2012 Nissan Rogue SV FWD: RideLust Review
I could look the other way when Mr. Norm’s used the new Dodge Challenger as the basis for their Sox & Martin Hemi ‘Cuda tribute car. The ‘Cuda and the Challenger were siblings, after all, and the Plymouth brand has since gone to the great scrap yard in the sky. I just can’t do the same thing with Heide Performance Products, who have recently announced kits to convert your new Dodge Challenger into a Dodge Daytona or Plymouth Superbird. This is wrong on so many levels that I don’t even know where to begin.
The original Daytonas and Superbirds were street legal race cars, sold in sufficient quantities that Chrysler could campaign them in NASCAR racing. Dodge began racing the Daytona in 1969, and Plymouth followed in 1970 with the Road Runner Superbird. Both cars featured an aerodynamic nose and a huge “basket handle” rear wing, which helped the cars stability at speed. The cars were so fast (capable of 200 miles per hour) that NASCAR was forced to change the competition rules for 1971. Both cars were restricted to an engine displacement of 305 cubic inches, which made them uncompetitive with cars from Ford and Chevy. Production of the original Dodge Daytona ended in 1969, and the Plymouth Superbird was killed off in 1970.
MotorAuthority tells us that the HPP kits start at $16,395 for the ugly ass basic kit, which includes a new front fascia with pop up headlights, an aluminum hood, the basket handle rear wing, new taillights, 20” wheels, a new instrument cluster, a retro shifter and HPP floormats. HPP also offers engine upgrades (including three different blower kits) and coilover suspensions. If you check “yes” next to every option box, your $16,395 will soon top out at $41,461. That’s a lot to pay for ugly, if you ask me.
I’d have no problem if HPP used the new Dodge Charger as the basis for the new Daytona / Superbird, but the Challenger just looks too good in stock form. The HPP body kits are the automotive equivalent of putting a fat suit and pancake makeup on Angelina Jolie; unless that’s your particular kink, it’s just not right, and I certainly don’t want to see the pics. I’ll give HPP this – the original Daytonas and Superbirds only had two doors, and the new Charger is a four door sedan. That’s still not justification enough in my book, but your mileage may vary. Am I right or wrong about the HPP kits?
In the words’ of Dr. Phil, what were you thinkin’! Why wouldn’t they use the charger platform for this? challenger is the wrong body guys!
Can someone explain to me why there is always some dude who wants to put a Daytona/Superbird wing on any kind of Mopar? Whether it’s a ’68 Roadrunner, a ’74 Duster, or an ’86 Caravan…. inevitably some Mopar ‘enthusiast’ just has to pop-rivet a big-ass wing on. For some reason it offends me….both as a Mopar fan AND an industrial designer.
ds440, on the plus side, Chrysler pulled the plug on the PT Cruiser before someone could “Superbird” it…
sorry but the charger is a ewwww 4door, and just my 2 cents but those look right, not worth the price tag, but still very nice, i’m a mopar fan from way back,
i’ts nice to see some homage paid to the daytona/superbird.
[...] too long ago Kurt wrote an article on the Daytona and Superbird replicas that were being built by Heide Performance Products (HPP) and [...]
[...] Products), a company that you may remember brought us their interpretations of the classic Plymouth Superbird and Dodge Daytona. Well this year HPP is back at SEMA, but this time they’ve jumped on the GM bandwagon with [...]
I like the comment of the guy who said this should be on the Charger platform instead. The Challenger sits on the Charger platform ROFL!
Who cares about historical correctness, I think it looks pretty good for a retro conversion. The old Superbirds were ugly anyways, who cares if the new ones are just as ugly. It just proves they are faithful.
I think its cool but we need to keep legend car were they belong example we have jeeps with hemie that to me was a major mistake due to there is only one place that engine belongs and its in a dodge car NOT a jeep or truck because we are stealling the legend of what use to be rare from the old school cars that made them what they are and all though this concep looks cool we are steal trying to bring back some thing that belong in the pass lets just stop its cool that the old school cars are comeing back with the new looks and let that be are legend new school but we have to draw the line some were work with the new stuff and lleave the old stuff alone and let them have there well respected class of what america use to be.
But I am so digging the trunk lid that reel cool
I like the looks and I had one built. 686 RWHP for now and it will go over 200MPH. It ran 180.2 MPH in the Texas Mile.
I saw the very car that “Wyoming” had built. It was in a local car show in Riverton, WY a few weeks ago. What a joke, indicating only that this guy has more money than brains. A Superbird was a Plymouth, not a Dodge. It was Road Runner based, not Challenger based. This car has a real identity problem. Not really a Challenger, and certainly not a Superbird. My brother actually owned an original Superbird in 1971. This ain’t it, and never will be; even way worse than making a GTO out of a Camaro.
Very cool, someone is having fun. Muscle cars are all about having fun and turning heads. This turns heads and looks like fun. Well done.
I understand matching numbers and making sure everything is authentic..but something like this gives you a chance to go back in time. Let’s face it, you’ll can’t buy a new 70 Superbird or Daytona drive it off the lot and hot rod it. You can buy a new Challenger start adding parts and have fun.
I think the Daytona/Superbird for the Challenger looks great. The latest 4 door Charger looks like a turd on wheels. This car as that vintage style look. I want one!!
@Mike, someone showed a Pontiac GTO Judge kit for the latest Camaro at SEMA, and that looked pretty cool at first glance…
Well the new dodge charger looks nothing the old one . which contradicts your statement for why you don’t like the challenger turned into these birds don’t you think.Maybe if they made the charger even remotely close to the original like i don’t know maybe two doors it would look okay.
Some of todays biggest mistakes were the GTO built on an australia car the pt cruiser and the FOUR DOOR charger i don’t rember ever seeing a four door charger back in the sixty’s or seventy’s.if they are going to show homage lets do it right at least with the new camaro being the same platform as the t/a they can get away with that repop.
I don’t know about you guys wanting to trash the Challenger Daytona/Superbird. You like the Camaro which looks nothing like anything GM ever built. You also like the GTO which is biult on the Camaro. The Camaro is what you would call a wannabe. GM came out with it to go up against the Challenger and the Mustang. I think the Challenger Daytona and Superbird lets us remember the old days. The musclecar is something to be enjoyed and if you like this, then so be it. As for me, I am planning to have this done in both versions. I have a Hemi Orange Pearl coat Challenger R/T. I think it might look great in this color.