Man Chopped the Roof of a Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 and Sold It With Massive Markup

You finally have your brand-new muscle car delivered, the fastest of its kind. And you start cutting into it. Why would you do that? Well, some have a reason for it. Dodge doesn't have a convertible Challenger SRT Demon 170 in its lineup. But some just have to have it.

The route is simple. Once it rolls off the production line in Brampton, the Challenger does not go to the dealership but to the Droptop Customs shop for the requested conversion. Afterward, the muscle car finally arrives at the dealership, and the one who ordered it can go pick it up.

It was Florida-based Droptop Customs that chopped the roof of the brutal muscle car and it was the owner of the firm, Jeff Moran, the one who coordinated the project. And it is not the first such stint that they did.

Furthermore, Jeff owns a convertible Demon 170 himself. He cut the roof of his the moment he got it, which prompted many watching the process online to call him "mad." Mad or not, he's done it several times, and it seems that he's done it right.

Because it wasn't just chopping that they had to do on the Challenger SRT Demon 170. Once the roof and pillars were removed, they had to work on reinforcement to regain the rigidity lost in the process.

The Droptop Customs team had to add extra aluminum bracing in order to maintain the body strength. A canvas top showed up instead of the fixed roof. It goes up and down at the push of a button and is stored inside the trunk without completely killing the space in there.

Because you know what they say about the latest Demons: these infamous muscle cars are too fast for their own sake. That is exactly why the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) issued a violation letter for running a sub-nine-second quarter mile time without a roll cage or parachute, effectively banning it from drag racing.

So, now, whoever takes the Demon 170 to the drag strip must equip it with a roll cage and parachute. Otherwise, it can't go anywhere near the track.

And it's the HEMI to blame for everything. It is that supercharged 6.2-liter V8 that Dodge has retired only to switch to either electric like in the all-new Charger Daytona, or the V6 Hurricane like in the… well… all-new Charger. Among others.

With the HEMI retired and with the Chevrolet Camaro on the back burner, the Ford Mustang remains the only V8-powered muscle car, making its own rules in the segment.

The V8 pumps out an insane 1,025 horsepower and 945 pound-feet of torque to the rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission. Those numbers can be achieved on a mix of E85 fuel, 15% gasoline, and 85% ethanol.

The car's preference for alcohol made car enthusiasts joke on forums and social media that every owner gets a custom decanter and two stainless steel shot glasses included in the price.

The Demon 170 flashes from zero to hero (0 to 60 mph or 0 to 97 kph) in just 1.66 seconds, runs the quarter mile in just 8.91 seconds and hits a top speed of 215 mph. See, the NHRA was definitely right, now when you come to think about it. It is one of the quickest cars ever to see the light of day.

To match all those outrageous figures coming from under the hood, the model was equipped with four-wheel disc brakes with ABS. It rides on factory staggered alloy wheels. The listing also mentions equipment such as a start button and power windows and locks.

Number 1,100 of only 3,300 examples that will roll off the production line, the Challenger Demon 170 is painted in Pitch Black over a Demonic Red leather interior. Doesn't that look evil? Carbon fiber interior accents enhance the bad boy looks.

The car has only 30 miles (48 kilometers) on the clock. Someone must have fallen in love with it to pay $242,000 at the Mecum Auction to drive it home. That is way above the MRSP: $96,666. Yeah, that devilish 666.

Besides, roof chopping, even when approved by Dodge, would by no means make it more than double more expensive. Unless you get to around $150,000 for that "wind in you hair, drive it like you just don't care" kind of feeling. Those numbers make it one of the most expensive Demons ever auctioned off.

The model has just crossed the block at the Indy 2024. The Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 Convertible is not a one-off. Droptop Customs can convert your car into a droptop for the right price. The conversion costs $23,999 before options.