Totally custom charger...

[1974dodgecharger]

even modified the body 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=invraPW08DQ

[myk]

I admire the craftsmanship but...I'll take my Charger in full size, thanks.  Miniaturizing a Charger body would be like giving Kate Upton a breast reduction; the finished product is still beautiful but a complete crime against humanity.  Also, the narrator sounds like a complete dork.  'OP thanks for posting!  

[Aero426]

It appears that this car is the one built several years ago by Dave Salvaggio in Milwaukee.   Dave's shop is the one doing the "Punishment" Charger.    RK (formerly Best of Show Auto) has had the car on and off for several years.   It appears that RK has done a major makeover on it by getting rid of the gold paint and returning the interior to something more stock looking.    The original custom interior frankly was not very appealing.    I believe that there was another uncompleted shell built to these dimensions.   But I can't believe anyone would build a second one.    

[moparstuart]

 

[Aero426]

It appears they have also ditched the strange grille and headlight treatment.   This is an old ad for the car.  It also shows the home-built dashboard.   

[DC_1]

I remember seeing info on that car a couple years ago as well. I just don't see the value in creating something like this. The amount of hours that went into it and the level of craftsmanship is unbelievable, but at the end of the day I see very few who would want to have it in their garage.

[Ghoste]

I still don't like it.  It looks like a Chevelle that someone tried to add Dodge styling cues to.  And maybe not even that nice.

[Aero426]

I remember seeing info on that car a couple years ago as well. I just don't see the value in creating something like this. The amount of hours that went into it and the level of craftsmanship is unbelievable but at the end of the day I see very few who would want to have it in their garage.

Exactly.   You have to wonder how many drinks were consumed before someone said,  "Hey, what if we took a Charger and shortened it to E-body dimensions.   That'd be great!"    

That car is the answer to a question that nobody asked.

[gtx6970]

black and gold or all black ,,,it's still butt ugly and a complete waste of some serious talent

then again, it may have been nothing more than an exercise in a 'lets see if we can do it'   type of thing.

[doctor4766]

I think Id sooner have this one.
Anybody know it?
It was one of those ebay scams when I was first looking for a Charger back in 2005.
Yeah 9 grand buy it now. 

[ACUDANUT]

x2

[twodko]

Ghetto fail.

[Homerr]

If this had been done on a new Challenger chassis (2008-newer) with Charger panels then I could see some appeal for some.  I agree the craftsmanship is excellent and while RK has reworked it to be better than the 'gold' version it just doesn't do it for me.

[Aero426]

The reaction to the original car was so negative, that the designer will only show an underhood shot on his website today.   Scroll to the bottom.

http://www.salvaggioautodesign.com/index.php/creations

[myk]

I still don't like it.  It looks like a Chevelle that someone tried to add Dodge styling cues to.  And maybe not even that nice.

It just reminds me of a 5th 'Gen Camaro.  If I want something short, fat and stubby looking that's what I'd buy and I'd have a factory warranty on top of it all...

[bull]

  Perfection.

[Mike DC]

                          
Major bodywork changes to a 2nd-gen Charger = FAIL


The customizing world has to re-learn this the hard way about once every 10 years.  

[Ghoste]

                         
Major bodywork changes to a 2nd-gen Charger = FAIL


The customizing world has to re-learn this the hard way about once every 10 years.  

Truer words were never spoken!!

[73rallye440magnum]

Having worked on this car since it was purchased by the current owner from RK I have a few things I'd like to add to the conversation-

My initial impression was the same as all of yours. 

However,

The chassis is absolutely incredible.

The body design and construction is quite impressive.

The dimensions grew on me after spending some time around the car. I can't say it would have the same effect on every Charger enthusiast, but every Mopar fan that saw the car during the duration I was around it loved it.

The new owner added some nice details and finishing touches. In my opinion, this is one of the best.

That Hemi absolutely performs as well as it looks.

Proceed with bashing.

[1974dodgecharger]

Its a great car in its own right in my opinion, but its not a true charger. its like saying the current chargers are the same as the old chargers, but they are not. They are 'cool' in their own right as with any car in general.

To me the owner had the money and did what 'suited' him and his 'likes' and not cared what others thought. To me thats awesome enough...

Im surprised at alot of the responses on there considering the fact that so many folks think the new 'charger' is well the same charger as before from 1st to 3rd gen, but yet bash this car so it 'seems'.

Having worked on this car since it was purchased by the current owner from RK I have a few things I'd like to add to the conversation-

My initial impression was the same as all of yours.

The chassis is absolutely incredible.

The body design and construction is quite impressive.

The dimensions grew on me after spending some time around the car. I can't say it would have the same effect on every Charger enthusiast, but every Mopar fan that saw the car during the duration I was around it loved it.

The new owner added some nice details and finishing touches. In my opinion, this is one of the best.

That Hemi absolutely performs as well as it looks.

Proceed with bashing.

[DC_1]

Im surprised at alot of the responses on there considering the fact that so many folks think the new 'charger' is well the same charger as before from 1st to 3rd gen, but yet bash this car so it 'seems'.

WHAT!!!....who thinks that? I don't know of anyone who thinks the "New" Charger is the same as the 1st thru 3rd gen.

[UH60L]

Im surprised at alot of the responses on there considering the fact that so many folks think the new 'charger' is well the same charger as before from 1st to 3rd gen, but yet bash this car so it 'seems'.

WHAT!!!....who thinks that? I don't know of anyone who thinks the "New" Charger is the same as the 1st thru 3rd gen.

There are plenty of people on here who will defend the current four door sedan, to the point of idiocracy in some cases.  And, as he stated, some of those same people will trash on a car like this one.  No matter what message board, there is plenty of two-facedness to go around.

Example: Many fo the same people who rag on me for not liking the current four door sedan, and whom make comments such as "it was never meant to a muscle car like the old ones", then turn around spend thousands of dollars buying parts from Danko to make their family sedan look like a '68, '69, or '70 charger.

It's just the nature of some people I guess.

[1974dodgecharger]

Im surprised at alot of the responses on there considering the fact that so many folks think the new 'charger' is well the same charger as before from 1st to 3rd gen, but yet bash this car so it 'seems'.

WHAT!!!....who thinks that? I don't know of anyone who thinks the "New" Charger is the same as the 1st thru 3rd gen.

Just go through some old postings and even older postings you will alot of folks defend the new charger and say it stayed true to its 'lines and heritage'. Then you got people like me who tell them its not a charger from the same family line, but they essentially slapped the name 'charger' on a interpid or avenger and named it charger based on its history to get sales.

[Mike DC]

          
The Charger family line died about 20-30 years ago in the K-car era.  Love it or hate it, either way a new one is never gonna be mechanically related to the old ones.  


What does the 2012 Camaro have to relate to the classic Camaros?  It's a V8 with RWD and 2 doors.  A modern Mustang or Challenger also has that much in common with the old Camaros.

The only ponycar with much of any mechanical relation to its ancestors is the modern Mustang.  And the days are probably numbered for the live rear axle & retro styling on the modern ones.  

[myk]

Im surprised at alot of the responses on there considering the fact that so many folks think the new 'charger' is well the same charger as before from 1st to 3rd gen, but yet bash this car so it 'seems'.

WHAT!!!....who thinks that? I don't know of anyone who thinks the "New" Charger is the same as the 1st thru 3rd gen.

Just go through some old postings and even older postings you will alot of folks defend the new charger and say it stayed true to its 'lines and heritage'. Then you got people like me who tell them its not a charger from the same family line, but they essentially slapped the name 'charger' on a interpid or avenger and named it charger based on its history to get sales.

One of those people would be "me" and I defiantly, proudly stand by my words, and I NEVER said that the new Charger is the same as the previous one.  I wont say OLD because the 2nd Generation Charger is a timeless piece of perfection.  

Taking a new body style like the '12 Charger and giving it styling cues that mimic one of the greatest body styles in ALL of automotive history is an homage, or paying tribute to the physical perfection that is the 2nd Generation Charger.  Now, taking an original 2nd Generation Charger and BUTCHERING IT to be something that it is not is an entirely different matter, it is SACRILEGE.  Am I correct in understanding that this '68 body was chopped to more closely resemble the dimensions of the new Challenger?  Why?  I'd listen to the video again but the narrator's voice makes me want to put a sawz-all in my eye sockets.  While we're at it, why don't we change the dimensions of the cross that Jesus Christ was crucified on to make it look cooler-you know, a little bit off the top and the like.  Or, maybe we can add a few more stars and splash some extra color on the U.S. flag just to give it a freshening up?  Finally, like my previous example, maybe we can give lovely Kate Upton a breast reduction because smaller, more mainstream looking breasts are the trend in Europe right now?

Lol, I love it when I get carried away on these new vs old and everything else in-between Charger threads, but the bottom line is this: the 2nd Generation Charger is divine, that 'modded '68 is stupid, and Kate Upton is walking perfection, especially in her dancing youtube video...