we had to build enough to satisfy the years of demand but also limit the volume to keeping it exclusive. And although we have orders in excess of our planned production, not every dealer who is going to receive a Challenger has its order in yet. If you are interested in a 2008 Challenger, check with your local dealer. As we’ve said before, there’s plenty more for Challenger fans to look forward to as well.

Watch for the production unveiling on February 6th at the Chicago Auto Show -and if you can’t get to the Windy City, you can bet RLD will carry the photos.

For the full press release, click through the jump…


PRESS RELEASE

First Production 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8® Sells for $400,000!

* 100 percent of the proceeds from the auction of No. 1 production Dodge Challenger SRT8® benefit notMYkid
* Limited-edition 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 features a 6.1-liter HEMI® V-8 engine, HEMI Orange paint, carbon-fiber-like hood stripes and a chrome fuel filler cap
* Only 6,400 Challenger SRT8 vehicles will be produced for sale in the United States for 2008; more than 4,300 orders placed the first day the all-new Dodge Challenger SRT8 went on sale

Auburn Hills, Mich., Jan 22, 2008 - Dodge and notMYkid partnered to auction the first production 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8® at the 37th annual Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction on January 19, in Scottsdale, Ariz. The winning bid was placed by Craig Jackson, Chairman/CEO of the Barrett-Jackson Auction Company.

“Dodge is ecstatic that the sale of the first production 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 to roll of the assembly line raised $400,000 for such a worthy cause,” said Mike Accavitti, Director — Dodge Brand and SRT Global Marketing, Chrysler LLC. “The introduction of an all-new, modern Dodge Challenger has generated a lot of excitement, and the enthusiasm for the new car was evident on the auction block.”

The all-new 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 features the proven 6.1-liter HEMI® V-8 engine mated to a five-speed automatic transmission, a race-inspired interior and an exterior design stays true to Challenger heritage while delivering host of modern features and technologies and “race inspired, street legal” SRT DNA.

Developed by Chrysler’s in-house performance engineering organization, the 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 was engineered with a focus on the five pillars of every SRT vehicle: bold exterior design that resonates with the brand image, a race-inspired interior, world-class ride and handling across a dynamic range, a standout powertrai

 

and the bad news...found out from my dealer, even though my order was placed the first week .. I'm NOT one of the 6400 wow ... what a hole this leaves...

 

Temporary hole. You'll just get a 2009 SRT8 instead of a 2008. At least you're in the "on deck circle".

 

What number in line were you... how does he know you are out??

 

Wow i put my order in the first day, and they told me ill have my car in middle march at the longest early april.

 

I stopped by my dealer today and mine is at c status and they claim that it will be one of the first to be built but I'll believe it when I see it.

 

Wonder how many bugs you'll have to deal with. Sorry. As with ANY car, I want one much later in the production run.

 

Hoping there won't be many for those lucky/impatient/wealthy enough to get an '08.
I'd think since most of the components in the Challenger are already tested and proven/from the Magnum, Charger and 300, the only things that would be different are the length of "lines", driveshaft (should make that stronger), a slight change in the wiring harness, and a few different/new electronic items. The "guts" of the system should be basically the same, wouldn't you think?

 

Talked to my dealer today - I was first in line at my dealer and I'm a BX code on my order nothing holding it back. Another customer ordered after me is in a CX code but looks like there may be some hold out with that code?? Who knows???

Eric

 

ill take my chance with dealing with a few bugs. I'm not planning on using it as a trailer queen. My silver 2008 is going to the race track

yea baby