The modern-day Dodge Charger Hellcat has made an amazing contribution to the muscle car segment. However, many people think it’s got too many doors to be called that. But what if you could have all that supercharged goodness in one of the most beautiful cars of all time? I’m talking about a Hellcat swap for the 1968 Dodge Charger R/T.
I think every muscle car fan has a favorite picture of the 68 Charger. It’s why the new SRT Banshee looks the way it does and it’s definitely the major inspiration for the Challenger, going all the way back to the 2006 concept.
Hellcat swaps of old Chargers are nothing new. But because you’re putting a very expensive engine into a very expensive body, things can get out of hand. For example, the “Hellephant” does indeed use a 68 body, but opts for the ridiculous 1000 hp Hellephant crate motor and pretty much upgrades every bracket, bolt, and light bulb.
But we’ve stumbled upon something a little more reasonable, not built to a SEMA-level budget. This 68 Charger R/T has come up for sale on Bring A Trailer and has already been bid up to $70,000 hours after being listed.
According to the seller, it was bought in 2015 as a rolling project and sent over to Hot Rod Factory in East Bethel, Minnesota for its engine upgrades. They not only dropped in the 6.2-liter SRT Hellcat V8, but also used the best gearbox you could wish for, the Tremec six-speed manual.
Under the hood, this restomod also boasts Griffin aluminum radiator, an oil pan sourced from Charlieโs Oil Pans, and a dual stainless-steel exhaust system equipped with MagnaFlow mufflers. It’s also got a Vintage Air system and a Bluetooth radio. But with a screaming V8 under the hood, do you really want to listen to anything else?
On the chassis front, the Hellcat 68 Charger boasts 10-bolt rear end, and Viking Performance suspension components, which include a K-member, adjustable coilovers, and a four-link rear setup sourced. All the big restomod brand names are here, but it still looks almost like a normal 1968 Dodge, and that’s admirable.
During the refurbishment, the Charger R/T also got a new coat of paint, gloss black. Old muscle cars are known to rust, so they had to take care of the trunk floor and rear quarter panels. Esthetic upgrades also include US Mags wheels (18s front and 19s back), which are big but don’t clash with the retro design.
The highlight has to be the headlights though. For whatever reason, the complete Challenger Hellcat assembly appears to have been fitted, complete with air intakes inside the LED halos. It’s an interesting idea, but to my eyes, they look a little small and lack the appropriate trim. If it were my car, I’d replace those with whatever restomod kit is available, like what SpeedKore used.