Let’s talk about the Dodge Challenger. A golden string to Chrysler’s bow, it may have been late to the Pony Car party, debuting in 1969, but what it lacked in punctuality, it made up for in Hemi power. The less said about the second generation, a rebadged Mitsubishi Galant Lambda, the better, but it can’t tarnish the original. When you restomod a classic, you run the risk of messing with the original’s fine balance. Not every Restomod goes right, as is evident if you browse the classifieds of a local paper. In this article, we’re going to celebrate a selection of those restomods that are done exactly right.

The Hellcat Challenger

We talked about this one a few months ago, but it bears repeating. The Hellcat engine was introduced as an option for the Challenger back in the 2015 model year, and it’s a wonderful engine. A 6.2 liter Chrysler crate engine with a 2.4 liter supercharger, it’s a monster, rated at 707 horsepower. Now, the modern Challenger is all very well, but what if you want this power in a classic? Luckily, somebody decided to give it a go. Sourcing a Hellcat isn’t the hard part, but fitting one? Apparently, that’s a difficult task, but in this field you can always rely on someone being dedicated enough to do it.

So, as well as 707 horsepower, what else does this restomod pack? Well, the radiator has also seen an upgrade, and the engine has been hooked to a Tremec six-speed with a pistol shifter. As well as that, the car’s underbelly has seen a thorough modernization, with coilover shocks and disc brakes installed. This dark destroyer has been entirely blacked out too. The headlights have been updated, and a T/A hood scoop and rear spoiler have been fitted, but it still looks vintage. The interior, likewise, retains its old charm, but has been redone in tan leather and updated with a touchscreen in the center console. Packing a modern punch, looking like a villain’s car from some campy 70s horror movie, and just as charming as the original, this is absolutely a restomod done right.

1973 Challenger Cruiser

There’s something to be said for subtlety in a restomod. As fun as it is to build a ridiculous 1000+ horsepower restomod with enough torque to speed up the Earth’s spin, sometimes you want something more restrained. Something for the weekend that you can take out on the highways and byways, and cruise in, in comfort. The concept was conceived by one Mac McGinley and his wife, Kay. They wanted to build their ultimate Mopar muscle car. He bought the car from his nephew, and set about getting it modified.

The aging 318 engine was removed, replaced with an overbored 440 with custom cam and pistons. This was then hooked up to a 727 transmission. The exterior modifications are far more difficult to spot. When you take a casual look at the car, you may well think that nothing much has changed. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Take a closer look at the door handles that have been strategically shaved down, or the space where the side markers have been removed. Remote door locks were also fitted. The suspension wasn’t upgraded, but was rebuilt to stock condition. Inside, the stock seats were replaced with buckets from a Nissan Pathfinder, resurfaced in leather. The A-pillars, console, and dash were also resurfaced. This Challenger is a subtle masterwork.

1971 Challenger Convertible Restomod

That old saying “no replacement for displacement” is an interesting one. It doesn’t necessarily hold true in these days of four liter engines with 1500 horsepower, but there’s still something charming about a balls out, huge engine. This Challenger convertible captures that charm, with a 572ci Hemi V8 under the hood producing 650 horsepower and a hell of a noise. This won’t just let you feel the wind in your hair, it may well rip it off at the scalp. The engine has been modified with a new EFI system, forged crankshaft and pistons, hydraulic cam, and new headers.

The interior is gorgeous too. From the brown leather, diamond-stitched seats to the black German weave carpet, and the wheel from a ’70s Ferrari to the aluminum pedals, it is absolutely flawless. Finished in Dupont Butterscotch Yellow, matte black trim, and a set of new 18-inch wheels, this is a dream convertible.

A Venomous Challenger

The Dodge Viper is a nice little supercar: powerful, good looking, and utterly impractical. Its power plants also provide plenty of plunder for restomods. This 1970 Challenger takes the 8.3 liter V10 from a 2004 Dodge Viper, complete with a Tremec six-speed transmission. The result is 550 horsepower: while that may not be as much as the other restomods we’ve talked about today, it does have one thing going for it: it’s cheap. The V10 is roughly $20,000 cheaper to get than a Hellcat, it’s 600lbs lighter, and the engine is highly moddable. If you add some turbos, you’ll be in for a hell of a ride, my man.

This isn’t a one-note engine swap, though. A whole host of other mechanical modifications have been carried out: the suspension, differential, wheels, and taillights have all been replaced. The car was listed on eBay back in 2015, with a reserve of $41,000, which it failed to meet! This car belongs here because it’s testament to what can be done on a budget.

1970 Mean Green Machine

There’s something about Chargers and Challengers that make usually unpleasant car colors look gorgeous. This Sublime Green color scheme, complete with blacked out grille, rear spoiler, and rims really makes this car’s style pop. The interior has seen new leather bucket seats fitted, with the center console also being reupholstered in hide. Auto Meter gauges peep out from behind the three-spoke wheel, a new audio head with iPod hookup sits in the radio slot, and a pistol grip shifter beckons you to drive it at speed. Even the trunk hasn’t gone unchanged, with new bulkheads fitted to contain the new hardware.

Under the hood, there’s a 6.4 liter Hemi crate engine, outputting 550 horsepower and 530 ft-lbs of torque. There are new coil covers, an intake manifold, and serpentine system that are in keeping with the engine’s OEM look. The inner fenders and firewalls have been smoothed and repainted to match the body, a new aluminum radiator provides the cooling, and the exhaust feeds into a MagnaFlow system. The front suspension by Schwartz features A-arms and coilovers, while the end features a Ford 9-incher. There are also disc brakes and rack and pinion steering to round it off. A stellar little car that sold for $114,995.