FINISHED PROJECT: TUNE AND CLEAN UP HEMI ENGINE….INSTALL KEISLER ENGINEERING 5 SP TRANSMISSION KIT…MODIFY CONSOLE TO PERFECT FIT.
Feel like you’re just not getting enough attention? Tired of getting ignored at the stoplight drags? Ladies and gentlemen, Best of Show Automotive has the cure—a raucous, rumbling, Panther Pink, HEMI 5 speed Challenger! It’s screaming for attention and tough enough to rip the doors off of just about every car in the neighborhood!
Starting with a solid H code 340 Sport body is a good idea for an R/T clone, as most of the heavy work’s been done for you. The body was sanded smooth of wrinkles, dings and dents before being coated in a bright, flat coat of FM3 Panther Pink. Both bumpers have been re-chromed, the grille and stainless trim is in great shape, as is the Go-Wing on the deck lid. Brand new black R/T stripes, hood blackout and the R/T badges complete the transformation of this once tame Challenger into a muscle car that looks as good as it gets up and goes!
And now the business end. This is a true ’66 casting 426 engine, rebuilt from top to bottom, complete with Mopar Performance aluminum heads and an original dual quad manifold and new Edelbrock carbs! A nasty Comp cams bump stick calls the shots, acting through the beefy stock valve train and new springs. The big orange Hemi air cleaner, looks awesome with new Mopar Performance valve covers and black MSD ignition wires. A new Antique Auto Battery group 27 unit and a chrome alternator keep things charged and ready while an aluminum water pump and housing work with a 26” radiator to keep things cool. A Mopar Performance master cylinder works with front disc brakes to stop the car, a rebuilt wiper motor is there in case of emergency and chrome breathers, accessory drive brackets and hood hinges add sparkle. There’s a new set of battery cables, a new ballast resistor and a new voltage regulator—we’re ready to rock!
Inside you’re greeted with new upholstery, carpet, headliner and dash pad. While that’s nice and all, the real treat is the Keisler TREMEC installed by BIG HEMI with a 5 speed shifter poking through the center console. Pink, HEMI, stick? That’s the Mopar trifecta!
The original rallye dash is in place, a new Tuff wheel sits at your fingertips, and the console and side panels are excellent originals. The front seats are custom jobs, upholstered to match but more deeply bolstered and cushioned than the stockers. Auto Meter oil pressure and water temp gauges hang from the dash, providing information more quickly than the stock pieces. A Panasonic CD player makes use of four speakers for tunes, new sill plates dazzle the eyes and a full set of seat belts. Trust me—fire this puppy up and you’ll know how necessary they are!
Underneath you’ll find even undercoating over clean sheet metal. Your gaze is drawn immediately to the massive 3” exhaust system with an X pipe and chambered mufflers…the sound was probably what prompted you to get on your knees and look in the first place! Polished ceramic coated headers lead into the pipes, which are also high heat coated in ceramic gray. The Dana out back is brand new fresh, capped by a new chrome cover. Did we mention the 5 speed? We’re pretty partial to it!. All new front end components work with power steering while new brakes all around work their magic through a set of new 15×7’s and 8’s with 225/70/15 front and huge 275/60/15 BFGoodrich radials mounted on out back. Basically, the chassis is as prepped as it’s going to get for the tire roasting it’s about to receive!
A giant killing, fire spewing, rip-snorting car…in pink! An oxymoron? Nah…it’s more of an attitude shift. If you’re feeling the need to be a little more Cato than cast off give us a call. It doesn’t take an inspector from the Sûreté to realize this Hemi 5 speed is a hot ride!