If someone told us a couple of decades ago that the muscle car would become part of a dying breed, we would’ve laughed in their face. But here we are at the end of 20203 with only one brand-new model: the Ford Mustang.
It stays true to the V8 firepower and continues the tradition set by its popular predecessor by also being available with the 2.3L EcoBoost. The Blue Oval will certainly expand the offering, and we cannot wait to see what the next Shelby(s) will be like. Over at Chevrolet, the Camaro is going away soon with no direct successor on the horizon.
The bowtie brand has announced that the nameplate will eventually return but remained coy on details. This has sparked some interesting comments, with some believing the next one will be either EV-powered or retain the ICE units for as long as possible and others stating that the Camaro will become a sub-brand, likely spawning additional body styles, including a sporty crossover that may or may not take on the Mustang Mach-E.
Dodge's aging Challenger and Charger are also going away soon. The Stellantis-owned marque has celebrated the end of the line with the Last Call series and one final Demon that adds the 170 suffix, boasting up to 1,025 horsepower in the top form. There is nothing official about the company's next muscle car, though it will likely be electric, given that they have previewed it with the stunning-looking Charger Daytona SRT Concept unveiled last year.
Photo: Dodge
If any Dodge Challenger (and Charger) is the bomb these days, it is the one featuring the famous supercharged 6.2-liter V8 motor. Or should we say the ones, as Dodge has put it in multiple two- and four-door Hellcat models, in addition to the Durango. The previous Jeep Grand Cherokee also used it in the Trackhawk variant, and it is the mill of choice when it comes to the Ram 1500 TRX that is also nearing the end of its lifecycle, with its successor currently being developed and sounding like it has a straight-cylinder unit with forced induction.
A quick look on Dodge's US website reveals that the Challenger is still on sale, with 2023 being the final model year for it. The lineup kicks off from $32,800 for the base SXT with rear-wheel drive, adding $3,000 for the AWD variant. The GT, R/T, R/T Scat Pack, and R/T Scat Pack Widebody are also included, with respective MSRPs of $36,100 $41,640, $49,265, and $57,260.
At $74,290 before destination, the 717 hp SRT Jailbreak is the most affordable Hellcat, with its Widebody version being available from $82,690. Redeye Jailbreak and Redeye Widebody Jailbreak have MSRPs of $82,895 and $92,295, respectively, boasting 797 hp. At 807 hp, the SRT Super Stock completes the offering and kicks off at $91,300.
Photo: Bring a Trailer
It's obvious that the Hellcat versions of the Dodge Challenger are not exactly bargain muscle cars, but then again, they have impressive amounts of power on tap. But do you really have to be (kind of) loaded to experience the Hellcat ownership? With this question in mind, we opened eBay on a different tab in our web browser and set out to look for affordable copies looking for new homes.
One of the cheapest we came across needed some work to return to its former condition and was listed from just under $31,000. Add some $5,000 more, and you will grab one that doesn't need any TLC, so all you have to do is put your name on the dotted line and transfer the funds to the vendor. Realistically speaking, most examples start from well over $40,000, with the Charger Hellcats being a bit less pricey than the two-door Challengers.
You shouldn't worry about being scammed if you're willing to pay in excess of $50,000, as that sum will likely land you a properly maintained one that hasn't seen an excessive amount of action over the years. At the opposite end of the spectrum sit the vendors who think their Hellcat is worth supercar money, often asking in excess of $200,000 for them. The mighty Demon could set you back around half a million dollars if you are willing to pay that much, though a decent copy will usually be about half as much.
So, there you have it; you don't necessarily have to have deep pockets to enjoy this great modern American muscle car, as you could buy a great example for about as much as you'd have to fork out for a new Toyota GR Supra – or a Grand Highlander if you're into high riders. I don't know about you, but if my budget and garage supported such a toy, I'd be bragging about it all the way to the bank. But do you think a decently-priced Dodge Hellcat is a good deal?
After a series of unfortunate events put an end to Cristian's dream of entering a custom built & tuned old-school Dacia into a rally competition, he moved on to drive press cars and write for a living. He's worked for several automotive online journals and now he's back at autoevolution after his first tour in the mid-2000s. Full profile
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