Mopar Show Gallery: Magnums, Chargers, Challengers, and 300s

October 22, 2013
Story By
Evan Griffey

Mopar Car Show Washington feature gallery

“Mopar or no car” …that’s the mantra of fierce fans of the Mopar nameplate; aka Chrysler, Dodge, and/or Plymouth. The very retro-cool and hip XXX Root Beer drive-in in Issaquah, Washington put on its 30^th event of the season with the Magnums, Chargers, Challengers, and 300s show which drew a modest 30 to 40 cars. It was interesting to see some of the original, raucous Chargers and Challengers of the ‘60s and ‘70s parked next to the modern, retro-styled rides they inspired.

The pick of the litter in the XXX Root Beer parking lot was this Hemi Orange 2012 392 Hemi Challenger. The stance, the stripes, even the color (especially against the backdrop of the root beer stand) just works.

The owner made some custom touches to the special-edition Mopar with a trick headlamp cover and his own application of emblems.

The ‘70s inspired graphics make no bones about what lurks under the hood; a special, 392-inch, 6.4-liter Hemi V8 that pumps out 470 horses and 470 lbs-ft of torque. Compared to 'regular' 6.1-liter Hemi-motivated Challengers, this adds 45 in the horsepower department and an extra 90-lbs-ft in the torque department.

Here we see the old timer that inspired the 21^st Century version. It’s a 1970 Challenger drop-top. It’s definitely a driver. The ’70 Challenger was the last all-new musclecar introduced before the emission Nazis and an oil embargo took the air out of the big-power balloon.

Our other fave of the show was this pristine 1966 Charger with its swooping, pre Dukes of Hazard, fastback rear.

Mopar’s hearty 440-inch V8 topped by a four-barrel provides the soundtrack.

The interior was just as clean as the body. We love the big, four-dial gauge cluster and the console-mounted clock.

The innovative long console, rear bucket seat set-up also caught our eye.

The ‘66’s modern version was this blinged-out 2006 Charger with a daring two-tone paint scheme, neon green headlight surrounds, and edgy chromed wheels.

The Charger’s Hemi V8 was dressed to impress with a cool color-matched engine cover and numerous other accent goodies.

If we had a ‘grab the keys and joyride’ award it would go to this supercharged 2009 Challenger.

The Dodge’s 6.1-liter Hemi is force-fed via a Vortech V-3 centrifugal supercharger.

The audacious protruding 5-mph bumpers tab this Challenger as a ’73 or ’74 model, the gills behind the front fender narrow the field to 1974. This baby was for sale too. Check the gallery for more Mopar hotness including a special edition Yellow Jacket and more dressed-to-thrill Hemis than you can shake a stick at. Enjoy -Evan Griffey

Mopar Show Gallery: Magnums, Chargers, Challengers, and 300s

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