2023 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack Ends Up on Salvage Car Market After Just 1,700 Miles

This Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack is a car that rolled off the production line this very year. But its life was short and, considering what it looks like right now, it surely was intense.

Dodge planted the ferocious naturally aspirated HEMI under the hood of this variant. A 392-cubic inch (6.4-liter) V8 that would match the untamed looks of the Challenger. It made it raw and brutal and everything in between.

It is pure American muscle that benefits from the presence of 485 horsepower (492 metric horsepower) and 475 lb-ft (644 Nm) of torque, steered to the rear axle via an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Those are enough to make the daredevil run from 0 to 60 mph (0 to 97 kph) in 4.4 seconds, run the quarter mile in 12.6 seconds, and hit a top speed of 177 mph (285 kph). And obviously, too much for some drivers who send their cars to the scrapyard way too soon.

It is the case for this 2023 Challenger that must have gone head first into… the end of its career on the road. Now, all that the owner can do is watch the bidding of those interested in parts from the car they were once proud of.

And they had every reason to be proud when they cruised along Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood behind the steering wheel of the Challenger painted in ToRed, riding on 20-inch Brass Monkey Alum wheels, which cost around $1,100 and are only available if the customer checks the box for the Dynamics Package.

It is the package that, for $3,390, brings along the adaptive suspension, adaptive damping, and Brembo six-piston front caliper brakes. So, we are already adding up optional equipment that raises the MRSP. There is also a Satin Black SRT Performance spoiler at the back, on the edge of the trunk lid, which costs $1,000.

The front end is a total mess. The hood is crumpled, the front spoiler and bumper are only supported by the asphalt underneath the car and the headlights have been ripped off in the head-on collision. The front fenders don't look good, either.

There is a video that shows that the engine does start and run. But everything is so twisted and turned in there that you can hardly tell the original arrangement in the engine compartment. The listing indicates a transmission damage as well. Whether this car is a write-off or will get a second lease on life depends on the cost of the fix of everything that is in there.

Otherwise, if you ignore the front end, you can't believe the car has been through a crash, because everything else seems fine. The doors of the Challenger, the rear fenders, and rear end, they all look as good as they did the moment the car drove through the factory gate of the Stellantis’ Brampton Assembly Plant in Ontario, Canada, not long before the crash.

That is where the last Dodge Challenger was manufactured a few days before Christmas. It is yet unknown if the model will ever come back. Dodge only confirmed the comeback of the Charger, which will be heavily inspired by the Charger Daytona SRT concept car.

There will be at least an electric variant included in the lineup. But after facing backlash from the model's enthusiasts, Dodge seriously considered keeping the internal combustion engine in the lineup. Therefore, we will have to deal with a V6 Hurricane engine-powered variant for the next-generation Charger.

Going back to what is one of the last Challengers ever made, the crashed one coming from California, it's got its airbags deployed as well. And that is, indeed, going to be an issue when declaring this car a write-off or a fixable automobile. The Dodge is still waiting for the title from the insurance company. The odometer only shows 1,678 miles (2,700 kilometers), which makes the story of the 2023 Dodge Challenger even sadder.

The Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack has an MSRP of $49,265 plus the $1,595 destination fee to take this car home. The owner, with all the extras included, paid $55,508 to drive it home. The total repair cost is estimated at $37,382.

That is how much you would pay to buy a brand-new 2023 Dodge Challenger GT, which comes with 305 horsepower (309 metric horsepower) and 268 lb-ft (363 Nm) of torque. Of course, it doesn't even come close to the performance and soundtrack that the HEMI provides. But at least it has never been crashed.

The car will be auctioned off on the salvage car market with little to no chance whatsoever to get back on the road unless through transplants. There are many parts still in perfect condition.