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Five Secrets of the Dodge Challenger

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The much-loved retro-themed Dodge Challenger has been around since 2008 and for true Mopar geeks, there’s not much to stump them with. But for the rest of us, here are five little-known “secrets” of the Dodge Challenger:

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1. The 1970 Dodge Challenger wasn’t the first Dodge to carry the Challenger name. In 1958-59, Dodge added the “Silver Challenger” name to the Coronet line. It came with an assortment of special features including (predictably) special metallic silver paint.

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2. There was a Japanese Challenger. In a sad episode that most E-body Challenger fans would like to forget, Dodge badged a four-cylinder Mitsubishi compact as the Challenger for a few model years in the mid-1970s. Its captive import twin was known as the Plymouth Sapporo. Mopar fans were no doubt relieved that the name “Barracuda” wasn’t similarly sullied. And while smoky burnouts were out of the question, the Challenger and Sapporo did talk to the driver, reminding him or her that the lights were on or the door was ajar.

3. The 2008 Challenger was introduced simultaneously at two different auto shows. In a rare move, Daimler-Chrysler introduced the Challenger simultaneously at two different auto shows — Chicago and Philadelphia — both on Feb. 6, 2008.

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4. It has the suspension of a Mercedes-Benz. Unlike its 1970s muscle car ancestor, the modern Challenger has sharp handling and excellent road manners. And if it feels almost Teutonic in this regard, it shouldn’t be surprising. The Challenger was developed during the union of Chrysler and Daimler-Benz and so much of the suspension was shared with S-Class and E-Class Benzes of the day.

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5. Before the Hellcat, there was a Viper-powered V-10 Challenger. Prior to the Hellcat, the nastiest Challenger available was the race-only factory Drag Pak V-10 available in 2011. Not street legal, it was essentially a turn-key racer with niceties like HVAC and wipers deleted and complete with a fuel cell, solid rear axle and two-speed automatic transmission.