Challenger New vs. Old: Vanishing Point Revisited

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Features/articleId=126092

"Our sole Challenger has just broken the ring of evil the deep blue meanies have so righteously wrought — get through 'em baby, get through 'em." — Super Soul, Vanishing Point 1971

It happens deep in the Nevada desert, just past Austin. On a long, straight section of road with nothing to lose, our friends in the white 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T finally put the hammer down. At once, the rawness and purity of Kowalski's ride pulverizes the well-insulated interior of our 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8, shredding the peace inside the modern car's cockpit with the same brute force Kowalski used to pierce a hole in the cool desert air 38 years ago. Even with my right foot buried, I see nothing but taillights until they disappear into the desert.

In these few brief seconds, the 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 is clearly defined by its soft edges and quiet exhaust. Manufacturers don't let us feel cars raw and unfiltered anymore. Hammering down a desert road with a thin-rimmed steering wheel and pistol-grip shifter — that's raw. Four hundred and forty cubic inches and a four-speed — that's raw. Powerslides unhampered by electronic intervention — that's raw.

In 1970, when Kowalski drove this very road — U.S. Highway 50 through Nevada — he felt it. And it was raw.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Dodge
• Challenger
• SRT8
• SRT-8
• New
• vs.
• Old
• Vanishing
• Point
• Edmunds
• Edmunds'
• Inside
• Line
• car
• auto
• motor

[MrWoodlandAirsoft]

in 40 years, our kids are going to argue with people on their equivalent of the internet saying things like "your an idiot, the classic '2011 muscle will beat any new 2055 POS!" whos with me?

[spammortician]

New Challenger at 48K will be 24K in three years. 440 Six Pack Challenger may be 200K in three years. The market place does not lie.

r.states E-Bay - Ontos East

[0TheLostArtist0]

@aventador32

And the 318

[0TheLostArtist0]

@aventador32

Forgot about the 383

[0TheLostArtist0]

@aventador32

Seriously? O M G. The 426 HEMI was an optional engine in the challenger guy. Went from a Slant Six, 340, 440, 440-6, and the 426 HEMI. With tuning the 440-6 could outrun the HEMI for a lot less money but stock for stock it was quicker but not faster. But the HEMI had the torque to back up everything, 500 ft lbs to b exact.

[Aventador32]

I thought 70 challenger was a 426 Hemi

[FJvoodoo]

Remember!!! Friday nights, looking for races on Harbor Blvd. OR driving down Beach Blvd. till you hit Whittier looking for other fast cars. Can't forget Sunday nights with Big Whillie and the Street Racers. We used to tow our car in at about 8:00 and hope for another good car to show so we could race, only bad thing was the cops waiting outside the shopping center parking lot for about 50 cars to all at once pull out to go race, we raced what is explained in the post below

[FJvoodoo]

We raced a 64 Dodge Dart with a straight front axle. dropped in a police intercepter motor which was a 413 hemi with two holly 650 double pumpers sitting or top of a crossram. had a torqueflight trans with a 2600lb torque converter running a 356 rearend. Trans by Art Car and motor blue printed by Enis racing. Those were the best days only car that beat us was a 69 Chevelle with a 396 big block, it was injected so it was fast... Monarch's of Garden Grove was our club...

[oldmaninthemirror]

@Sos34111 you are correct. I am old man now but the old purple and white challenger with 340 6 pack was quick. not the best though. GTX with 440 magnum was an awesome car and still my favorite next to the Veyron.

[oldmaninthemirror]

@spammortician 1976 ish drove a MOPAR purple and white with pistol grip to daytona returned and picked up a purple and white challenger with 340 6 pack to drive home. as an aside rode in a mustang with 429 cobra jet. awesome compression would snap you back in the seat.

[Sos34111]

old challenger is the best