In November 2006 at the SEMA show in Las Vegas, Jonathan in research, Darrell in purchasing and myself stood around the Dodge Challenger concept car and thought WOW! Although the Mustang had already showcased it's retro styling and was already a big hit, but the Challenger Concept just oozed muscle car looks and we thought this is what Dodge needed to get back in the game.
Fast forward to earlier this year, we had been talking about expanding our product lines to include other vehicles. Our Mustang line has grown to including wheel and tire kits, an all new catalog, $14.95 flat rate shipping, a huge inventory of parts (even the hard to find items). Our Chevrolet Truck line is successful also so we thought that this new offering from the Mopar bunch could be the next big hit. We started reading as much as we could about this new LX platform Dodge and what it's potential could be.
In order for us to research the car to our standards, we just had to get one. So we just decided to go pick up a Hemi Orange SRT8 Coupe with a sunroof and start playing. First impressions, the car really is beautiful and catches alot of attention but it is big and heavy (4100lbs!). I love the way that it remained true to the concept and had changed very little in that regard. The 6.1L Hemi makes good power(425hp) and once it is rolling it really pulls hard. From a dead stop, not so much but if it runs mid 13's stock, that's not too bad. The Challenger is roomy inside and the seats are comfortable, even the back seats! The trunk is large enough to put a couple of bodies in, just kidding, but it does have plenty of room and easily accessible.
Our plans with the car are to show people what can be done to one that increases performance, looks, and drivability. We are going to have fun with it, so if you have an SRT8 Challenger we welcome you to our website. If you have an 09 V6, R/T or SRT on order, we welcome you too. If you are one of our Mustang or Chevy Truck faithful, understand that we are not kicking anyone to the curb to enjoy a new toy. We are as dedicated to the Mustang and truck hobby now as we were when we started. We never stop looking for that next little piece that you need to complete your car or truck so rest assured our finger is on the enthusiast pulse!
For the past ten years Latemodel Restoration Supply has been the number one stop for latemodel Mustang performance and restoration parts, and 4 years ago we opened up to the Chevrolet Truck market that offers all of the latemodel styling and restoration that anyone could need, again all at great prices. So now we are spreading our wings a little more by offering parts for this new Dodge Challenger with competitve pricing, $14.95 flat rate shipping and an ever growing product listing.
Ford owners, Chevy owners, Dodge owners keep checking back, you ain't seen nothing yet...
For more Challenger pics, check out our photo gallery.