Vehicle Description
2006 Dodge Magnum SRT 8 Wagon
The Dodge Magnum is a nameplate used by several Dodge vehicles at
different times and on various markets. The name was first applied
to a large Chrysler B-based 2-door coupe marketed from 1978 to 1979
sold in the United States and Canada. The Magnum name was revived
in 2004 for the 2005 model year, as a station wagon based on the
Chrysler LX platform. The Magnum had four engine options; the SE
features the 190hp 2.7L V6, the SXT had the 250hp 3.5L V6, and the
RT had the new 340 hp 5.7L Hemi V8. The SRT-8 has a 425 hp 6.1 L
Hemi engine. All wheel drive became an option in 2005 on SXT and RT
models. On November 1, 2007, Chrysler announced that, as part of
its restructuring plans, the Dodge Magnum would be one of four
models discontinued after the 2008 model year. In Chrysler's words:
"The Magnum, along with the PT Cruiser convertible, the Crossfire,
and the Pacifica were not earning their keep". Production ended on
March 28, 2008.
If you still think that station wagons are a mild-mannered mode of
transportation for the stay at home housewife to putter around to
the grocery store and bridge games then you are sorely mistaken.
Even in its showroom form the SRT 8, (Street & Racing Technology
for those not in the know), Dodge Magnum was a powerhouse disguised
as a family toter and grocery getter. Rear wheel drive, check.
425hp 6.1L V8, check, all the racing and horsepower heritage Mopar
is famous for, check. Then what happens when you add a reworked
engine, bigger camshaft, supercharger, and beefed-up transmission
and rear axle? Read on and prepare to have your outlook of wagons
changed and your mind blown by this one owner, one driver, low
mileage Brilliant Black ass kicker.
Exterior
Bathed in its original deep end of the pool Brilliant Black Crystal
Pearlcoat nary a flaw can be found. Starting with the very
Chargeresque neoprene front bumper with its oval grille with center
cross hair design and outboard one-piece headlamp assemblies we see
smooth design that was used across the Chrysler model lineup this
year. Added gray stripes that run from the front bumper and over
the hood, only pausing for the glass and roof then continuing down
the tailgate and rear bumper break up the sea of black that is this
car. Moving down the long slab sides the only variation from the
all black theme is a small chrome highlighted HEMI badge on either
front fender and a small red pinstripe that runs from wheel well to
wheel well just above the rocker panels. Tinted glass gives not
only a cool look but also helps keep other street racers, (hey it
is Street & Race Technology right?!?), from seeing who's being the
wheel. Wrapping up the tail end are body integrated taillights, a
tailgate that opens wide to accept most cargo, and another neoprene
bumper with cutouts for the dual exhaust to exit. Factory black
chrome wheels adorn all 4 corners and are wrapped in low profile
reline rubber. As my partner in crime and crack decoder says,
"longroof's are where it's at!".
Interior
Swinging open the door and we are met with a dark charcoal and
light gray panel. A separating faux carbon fiber panel divides the
two and is highlighted by a blazing red stripe. Power window, power
lock and power mirror controls are held within as are one of the
many speakers. This theme of colors also appears on the long deep
dash with a litany of gauges being in front of the leather wrapped
steering wheel that contains not only more faux carbon fiber but
also audio as well as other controls. An AM/FM/Multi CD/MP3 player
with Navigation is in the center of the dash as are the heater and
A/C controls. Power and heated front bucket seats with Dark Slate
smooth leather bolster and light slate suede inserts flank a
central console which contains the shifter and multiple storage
compartments. A long bench in the rear stretches door to door and
is of the same design as the buckets. Slight age wrinkling is noted
on the driver's seat but nothing remarkable. The rest of the seat
appear to never have been sat in. A huge storage area is behind the
rear seat and has room to haul just about anything. We note this
car is also equipped with the 276 watt Kicker SRT amp, 1000 watt
Kicker SRT sub, and 11 speaker Kicker SRT high performance audio
system. Black carpet floods the floor and looks showroom new while
a gray headliner hangs above and has a factory installed power
sunroof.
Drivetrain
Lifting the striped hood we see a true powerhouse of this wagon. A
forged bottom end replacement 6.1L HEMI has been installed and
holds within not only H-beam rods but a HHP Stage 4 blower cam.
Thitek aluminum beehive cylinder heads were then bolted on and a
Magnuson Supercharger with a 3" pulley and a ATI Super Damper made
for 17% overdrive was added. Bolted to the back of this elephant is
a Mercedes-Benz derived beefed up W5A580 5-speed automatic
transmission with a Nag 1 controller. A 3.06 geared rear axle puts
all this power to the pavement with the help of a Wave-Track
limited slip unit.
Undercarriage
Showroom new is the best way to describe the bottom of this car.
Suspension is independent on both front and back and 4 wheel Brembo
power disc brakes bring all the horses to a stop. Dual exhaust feed
spent fossils to the rear after passing through a pair of JBA high
flow cats and Magnaflow mufflers. All buttoned up and looking
great.
Drive-Ability
It was time to draw straws to see who got the chance to drive this
Camaro killer. Naturally I won as I kept a supply of cheater straws
in my shirt pocket. A twist of the key and the HEMI roared to life.
Slipping the shifter into D I was off to the Classic Auto Mall Test
Track. Here the car had limitless acceleration, beyond stellar
braking, and handling like that of a European sports sedan. I
returned with all smiles and my cohort in the passenger seat looked
slightly pale and walked a little slower than normal after feeling
the stampede of this elephant on steroids.
Never was a station wagon thought of as a muscle car, but the folks
at Dodge and SRT broke the mindset when they introduced the Magnum
SRT 8. With a huge list of engine work done by the folks at HHP and
a careful but horsepower minded owner this wagon isn't one to be
toyed with. Presently in our hallowed North Mallway and ready to
breath fire at any opponent who crosses its path and drenched in
black this is the wagon you need. To quote our consignor when asked
about show trophies, "Owning this car IS the trophy!".
VIN DECODE
2D8GV77356H141497
2-Canada
D-Daimler Group
8-MPV, Side Airbags
G-5000 Thru 6001 GVWR
V-Magnum SRT RWD
7-Special Price Class
7-Hatchback, Tall Body
3-6.1L Hemi V8
5-Check Digit
6-2006
H-Brampton, Ontario, CA Assy Plant
141497-Sequential Unit Number
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special
interest automobile showroom, featuring over 650 vehicles for sale
with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle
barn find collection is on display.
This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia
on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is
www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914.
Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the
vehicle in person.
