Dodge to resurrect the Challenger
 

Published July 1, 2006

Dodge to resurrect the Challenger

Gannett News Service


DETROIT - Muscle car fans: A classic ride silenced since 1974 will roar back to life this weekend.

Chrysler Group is preparing to announce before the Pepsi 400 NASCAR race in Daytona Beach, Fla., today that it will build the Dodge Challenger, bringing the sports coupe to market as soon as next year to compete against the Ford Mustang.

Chrysler officials haven't announced details, but people familiar with the plans confirmed that the two-door, four-seat concept Challenger unveiled in January at the North American International Auto Show will go into production.

Chrysler built the Challenger for only a few years, 1970-74, but the car made a lasting impression.

The concept version's styling borrowed heavily from the classic 1970 Challenger muscle car, with twin hood scoops and a pistol-grip shifter. The concept is powered by a 6.1-liter Hemi V8 producing 425 horsepower through a six-speed manual transmission.

"Every NASCAR fan in the country will be drooling over that car," said Erich Merkle, an auto analyst with IRN Inc. in Grand Rapids.