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Hall’s “Punisher” Challenger Performs at NAS Oceana Air Show!

Article written by: Butch Hora - SRT Representative at Hall Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Virginia Beach

If you attended the 2015 NAS Oceana Blue Angels Air Show on September 18th, 19th or the 20th you might have seen something very green out on the flight line producing a cloud of smoke that didn’t fly. This year Hall Automotive, one of the biggest sponsors of the event, was given the opportunity to put on an exhibition of Mopar Muscle Car power during the show.

Hall Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram provided a Sublime Green 2015 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack 392 Hemi and a driver, SRT Technician Leo Owens, to show what this green monster was capable of doing. The Scat Pack even displayed a big black “Punisher Skull” on either door to pay tribute to the Naval Special Forces performing during the air show.

The announcer started telling to the crowd about new Scat Pack Challenger as Leo took the “Mean Green Machine” down the flight line just past the parked Blue Angels where he turned around and launched it heading back past the crowd on a high speed pass. He then whipped it back around burning the tires heading back towards the grandstands where he proceeded to perform not 1, not 2, but 6 consecutive donuts creating a wall of smoke from the burning tires. He emerged from the smoke and went past the crowd once again then back to the designated parking are where he received a loud response from the excited crowd.   

Since the return of the Hemi and the start of the SRT8 program Dodge has been on the warpath bringing back the American Muscle Car, the Dodge Challenger! Let’s that a look back at what got us here… 

First Generation 1970-1974 (Engines Slant 6 cyl, 318, 340, 383, 440, 440-6pack and the 426 Hemi)

Second Generation 1978 – 1983 (Engines - 1.6, 2.6 - 4cyl Mitsubishi, made in Japan)

When the first Third Generation Challenger SRT debuted on February 6, 2008 and listed at $40,095. It was the first 2-door coupe that Dodge resurrected from the muscle car era that shared common design elements with the famous first generation 1970 Dodge Challenger. The new 2008 only came in three colors, Brilliant Black, Bright Silver and HEMI Orange, and all were equipped with the mighty 425 horsepower 6.1 liter HEMI engine backed by a tough five-speed automatic transmission.

The successful 2008 Challenger SRT8 program blossomed into a regular production offering with Challengers built for a variety of budgets. For 2009 and beyond, the Challenger was available with a full range of popular colors, options and models ranging from the sporty and economical V-6 powered SE and SXT to the 5.7-liter (385 hp) HEMI-powered R/T. Also new for 2009, in addition to the indestructible 5-speed Automatic you could also get a Tremec six-speed manual transmission with a retro Pistol Grip shifter!

Along the way, several limited production special edition Challengers fanned the flames and included the LC22R Drag Pack program where you could buy a semi-completed NHRA drag racer right from the Mopar parts counter at your local Dodge dealer with the Viper-powered V-10 Drag Pack! This Drag Pack program returned again in 2015 with 2 drag race ready Challengers, one with a 426 naturally aspirated Hemi and the other with a 354 Supercharged Hemi! Other special edition Challengers included the 2010 Mopar ’10 Challenger R/T and the 2012 Yellow Jacket Edition.

In 2013 SRT became its own division with the return of the 2013 Dodge Viper. They also added the 2013 Dodge Challenger SRT “Core” addition. “Core” meaning, bare bones, if you wanted buy a street legal Muscle Car without all the bells and whistles, (Leather, Navigation, fancy chrome emblems, fog lights, sun roof, etc) then this is it. Well, SRT produced these “Core” editions with nothing but the necessities; 470hp 6.4L Hemi, High Performance Brembo Brakes, Adjustable Shocks and a 6-speed Tremec or a 5-speed automatic.

Then in 2014, Dodge brought back the legendary 1970 HEMI “Shaker” with a limited numbered 2014 Dodge Challenger R/T Shaker Edition. What does “Shaker” mean?  It is called a ‘“Shaker”  because the air cleaner/scoop protrudes through a hole in the hood and shakes because it is attached directly to the engine Every year Dodge was keeping the Challengers unique and delivering fun driving packages for all levels of experience.

Click here to watch our "Punisher" Challenger at the 2015 NAS Oceana Air Show

•             The Dodge Challenger in the video smoking those Good Year tires is Hall Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram’s SRT Mechanic, in a 2015 Sublime Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack 392 Hemi!  The new 2015-16 Dodge Challengers looks are already more popular than the 2008-2014 models. With the incorporation of 1971-inspired exterior and interior styling themes has stayed true to its roots while evolving into a modern day muscle car. Add in the available Shaker hood, new back up camera, Halo headlamps the affordable R/T Scat Pack muscle car has the potent 6.4-liter HEMI engine’s 485 horsepower pushing the lightning quick shifting new 8-speed automatic or 6-speed manual transmissions.

Not enough? Well for those of you brave enough, back again for 2016 is the unbelievable Dodge Challenger SRT 6.2L Supercharged HEMI Hellcat with an earth shattering 707 horsepower! It is the most powerful production Muscle Car offered to the general public! If you’re going to have that much power then you better be able to stop, the Hellcat has the largest Brembo brakes available on any car with 6-piston calibers and 15.4 inch, 2-piece rotors on the front! The Hellcat is in a league of its own with not only the most power, but it also has Premium Laguna leather heated and ventilated seats! You can also jam out on an 18 speaker Harman Kardon sound system with a 900-watt amplifier! It is hard to believe that Dodge Challenger once thought to be gone has return with a vengeance and its future looks brighter than ever!

Fun Fact: Consider this, total production of the original 1970–1974 Dodge Challenger (E-Body) was 165,437 cars. Since they have been building 2008–2014 LC-series Challengers, a total of 280,783 have been completed and shipped to Dodge dealers all over North America. In other words, for every “classic” 1970–1974 Challenger built, nearly two modern Challengers have been sold!  With this many Challengers around we will see these muscle cars around for many years to come.

For more information about any of the SRT factory high performance vehicles contact Butch Hora, the SRT Representative at Hall Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Virginia Beach.