Prototype Saved From Crusher - Goes Vanishing point style
 

It's good to know that there are folks at Chrysler who are still having a good time despite the rubbish state of auto sales in the U.S. The best evidence of this is the automakers's entry this year's One Lap of America "cross-country" race. Chrysler's Vice President Ralph Gilles and Erich Heuschele, Vehicle Dynamics Supervisor for SRT, are entering a blank white Challenger inspired by the 1970 Dodge Challenger that stars in the cult film Vanishing Point from 1971. The plot of the original movie revolves around a guy named Kowalski who has to deliver a white 1970 Challenger from Denver to San Francisco. He's aided by a blind DJ named Super Soul who listens to the police band and delivers helpful if not clairvoyant info to the protagonist over the radio. It's fitting then that Gilles and Heuschele have entered the One Lap race this year under the names of Kowalski and Super Soul, and the car they'll be driving is the very first preproduction Challenger prototype that was ever driven on public roads. It's been rescued from the crusher and slightly modified with a fresh coat of white paint (the first ever seen on a new Challenger) and new wheels to more resemble the original. Check out our gallery of the "Return to Vanishing Point" Challenger below, and glimpse the fun film Chrysler produced after the jump.


Link has pictures gallery and a video clip.

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/02/c...-in-one-lap-o/

RE: Prototype Saved From Crusher - Goes Vanishing point style
 

two middle aged stuffed shirts puttering around in a challenger...[:'(]

RE: Prototype Saved From Crusher - Goes Vanishing point style
 

Half the article just summarizing vanishing point, but cool pics and video if you follow the link, and cool to know that one of the prototypes was saved from the crusher.

RE: Prototype Saved From Crusher - Goes Vanishing point style
 

know we have great pics of a white one. I like it. Great article

RE: Prototype Saved From Crusher - Goes Vanishing point style
 

That is one sweet exhaust note... :D

RE: Prototype Saved From Crusher - Goes Vanishing point style
 

And they get paid to do that DUUUUUDE!!![sm=drooldude.gif][sm=gears.gif][sm=icon_rock.gif]

RE: Prototype Saved From Crusher - Goes Vanishing point style
 

Those are the exact wheels i had in mind when i get mine!

RE: Prototype Saved From Crusher - Goes Vanishing point style
 

Yeah. But not quite as big -- preferably 17-inchers with white-letter tires.

RE: Prototype Saved From Crusher - Goes Vanishing point style
 

So...you against middle age or stuffed shirts, youngun'? ;)

RE: Prototype Saved From Crusher - Goes Vanishing point style
 

The are part of the Dodge team that helped with the Challenger.

If it wasn't of us baby boomers, many of these cars would not be coming back.

Yes, ye less wiser one and your point is???????

RE: Prototype Saved From Crusher - Goes Vanishing point style
 

It's the middle age target market that drove the rebirth of this great car. My feelings are hurt. Age prejudice is a terrible wrong....

RE: Prototype Saved From Crusher - Goes Vanishing point style
 

I wish I had feelings. Can't hurt what ain't there.:D

RE: Prototype Saved From Crusher - Goes Vanishing point style
 

Why would they want to crush one of the prototypes? If nothing else, I'm sure they could action that off and make lots of money off of it.

RE: Prototype Saved From Crusher - Goes Vanishing point style
 

Many times because it is difficult to get repaired when it brakes, but also because of liablity because it does not meet the safety standards.

RE: Prototype Saved From Crusher - Goes Vanishing point style
 

well, actually, it is all a mute point now. It is going to the crusher anyway after its little accident [sm=crossbonesgif.gif] . Seems the Universe has a way of correcting itself. Too bad they did not build the production ones exactly like the prototypes, then they probably could have fixed the vanishing point mule. I suppose they could try to retro a production front end on the proto? [sm=icon_quiet.gif] I wonder what that would look like?
probably look like a bad tuner job.