Vehicle Description
When this 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 hit the streets, it was the
hottest thing on four wheels. I'll wager that the original buyer
paid well over sticker price to own it, because it represented the
rebirth of a legend. If there's a late-model Challenger that will
be collectable in the future, it's probably one like this: early
car, beautifully maintained, completely stock.
The Galaxy Black paint with carbon-fiber-look stripes was a
combination right off the show car that debuted in 2006. The carbon
wasn't real, of course, but this was the car every Mopar guy wanted
to own as they impatiently counted down the days until it was
available in the showroom. This one has lived a good Texas life
carefully tucked away under the tutelage of the original owner. It
shows just 3,126 original miles, so you know it's been a
fair-weather toy, not a daily driver. The finish is in fantastic
condition due to its limited use, although there's just no
mistaking the intent of a car that looks like this. It was built to
drive. The look has aged quite well in the last 10+ years and
you'll surely find that everyone still stops to watch this
Challenger drive by. The chin spoiler isn't all beat up by steep
driveway aprons, the rockers haven't been blasted by debris, and
you knew everyone's going to dig the HEMI badges on the hood. Add
in a set of chrome exhaust tips, subtle SRT8 badging, and a
surprisingly modest deck lid spoiler and you end up with one of the
most successful pony car rebirths of the modern era.
The SRT8 showcased everything Chrysler could do for a driver, and
based on the 300's platform, it's a lot more spacious than you'd
expect. The deeply bolstered black leather seats have grippy
inserts and an orange stripe, and you'd be hard-pressed to find
much of a human footprint inside the cabin. You also got a fat
steering wheel, big, round gauges with racy electro-luminescent
faces, and a quick-shifting automatic transmission. Of course, on
the flagship, everything was standard, including A/C, power
windows, locks, seats, and mirrors, cruise control, and a cool
touch screen entertainment system with navigation. This one also
offers an optional sunroof, which is a somewhat rare option, and
the seats are heated, which makes a big difference on cool
mornings. Everything works, there are no issues, and you can get in
this car today and drive to California if you'd like. That's the
power of modern technology.
By this point, the 6.1 liter HEMI V8 really needs no introduction.
For the SRT8, they punched it out a bit to add the kind of low-end
torque muscle car fans expect, and not even a vintage 426 Hemi
could keep up with it. These cars are insanely popular and easy to
modify, but this one remains completely stock, which is always what
you want when you're buying a high-performance machine. The engine
bay is tidy, highlighting the taller 6.1 aluminum intake and black
coil covers, and you can see that it's never done a commute in the
winter weather. It starts quickly, idles properly, and has the kind
of big torque that most folks can't understand until they've driven
a car like this. The transmission bangs off quick shifts when
you're hustling but is unobtrusive when you're going easy, and the
suspension is remarkably livable given its insanely high limits.
Big Brembo disc brakes keep it safe and the factory alloy wheels
and 245/45/20 Goodyear tires are in excellent condition.
Still an apex predator, this Challenger offers a lot of performance
for a very reasonable price. Call today!