Skip to main content

This 1969 Dodge Charger Hellcat takes resto-modding to new heights

Dodge Charger Hellcat
Cleveland Power & Performance
Dodge’s Challenger muscle car wears a heritage-laced nameplate, and a retro-inspired design. An Ohio-based shop called Cleveland Power & Performance took the classic theme a step further by dropping a 1969 Charger body onto the chassis of a 2016 Challenger Hellcat.

This one-of-a-kind build goes far beyond a mere engine swap. Cleveland Power & Performance started the project by buying a solid 1969 Charger and the body of a 2016 Challenger Hellcat. The company then set out to gather a long list of Hellcat parts including the 707-horsepower V8 engine, the transmission, every part of the suspension, the pedal box, and miles of wiring. That sounds like the world’s most challenging scavenger hunt, but Cleveland Power & Performance specializes in peddling Hellcat parts.

Recommended Videos

With all the parts ready to go, the builders were ready to tackle the most difficult part. They carefully chopped off both cars’ body panels, patiently grinding away at pieces of metal when necessary, and dropped the Charger’s body onto the Challenger’s newly stripped chassis. The photos from the build make it look as straightforward as putting a plastic lid on a cup of coffee, but the project required countless hours of fabrication work. Custom-made tubular steel rails were installed to preserve the coupe’s structural integrity.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

It helps that both cars are, frankly, rather massive, and they use the same front-engine/rear-wheel drive configuration. Dropping a classic Volkswagen Beetle body onto the chassis of a modern, front-engined model would be considerably more difficult.

1969 Dodge Charger Hellcat!!

Cleveland Power & Performance designed and built a one-of-a-kind hood that blends styling cues from the 1969 Charger with design features from the vaunted Challenger Hellcat. Outside, the finishing touches were a set of Hellcat-sourced alloy wheels and a splitter attached to the front bumper. It gives the Charger a clean, contemporary look without going over the top.

The resto-mod continues inside the car, where builders installed the Challenger’s dashboard (which was cut to fit), steering wheel, instrument cluster, seats, and climate control buttons. The car now runs and drives, as evidenced by a video of it doing a burnout, but it’s far from finished. It needs a little bit more sanding to smooth out the rough edges, glass, and a coat of paint. When it’s finished, it’s going to be one of the most stunning classic muscle cars ever to line up on a drag strip.

Ronan Glon
Ronan Glon is an American automotive and tech journalist based in southern France. As a long-time contributor to Digital…
Hyundai Ioniq 9 vs. Kia EV9: Electric SUV sisters battle it out
Hyundai Ioniq 9 driving

The long-awaited Hyundai Ioniq 9 is finally on its way. Hyundai has taken the wraps off a production-ready version of the electric SUV, showing a modern vehicle that could well be the electric SUV to beat when it finally rolls out to the public. But it will have to contend with Hyundai’s sister company in order to truly gain the title of best electric SUV in its price range. The Kia EV9 has been a go-to option for a few years now.

But is one of these SUVs actually better, or are they just different? We put the Hyundai Ioniq 9 and the Kia EV9 head to head to find out.
Design
There are some similarities in the designs of the Hyundai Ioniq 9 and the Kia EV9, but they also look a little different. First, the similarities. Both vehicles are clearly SUVs, with larger blocky shapes. But, while the Kia EV9 has straight lines and sharper angles, the Ioniq 9 is a little curvier, with a rounded roofline and sculpted curves in the side panels.

Read more
Find Ford gifts for everyone on your holiday list, no really
Ford Accessories used while camping for holiday gifts

When you're shopping for holiday gifts, auto and Ford accessories probably don't cross your mind, at least not initially. Unless, of course, you're planning some gift ideas for the car enthusiast you know. But actually, Ford has a lot of different gift options even for those who aren't big into cars and vehicles. I know, it's an odd proposal but hear me out. From electronics and exterior accessories to truck bed augments, interior gear, and even outdoor-friendly gear -- like for camping -- Ford has a ton of options. Just to provide some examples, first aid safety kits, truck bed camping tents, portable fridges, pet-friendly seat mats, even dashcams, keyless entry systems, and beyond.

You never know, you could find the perfect gift in Ford's accessories lineup.
Shop Now

Read more
Costco, Electrify America add EV-charging stations in three states
costco electrify america add 50 ev charging stations in three states ea chargers 1280

Costco, which had abandoned offering EV charging 12 years ago, is getting serious about resuming the service.

Over a month ago, the big-box retailer once again put its brand name on a DC fast-charging station in Ridgefield, Washington, that was made by Electric Era .

Read more