It is rather evident that luxury restomods priced well into the six-digit dollar or euro territory tend to make all the headlines, while some of the less expensive projects fly under the radar. Of course, it does not mean that amateur restorations, like this 1973MY Dodge Challenger, are any less interesting.
In its first generation, the muscle car did not have the best engine around, so the tuner had it swapped for a modern 6.1-liter HEMI V8 bored out to 6.4 liters of displacement. Electronic injection and Manley Performance components helped the mill produce around 500 horsepower (375 kilowatts), per the seller. In comparison, the modern Challenger Scat Pack has the same volume and cylinder block, but slightly less power.
Elsewhere, the restomod runs on a Tremec TKO transmission, rear-wheel drive, tuned suspension and Wilwood brakes. It is not without fault, however: some of the body panels do not match seamlessly, the front air intake covers are misaligned with air openings, and the AC still refuses to work even after replacement.
At a recently concluded auction, someone bid $40,001 for the car, but failed to meet the reserve. There’s no overlooking the fact that a new Challenger outfitted like this starts around $45,000.