New Challenger Convertible Will NOT be built...

[xs29j8Bullitt]

I guess it is a victim of the bad economy... more bad news may be in store for all three of the domestic brands... 

http://www.leftlanenews.com/no-fun-in-the-sun-dodge-cancels-challenger-convertible.html

XS

[mikesbbody]

That sucks, but i prefer the challenger as a hardtop (if i could ever afford one) 

[Ghoste]

Maybe we should all be grateful it was built at all?

[41husk]

Shoot! Now I need to decide if I should just go get an 09

[moparstuart]

well i wont be buying one now only wanted a convert!

[resq302]

well i wont be buying one now only wanted a convert!

Same here.  Dad was on the list to get one of the first converts since our 70 chally vert was one of the earlier cars being built 9/28/69.  He was hoping to have an old and new one to bring to shows and park them side by side.  Looks like mom will either be keeping her 2003 sebring convert limited or trading it in for a new mustang convert.

What I dont get is that Dodge says there is no market for a convertible, yet did they not redesign the new sebring convertible?  Just doenst make sense.  Now, for those of you who say no to wanting a convertible.  Seems like the majority of people want an older chally vert but not the new one?   To me, the new one is basically an upgraded, modernized version of the 1970 model.

[Mike DC]

 
I'm sure it's the coming CAFE regs & current gas prices more than anything else. 

They're probably finished investing large new amounts of money into the Chally line for any reason. 

[Daytona R/T SE]

well i wont be buying one now only wanted a convert!

Yep! With the decision to axe the convertible, Chrysler just saved me roughly $50,000. I don't want one if it's a coupe ( Can't call it a hardtop-it's got a "B" pillar  )

[resq302]

Ok, so you put two optional engines in it.  The 3.5 v-6 or the v-8.  Or if you even wanted to get crazy, make a limited production with the high horse power hemi.

[Mike DC]

 
If the Mopar hobby really wants a 'vert so badly, some aftermarket shop in SoCal will probably do a limited run of conversions anyway.

[G-man]

Maybe they will stop producing them alltogether and leave things the way they were meant to be, legends, back in the 60's-70's. 

[mikesbbody]

Maybe we should all be grateful it was built at all?

If the Mopar hobby really wants a 'vert so badly, some aftermarket shop in SoCal will probably do a limited run of conversions anyway.

I agree with ghoste and mike, im sure someone will do a conversion

[resq302]

 
If the Mopar hobby really wants a 'vert so badly, some aftermarket shop in SoCal will probably do a limited run of conversions anyway.

Yes, but how much would that "upgrade" cost for a daily driver.

[Brock Samson]

Ok, so you put two optional engines in it.  The 3.5 v-6 or the v-8.  Or if you even wanted to get crazy, make a limited production with the high horse power hemi.

well the srt is the 6.1 hemi and the drag race version has the even larger number race crate motors so you can go racing out the box.

I forget what they're calling the race version.. 

I'm sure the aftermarket will build at least a few converts..

[Brock Samson]

Ok, so you put two optional engines in it.  The 3.5 v-6 or the v-8.  Or if you even wanted to get crazy, make a limited production with the high horse power hemi.

well the srt is the 6.1 hemi and the drag race version has the even larger number race crate motors so you can go racing out the box.

I forget what they're calling the race version..  I checked they're calling it the "Drag Pac"
And it seems the first 100 are sold out and the ordering info has been removed from the web site...

I'm sure the aftermarket will build at least a few converts..

[Ghoste]

IIRC, those 100 drag cars were all that they were planning to build so it doesn't surprise me that the order info is gone.  As for an aftermarket vert, that doesn't appeal to me as much.  No matter what you do, it seems like aftermarket conversions are always just some customizers hack job to me.  A bad attitude but it's mine so I get to keep it.
I also agree with Mike about coming CAFE regs having as much to do with the death of a lot of cars we hold dear but if Dodge is using the argument that there is no market for it, I remember when they said there was no market for 2 doors either. 

[bull]

If Chrysler would have gotten off it's butt a long time ago, say back when gas was $2.20/gal and the retro Mustangs were being produced and sold left and right, they could have sold a bunch of Challenger convertibles and we wouldn't be having this conversation. But it's all moot since the "big three" are pretty much the bottom three now.

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

  Dad was on the list to get one of the first converts since our 70 chally vert was one of the earlier cars being built 9/28/69. 

Brian, who has this "list"?  I know a few people who'd like to be on it.  Do you have to currently own an early built Challenger 'vert to get on it?  Can it be a 71?

[TeeWJay426]

well i wont be buying one now only wanted a convert!

Same here... wouldn't spend that kind of money unless I could get it exactly how I wanted it; convertible and manual transmission were my two 'must haves'.

[41husk]

I used to think the same thing (I don't wan't one if it wasn't a vert) until I drove one now I want one

[triple_green]

I was planning on getting a vert to match my 71....but after they had depreciated for 5 or 6 years........

[triple_green]

BTW..."the extra weight they would have to add when they make it a convertible, makes this project undoable"...amazing...the coupe is already a "pig" at 4100+  pounds......my 71 vert weighed 3400 pounds with the 383 in it.....I might as well buy a Mercedes if I want an overweight convertible.......oh yah....thats what it really is.............

3X

[Khyron]

Looks like a Ford Mustang in my future.


Great job Chrysler.

[Charger_Fan]

From witnessing the current economic state, it's not really surprising to me that they're not making a convertible. I bet Ford doesn't do a Mustang facelift either, until things mellow out. The manufacturers are in "stay alive" mode right now. Once things get better, (and if the Chally is still in production) I bet they'll think about convertibles again...until then, they'll just ride out the storm.

[Ghoste]

You're probably right, I would have to think that even the Asian automakers are battening down the hatches.

[Mike DC]

 
The new CAFE regs aren't fixed.  They're gonna be rising steadily for the next decade or something.  I'm not just guessing here, this is already a done deal in the law that has been passed.


This is gonna change EVERYTHING. 

It's not just about whether they can sell a Chally right now.  For all intents & purposes, V8 cars are gonna be basically Fed-mandated out of existence.  In another decade the 6cyls are probably gonna be the big "gas guzzlers" in the product line.  Look for everything to lose a couple cylinders, grow more plastic & aluminum, and get even more expensive. 


It's 1974 for musclecars all over again.  In a big way. 

 

[WingCharger]

They should make a little slanty new Challenger. Bring back the Lite and Feather versions of the Duster and Dart, but on the Challenger. Hey, they made slanty 1969 Chargers.

[resq302]

  Dad was on the list to get one of the first converts since our 70 chally vert was one of the earlier cars being built 9/28/69. 

Brian, who has this "list"?  I know a few people who'd like to be on it.  Do you have to currently own an early built Challenger 'vert to get on it?  Can it be a 71?

Chris, the old Corigliano Dodge (now John Johnson Dodge) took my dads name and supposedly put it on a list for ordering when the car was to be made available.  He also was supposedly on another list at Johnson Dodge in Budd Lake after he got to talking to them about he new chally at a car show.  He never heard back from them.  John Johnson Dodge has been in constant communication with him and the owner, John Johnson, has been tallking to dad personally as he wanted to do something with his chally when the new chally verts were to come in.  I guess an old and new side by side promotion.

[Silver R/T]

a hardtop for me please