Hell Cat Convertible

[mpd659]

My local Dodge dealer customized his Hell Cat!!!




http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2016/04/07/dodge-challenger-srt-hellcat-convertible-up-for-sale/

[68X426]

Yeah, great, but $140k. 

[Q5XX29]

It is a cool car, but quite a price markup. DropTop Customs only charged about $18,000 to convert the Challenger into a convertible several years ago, when I did the VERY first Mr. Norm's supercharged challenger convertible, with complete FC7 plum crazy paint job. Of course, by the time I was done with it, I had over $100k into it, but I had to add the supercharger, exhaust, and other goodies that a Hellcat is already starting out with.

Here is mine:

http://www.hotrod.com/cars/featured/mopp-1008-2009-dodge-challenger-srt8-convertible-custom/



So, you could buy this guy's Hellcat convertible, or spend about $90 grand and build your own, and save $50,000.

[Mike DC]

   
Right now, a Hellcat with any kind of major customization will have the price inflated by 5 figures. 

[Q5XX29]

 
Right now, a Hellcat with any kind of major customization will have the price inflated by 5 figures.  

It would be incredibly foolish to pay for that kind of price inflation, when the going rate for a brand-new hellcat challenger, even on eBay, is only $65-$75,000, and then $20k or whatever it is they charge these days for the convertible conversion.   I am not in the habit of throwing away $50,000 for absolutely nothing.  The fact that this is the "first" hellcat challenger convertible means nothing, in my opinion. It's not like it is a limited-edition car from the factory,  which arguably would maybe be worth more in the collector car market, someday.


Also, that article mistakes South Dakota for North Dakota... We don't have the oil boom here in South Dakota!

[ACUDANUT]

Oh, so he reveals his State.  
S.D. 

[triple_green]

I saw several new challenger convertibles in CA.

There is also a local one that is B5 blue, that belongs to one of the tribe around the rapper Sir-mix-a-lot.

[JB400]

Personally, I don't think the new Challenger has the lines to allow the drop top version.

[ws23rt]

Personally, I don't think the new Challenger has the lines to allow the drop top version.

I agree. You can cut the top off of a car but only get a car without a top for the effort.

[Q5XX29]

Personally, I don't think the new Challenger has the lines to allow the drop top version.

Obviously, I do like the conversion, but agree that the originals are much better-suited for the convertible. The rear-seat headrests are what F it up for the new ones, in my opinion.

[myk]

Yeah, great, but $140k. 

It's worth more than my whole life lol...

[triple_green]

Is Chrysler ever going to produce a Cally Vert?
There are so many Mustangs and Camaros out there. When I was in Maui (during spring break)I would literally see 100s of Mustang convertibles every day, because they were in the all the Rental fleets.

[ACUDANUT]

Is Chrysler ever going to produce a Cally Vert?
There are so many Mustangs and Camaros out there. When I was in Maui (during spring break)I would literally see 100s of Mustang convertibles every day, because they were in the all the Rental fleets.

I doubt Fiat wants to spend any money on such a thing. 
Why, who knows.

[RallyeMike]

If I had a 707hp car, it would need not only a top but a roll cage.

[Mike DC]

      

Insert Quote
If I had a 707hp car, it would need not only a top but a roll cage.

I doubt you would build a 707 hp car that weighed 4600 lbs.  That's about what a Chally Hellcat convertible would weigh from the factory.  


Add a decent rollcage, adult driver, a full tank of gas, maybe a backpack's worth of random common stuff everyone keeps in their car  . . . you would be cruising at literally 5000 lbs.  

[Mytur Binsdirti]

New Challenger convertible conversions are ugly as sin with the top up.





And some conversions are even uglier than that......

[ws23rt]

The new challengers are one of those cars (like the 68-69 chargers) that always look worse when the original lines are messed with.

[Mytur Binsdirti]

The new challengers are one of those cars (like the 68-69 chargers) that always look worse when the original lines are messed with.

Exactly! 

[RallyeMike]

Quote
Insert Quote
If I had a 707hp car, it would need not only a top but a roll cage.


I doubt you would build a 707 hp car that weighed 4600 lbs.  That's about what a Chally Hellcat convertible would weigh from the factory. 


Add a decent rollcage, adult driver, a full tank of gas, maybe a backpack's worth of random common stuff everyone keeps in their car  . . . you would be cruising at literally 5000 lbs. 

I just hope that any company chopping the roof off a 2ton 707hp car and then selling it to the public has a good liability policy for when one inevitably goes tires up.

[Q5XX29]

I would counter that ANY convertible looks kind of funky with the top up, and personally- I HATE the cheap, tacky, wavy plastic rear-window of the old convertibles. Granted, the "chop shops" that take the easy way out by doing their conversion without incorporating the rear quarter-glass are doing an absolutely shitty job, and I wouldn't be caught dead driving one of their cars with the top up. However, I never drive my convertible with the top up, either, even though I really don't think it looks any worse than the originals with their tops up.

Also- regarding the safety questions... DropTop Customs does much more than simply hack off the roof. They do fabricate some fairly extensive under-body bracing to stiffen things up. All of us here recognize that any convertible is inherently less safe than the hardtop counterparts, but I don't think their Challengers are any worse than any other convertible, and dare I say- probably STILL oodles safer than any 1970s Challenger convertible.

Here is mine (sorry, I don't have any with the top up, but the always-classy Mytur was kind enough to provide some flattering images already):










And here are some random shots of originals with their top up. Any worse? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I guess:

[Mytur Binsdirti]

I'll admit that I forgot to add that I do think that they look good with the top down, but they look horrid with the top up. But I do think that the 70 Challenger doesn't look as bad with the top up as the new Challenger does.

No insult to you was intended, but it is my advice to never, ever put the top up in your car. 

[Q5XX29]

 

[68X426]

my advice to never, ever put the top up in your car. 

This coming from a guy with a turban on top.   

[Mytur Binsdirti]

Is there a problem?     

[Q5XX29]

I suspect he is compensating for something...