The 10 Best Dodge Challengers From Muscle Car’s 3 Generations

When one thinks of a muscle car, the Dodge Challenger is sure to be one of the first models that comes to mind – whether you’re reminiscing about the golden era of the late 1960s or admiring the modern-day horsepower wars this nameplate helped reignite. With its bold styling, headline-grabbing V8s, and undeniable street presence, the Challenger has carved out a legacy that spans generations.

Our list looks at 10 of the best versions.

Available Models

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Dodge

Founded

December 14, 1900

Founder

John Francis Dodge & Horace Elgin Dodge

Headquarters

Auburn Hills, Michigan, U.S.A

From the classic 426 Hemi to the supercharged Hellcats and record-breaking Demons of the modern era, the Challenger has stood for performance and style, for the most part. We’ll remind you that not every chapter in the Challenger’s history is worth celebrating. The second-generation model, built from 1978 to 1983, was nothing more than an underpowered Mitsubishi that received some badge engineering. Thankfully, it remains an outlier in an otherwise thrilling lineage.

10

2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8

The Return Of An Icon

Following the demise of the malaise-era second-generation Challenger in 1983, it didn’t seem likely that the nameplate would ever return. It would take more than two decades, but Dodge in 2005 finally let slip that a new Challenger was in the works, and by early the next year a concept was unveiled with a promise to spawn a production model. The production model arrived in 2008 as the limited-edition Challenger SRT8 (with regular production starting the following year), marking not only a return for the nameplate but also the start of Dodge’s modern muscle brand positioning, which continues even today. The car delivered just the right blend of retro design and modern technology, making the rival Chevrolet Camaro and Ford Mustang also lift their game in the years ahead.

9

1970 Dodge Challenger R/T “Black Ghost”

A Legendary Street Racer

There are many legendary Challengers from the first generation, but one that stands out is the 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T SE with a gator-skin-style vinyl roof and white tail stripe, purchased new by Godfrey Qualls and known to fans as the “Black Ghost”. Qualls worked as a Detroit police officer during the day, but by night, he became a mysterious figure on the street racing scene. He’d allegedly appear at popular spots like Woodward Avenue and Telegraph Road, dominate a race, and then vanish for weeks or even months. It’s a controversial legend, as some believe it is more manufactured than genuine, but at least one fan was willing to pay over $1 million for the car at an auction in 2023. Dodge also included the Black Ghost as one of its “Last Call” special editions launched for the 2023 Challenger.

8

Any Dodge Challenger Finished In Plum Crazy

The Most Desirable Of Dodge’s High Impact Colors

The next addition on our list isn’t a single car but rather any Challenger finished in a delicious shade of purple known as Plum Crazy. One reason enthusiasts have such fond memories of early 1970s Mopars is the bold and slightly unconventional High Impact color lineup that was offered. Dodge brought these vibrant hues back in 2006, and they’ve remained part of the brand’s identity ever since, albeit with limited availability in some cases. Plum Crazy is easily the most desirable, as it perfectly captures an era while at the same time looking fully appropriate on a modern muscle car. Some additional memorable mentions include Hemi Orange, Go ManGo, High Octane Red, Furious Fuchsia, and B5 Blue.

7

1970 Dodge Challenger T/A

Trans Am Homologation Special

The 1970 Dodge Challenger T/A was a homologation special built for Dodge’s entry into the SCCA Trans Am racing series. It was launched at a time when rivals like the Chevrolet Camaro Z28, Ford Mustang Boss 302, and Pontiac Firebird Trans Am were making headlines, and as a result, Dodge pulled out all the stops for its entry. Power came from a 340 cubic-inch V8 with a Six-Pack carburetor setup, officially rated at 290 hp, though widely known to be delivering much more. The car also stood out with side-mounted exhaust tips, special T/A graphics, and one of the first applications of staggered tires on an American car. Just 2,400 examples are thought to have been built. Dodge would eventually revive the Challenger T/A as a special edition for the modern Challenger, starting with the 2017 model year. However, this time there wasn’t any connection with racing.

6

2019 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack Widebody

The Best Bang For The Buck

While it may be the Hellcats and Demons that attract all the headlines, these cars are well out of reach for anyone without a luxury car budget. That doesn’t mean buyers on more modest budgets need to miss out on all the fun, as Dodge offered a modern Challenger with a powerful V8 engine, sexy wide-body design, and an available manual transmission – all for under $50,000. The Challenger R/T Scat Pack Widebody was first offered for the 2019 model year, and even in 2023, its final year, the starting price was still close to 50 grand. Another huge plus? With only 485 hp on tap from the 392 V8, the car doesn’t want to spin the tires all the time like the more powerful versions of the Challenger. As they say, “spinning ain’t winning.”

5

Carbon-Bodied Dodge Challenger By SpeedKore

American Muscle Made Exotic

SpeedKore Performance Group, based in Grafton, Wisconsin, is renowned for its wild muscle car builds. This is the company that mid-last decade unveiled one of the most notorious 1970 Dodge Charger restomods, the Tantrum, which packed a 9.0-liter Mercury Marine racing engine turbocharged to spit out 1,650 hp. SpeedKore is also a specialist when it comes to carbon fiber, offering complete body shells for the Challenger, as well as the Camaro and Mustang. SpeedKore manufactures all parts in-house using its own autoclave and pre-preg carbon fiber, with automotive clearcoat to prevent yellowing, unlike resin or gelcoats used by others. Another of its crazy builds was a 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon dressed in carbon fiber and packing close to 1,400 hp – at the flywheel – thanks to a custom twin-turbocharger setup. The company even took the car to the drag strip, managing a quarter-mile elapsed time of 8.77 seconds at 162 mph.

4

2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 By Hennessey

Hennessey Takes Challenger To Hypercar Levels Of Performance

Dodge launched the 2023 Challenger SRT Demon 170 to mark the finale of the current Challenger and its V8 engine. In stock form on E85 – the “170” referring to the fuel’s alcohol-proof rating – it generates a staggering 1,025 hp. Hennessey Performance went further, crafting a version that delivers up to 1,700 hp, or enough to match the power outputs of even the most powerful hypercars. This was achieved by replacing the stock supercharger with a bespoke twin-turbo setup, together with modifying the transmission and rear differential to handle the extra power. This build was the inaugural project for Hennessey Special Operations (HSO), a new division at Hennessey for bespoke, low-volume commissions. Joining HSO requires a formal application and a minimum upgrade investment of $100,000.

3

2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat

The Car That Democratized Horsepower

The 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat blew the doors off the performance world by resetting the horsepower benchmark for mainstream brands. Its supercharged 6.2‑liter V8 cranked out an astonishing 707 hp, which is impressive even today and would end up as just the first step toward even higher horsepower ratings for the engine. The Hellcat powerplant quickly became as legendary as the Challenger itself, finding homes under the hoods of the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk, Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat, Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat, and Ram 1500 Rebel TRX – though curiously, it never made its way into the Chrysler 300. On the road (and the strip), the 2015 Hellcat was notorious for easy burnouts and relentless tire spin, thanks to its immense low‑end torque and aggressive gearing. Its acceleration shamed most cars – until a new generation of electric vehicles raised the bar even higher. Nevertheless, the 2015 Hellcat remains a defining moment in the modern muscle era.

2

1970 Dodge Challenger R/T 426 Hemi

Where The Legend Began

The 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T with the 426 Hemi launched the Challenger legend. At the heart of the car lies a 7.0‑liter V8, born from Chrysler’s NASCAR program and rated at 425 hp and 490 lb‑ft in stock trim – staggering then and still impressive today. Signature options like the shaker hood scoop, High Impact colors, and Rallye Suspension package debuted here, also helping to create a style that soon defined muscle cars of the era. With the 426 Hemi dropped after 1971, fewer than 1,000 examples were built. This rarity, combined with drag‑strip dominance of the engine, cemented the Challenger’s status as both a muscle car icon and legend.

1

2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon

The Demon Delivers On The Hype

Even before it made its debut at a preview event for the 2017 New York Auto Show – where it arrived via a burnout and hard launch – there was a real buzz surrounding the 2018 Challenger SRT Demon. Dodge executed a successful teaser campaign that left everyone guessing what the automaker had in store, and when the car finally arrived, it delivered figures never before seen in a production vehicle. As a reminder, the Demon can pull 1.8 g in acceleration, hit 60 mph from rest in 2.3 seconds, cover the quarter mile in 9.65 seconds at 140 mph, and even lift its front wheels off the ground on launch – a first for a production car. There was also an available Demon Crate packed with all the parts needed for the track or drag strip. Dodge limited production to 3,300 cars; 3,000 for the U.S. and 300 for Canada. After that, the Challenger never again managed to attract the same level of excitement as the original Demon, even with the quicker, more powerful Demon 170.

Sadly, the Challenger is once again out of production, with the 2023 model year being the last. Dodge has replaced the car with a new Charger, available in coupe and sedan body styles, and starting this summer (most likely), with the choice of gas or electric powertrains. The gas engine for now is only a twin-turbocharged inline-6, with much less power than the Hellcats delivered. However, there are rumors a V8 option is already being tested.

Sources: Dodge, Mecum, SpeedKore, Hennessey Performance