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Future Find: 2017 Dodge Challenger Hellcat

With over 700 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque, it really isn’t surprising that the original owner of this Challenger Hellcat wrecked it. What is surprising is that they wrecked it after only covering 1,760 and that it actually still runs and drives. Now you might be thinking, this Mopar isn’t a barn find and that’ true, but in 20 or 30 years this is the kind of find people will be on the hunt for. Think of all the wrecked big block muscle cars we’ve seen parked in barns! Unfortunately, the seller turned it over to their insurance rather than parking it in their barn. It’s now up for grabs here on eBay in Granite City, Illinois with a BIN of $32,800.

Given that it still runs and drives, I’m sure someone will buy it with plans of rebuilding it. As great of an idea as it is, I think you would be money ahead buying a used Hellcat that hasn’t been wrecked. If the asking price was about $10k cheaper, it would actually be worth buying just for the 6.2 liter supercharged Hemi and all of it’s attached electronics. Imagine cramming this into an old muscle car or better yet, a big family wagon! Given that you can buy a brand new Hellcat Crate engine from Dodge with the wiring kit for $21,750, it makes buying this one as an engine donor a bit difficult to justify. I suppose you would also have all the other drivetrain components to go along with it, so perhaps it isn’t totally unrealistic.

It really is too bad that someone wrecked it. I just hope they fully enjoyed the first 1,759 miles, because I don’t imagine that last mile or so was worth the pain! It looks like only the driver’s side airbags were deployed, which unfortunately means the driver’s seat is damaged. Oh and there’s no door on the driver’s side, but you might be able to find a replacement if you decide to fix it. From what can be seen in the photos, the car’s substructure doesn’t appear to be damaged, but you will want to make sure it’s still straight. It seems unlikely the insurance company would have written a $70k car off if it could be fixed with just a few new bolt-on body panels.

While there aren’t too many cars on the road today that I would want to find in a barn 20 or 30 years from now, I think I would be thrilled to find a numbers matching Hellcat one day! Sure, sorting out the old electronics will be a headache, but these cars are truly special today and will continue to be in the future. But I’m still not sure what you do with this one! Do you repair it, turn it into a stripped down drag racer, part it out or stuff it in the barn hoping that one-day values go up enough to justify a full restoration?

Comments

  1. PRA4SNW

    For that money, you could buy a brand new Hemi Challenger.

    Like 18
    • Will Fox

      Thank you. I’d gladly settle for a box stock 5.7L Hemi off the showroom floor this afternoon before I bought this. And I’d be MUCH happier in the long run too!

      Like 15
    • Terry Johns

      My best guess is a 700 hp car with a 100 hp driver. And a 1000 hp ego What a horrid thing😱

      Like 54
      • Ike Onick

        With a 2000HP girlfriend.

        This comment will self-destruct in 30 seconds.

        Like 34
      • Dolphin Member

        I’m still laughing out loud after reading these 2 guys’ comments.

        Like 26
      • Jay R

        And it all started with “Hey Watch This”

        Like 10
  2. Tom

    I drove one of these a couple of weeks ago and it is, by far, the craziest/fastest vehicle I’ve ever piloted. I was doing around 40 and the owner had me hold the accelerator to the floor for a full 3 seconds and at that point I was holding on for dear life. The amazing thing about these cars is how civil they can be just tooling around town. The one I drove had an auto trans which, in itself, is an amazing piece of engineering in the way it adapts to how you are driving. With the throttle wide open it sounds like a NASCAR stocker. A future classic IMHO.

    Like 37
  3. Will Fox

    I recall the kid that wrecked his neon lime green one 23 minutes after he left the dealership the same week these hit dealers. 23 minutes!!! Did about $35K to it, so obviously it was toast! The photo I saw was taken where he wrecked it, and he was literally in tears–red face and all. I felt bad for the kid, but probably not as bad as ‘daddy’ who probably either co-signed for it, or bought it himself! Better him than me….thank God.

    Like 21
    • Rx7turboII

      I know your story cannot be true because no Dodge Neon cost $35,000! Maybe $3,500….lol

      Like 3
      • Dave

        Neon refers to the color of the car not the make!

        Like 25
      • Rx7turboII

        Lol im a dummy! Thanks for correcting me Dave.

        Like 18
      • Miguel

        The new Neon is up there. Not up to 35K but still up there.

        Like 1
      • ShoelessTrucker

        Neon green one. Not green neon. Lol

        Like 1
  4. Ronald

    This car is hit in a bad spot right in the cowl/lower door hinge area and the outer upper rail. It no doubt has been on a frame rack before all those flanges were straightened out and sheet metal removed but with a very good body man and some parts this car is repairable. Parts will be expensive if they are Hellcat only.

    Like 17
    • grant

      Came here to say this. It looks like some repairs have been undertaken, they didnt quite get all the evidence out of the drivers rocker. Crackpipe all day.

      Like 4
  5. Lance Nord

    I remember speaking with a Ford dealer who told me about the 60’s when they were selling AC Cobras. He said at least 1 out of every 4 buyers would get in an accident within a mile after pulling out of the dealer lot. He said it was great for business for their body shop.

    Like 18
  6. SC/RAMBLER

    More car than most people can handle, especially if you turn off traction control system, and other electronic nannies that are meant to keep the average driver out of trouble. I have had a couple of high powered cars and was just fortunate not to get in a wreck a kill someone. Hopefully this person learned that cars like this can be VERY dangerous.

    Like 12
  7. Terry Johns

    As a track day instructor I have 100s of these plonkers, he should have bought the cheaper model and spend the change getting some tuition.

    2 things you can’t teach most men, how to driver a car and make love. Wonder was he’s like in the bedroom 😱

    Like 18
    • Ike Onick

      Ask the 2000HP girlfriend. And congrats on the creepiest comment in a long time.

      Like 42
    • Pierre Cousteau

      Have you tried both?

      Like 4
    • Philip

      That is just down right creepy wondering what another man is like in the bedroom and posting it on a public forum….!! Hope your wife dosent read this Terry…!!

      Like 5
      • Terry Johns

        She did and thought it was funny 😁

        Like 10
      • Ike Onick

        You managed to convince six people.

        Like 2
    • TriPowerVette

      @Terry Johns – Honestly; I’ve never tried to drive a car AND make love. Sounds dangerous. I think Ralph Nader wrote a book about it, though: “Unsafe at any speed”.

      Like 3
  8. Jbones

    Good thing he was driving an automatic or else he’d really have his hands full. I don’t feel bad one bit for these drivers.

    Like 7
  9. Coventrycat

    You could probably see it all happen on YouTube under “show off fails”.

    Like 6
  10. wuzjeepnowsaab

    I wonder what the ratio is for Hellcats to Wrecked Hellcats.

    700hp I remember when CanAm cars were around those numbers

    Like 8
    • TriPowerVette

      @wuzjeepnowsaab – But, they weighed 1400lbs.

      Like 0
  11. Joe Haska

    I would think if you bought this and fixed it would most likely have a salvage Title ,that would certainly kill the re sale value.

    Like 4
  12. Jack M.

    Rx7turboll read the posting again. He said neon green color. He did not say Dodge Neon.

    Like 2
  13. Jack M.

    Rx7turboll read the comment again. He said neon green color. He did not say Dodge Neon.

    Like 2
  14. Josh

    You can see this is twisted. Just look at the way the passenger-side door doesn’t line up with the front fender.

    Like 4
  15. Mike R in De

    Dirty Harry said it best, ” Man’s got to know his limitations!”. Learn to drive it with the valet key until your truly comfortable, then baby steps. These are A LOT OF CAR, and it’s been A Long time since the American public has had this much HP at the ready for many, many years. Straighten the body, put in a full cage with 5 point harness & seats to match & enjoy it!!

    Like 5
  16. SMS

    I know I have and I’m sure most gearheads on this forum have also been in situations in cars, motorcycles, bicycles, and skateboards, where we were in over our skill level and made it out with luck.

    I feel sorry for this person as I learn from mistakes better than training.

    Like 10
  17. Joe64NYWF

    I’m still not impressed with that motor or what’s in new Camaros or Stangs.
    Not when i see more HP today from 1 with ancient HEI, carburetor, NO turbo or supercharger, & 8 spark plugs instead of 16!
    & what a price! –>
    http://www.jegs.com/i/Blueprint-Engines/138/PS6320CTC/10002/-1
    &
    http://www.jegs.com/p/Blueprint-Engines/Blueprint-Pro-Series-Big-Block-Chevy-632ci-815HP-800TQ/1321871/10002/-1
    Has anyone put 1 of the above in a 1000 lb lighter ‘ 67-9 camaro or nova?
    Or heavens, a Vega?

    Like 0
  18. Troy s

    In the Right hands these are at least good for 11 second quarter mile times I believe. Even crazier was last year’s Hellcat Demon which could dip into the 9 second bracket right off the assembly line. As mentioned a man has to know his limitations or at least know his abilities and progress from there, otherwise…Uh! Oh!
    No cars, at least American built, ever made that much horsepower in the heights of the super stock wars, early A/FX battles, or anything from the GTO on, nothing. Comparably, Dyno Don’s 65 A/FX Mustang powered by the mighty 427 Cammer put out 650 horsepower an absolutely could not be driven on any public roads, at least not for very long. Crazy, just crazy.😵

    Like 5
    • tom

      When I drove one hard and let off the gas, the automatic downshifts chirped the tires as I slowed down. After a few seconds, the transmission “clicked” and it started shifting nice and easy, the exhaust got much quieter and everything “softened” up. THAT is the beauty of this car. Its something you could race at the strip and then get 22 MPG hitting the grocery store. I would NEVER drive this car on a public road without full “nanny” control.

      Like 10
  19. Tom

    One of one factory lightweight 😂

    Like 3
  20. Dolphin Member

    There is a report of a Hellcat that toured the Nurburgring in 7:51. That’s a seriously fast time. One driver commented about driving a Hellcat and a 2013 M5 back to back that the Hellcat held its own against the BMW.

    There have been enough examples of recent US performance cars doing the ring in times that match or beat some great Euro cars that nobody has to wonder anymore whether the US cars can handle and brake.

    You can get video of some of these by googling the make/model/year of the car and adding the word Nurburgring

    Like 3
  21. Dovi65

    IMO, the insurance carriers, and/or manufacturers of these road monsters should require a driver training course as a condition of ownership. Not just for the buyers, but as an extra level of safety for the other drivers on the road that may get tangled up in a wreck with one due to an inexperienced driver of such high HP cars.

    Like 6
    • mag195455

      So every muscle or exotic sports car wrecked was because of inexperienced driver? Wow a great idea, more regulations and laws!!

      Like 2
      • Dovi65

        I neither stated, nor implied, that every muscle car wreck was the result of an inexperienced driver.
        Hellcats, and their competitors are NOT your average muscle cars. There’s a world of difference between a driving a 305 HP Challenger and a 707 HP Hellcat. Know how to handle all that power before you drive off the dealer lot, and onto the public streets

        Like 0
    • DonC

      Amen Dovi65. I own a Porsche 911 cabrio and have spent a lot of hours at both Mid-Ohio and Sebring. Does that make me an expert, hell no! But at least I have received the training, gained some experience, and done so where a 360 spinout doesn’t endanger everyone around me!

      Side note- I felt the same way as you when Kawasaki first introduced the Ninja 750. Way way way too much power for the novice but they were more than happy to make the sale. Corporate irresponsibility in my book.

      Like 3
      • Derek

        I’d say that the 600 and the 900 made a much bigger impression on the market than the 750 (turbo excepted, but low production numbers). The 600, in particular, was responsible for a whole new class of bikes that were what you went on to after you’d tired of crashing/seizing LCs.

        Porsche brought out “The Porsche Driver’s Handbook” in the 1980s because they were concerned about the damage that rich City kids in 911s were doing to their reputation. (this book got me a good laugh at a rich businessman’s expense – from his contemporaries. He wasn’t best pleased…)

        Like 2
  22. George

    $32,800 or buy an unwrecked one for $55?

    Like 1
    • Miguel

      A new one starts at $67,340 USD plus options.

      Like 2
      • Rick Rothermel

        Dealers are ‘flexing’ on prices now, and numbers are starting to drop. The Hellcat thing was over-promoted and over-produced, like the Daytona wing cars were 39 years ago. Dealers are now wanting out of them.

        Like 3
      • Miguel

        What Daytona wing cars were for sale in 1979?

        I don’t remember any.

        Like 2
  23. big mike

    If they turned it over to the insurance, then that means it was worth paying off, not rebuilding it. That in it’s self explains a lot to me. I have repaired cars for people because the insurance would total it, then allow them to buy it back a smaller sum then payoff, then the owner would bring it to me to fix. The first thing in Missouri is the new title will come back as a salvage title, which means they can only cover it for liability,
    I don’t see anybody putting that amount of money into rebuilding it, and try to sell it, you will never get your money back. Just my opinion!

    Like 7
  24. John D.

    Or, here is another possibility, whoever owned it and wrecked it, paid cash for it and self insured it. After the accident, the body shop estimate came back more than they hoped. So the body shop was instructed to remove the bolt on damaged parts and pretty it up so that it can be marketed to re-coup as much cash as possible. It might not even have an ‘R’ title.

    With as much power as it is reported to have, I would guess the person saw the Lord and decided amidst the crunches to reform his ways.

    Some one who takes on this project may decide to use, used non-Hellcat body parts to keep the costs down and build a heck of a sleeper.

    Like 2
  25. Miguel

    From the Ebay listing

    “The vehicle listed is used and has a Salvage Title, check rules and regulations in your state for ”

    Like 7
  26. Comet

    Let’s see. 32,800 + 18,000 (light estimate) in frame repair, parts, paint and labor buys you a salvage title hellcat worth about what a clean used one with an unbranded title would cost.

    Like 5
  27. TriPowerVette

    Hey, Josh. You always do yeoman’s work at BF, but I think FINDING a door is the absolute LEAST of the would-be restorer’s concerns. Making it fit… there’s the rub (smiley face).

    This car just gathers a tsunami of memories for my brother and me. We would find, then love back together, a broken or just plain used up Shelby, Hemi, Stage 1, 442 or GTO masterpiece that some talentless, well-funded ape had simply cast away, as all animals do, with the bones, peels, and shells of whatever they have just ravaged.

    Such a waste.

    Let’s give this gourmand of modern muscle the benefit of the doubt. Maybe he or she just hit a patch of ice. Maybe.

    Like 4
  28. Chris

    Check out the “Stolen Hellcat in Houston” video. A Nascar team should pay this kids bail and put him on the track!! This kid could drive! And he didnt wreck it in the end! but was straight to jail!! He passed “Go” at close to 200mph!!

    Like 6
  29. Harry Hodson

    Insurance companies consider it as ‘totalled’ when repairs hit or exceed 70% of replacement value.

    Like 2
    • Steve

      That used to be the rule, now the formula calculated is a bit different. What is the cost of repair, vs the auction value of said damaged vehicle ? Take those two figures, and with those numbers the Ins. company can decide which option will yield the best outcome for them. New cars get totaled very easy, and often because auction value is very high.

      Like 2
      • Miguel

        Steve, they also calculate if water touched the car.

        Water equals automatic salvage.

        Like 2
  30. chrlsful

    “…the other drivers on the road that may get tangled up in a wreck with one…”
    or your house… I had one go thru the frnt parlor 1X.
    How bouta school fulla kids?

    Like 2
  31. 69goat

    It appears it is being sold by a specialty company who sells wrecked cars for an insurance company I’m guessing that’s what it is I’m not familiar with them. But as I look at the photos I wonder if the car was wrecked due to somebody running into the side of it rather than the driver of it running into something. So go left front wheel looks heavily damaged they removed a piece of a caul that was probably crushed which makes me think that it was hit from the side. I never drove one but Im sure it would be a blast. Typically it would take 70% of the value to total hard to see severally percent in those pictures I’m not saying the risen just hard to see in the pictures, however I have seen cars totaled for less than that because of the circumstance. Example would be if it wasn’t the driver’s fault and being that it was a brand new car with virtually no miles the owner may of demanded a new vehicle. And of course laws vary from state to state.

    Like 2
  32. 69goat

    My apologies for all the Mistakes and mis spelled words I was using voice to text and it was rather noisy here and I think a few words were picked up that should have been. Shame on me for not Proof reading

    Like 1
  33. theGasHole

    Well that didn’t take the driver long.
    I was reading about the new mid-engine Corvette coming out and that, when the right options are ticked, it will have 4 digits of horsepower. I am imagining some spectacular wrecks will ensue.

    Like 3
    • Miguel

      I imagine the first buyers of the mid engine cars are going to crash if they have driven a Corvette before.

      The car will drive completely differently.

      Like 3
      • DonC

        (Low number of years experience driving + massive horsepower) x
        ( testosterone + girlfriend babilicious level) = certain probability of crash.

        Like 4
  34. Sandra shanahan

    First off. Everyone assumes it was driver error. Maybe it wasn’t (1% chance it wasn’t) Secondly, NOBODY has the right to drive like a wild man on a public hi-way. You may not care about your own ass but you could kill an innocent family. Lastly, these cars belong at the race track or drag strip and not in the hands of someone who doesn’t have the ability or common sense to own something this powerful.

    Like 2
  35. Bill McCoskey Bill McCoskey Member

    It’s a salvage title. Depending on the State, some allow it to be licensed after a thorough inspection by State inspectors. some States feel that once salvaged, it cannot be put back on the road.

    There is a little know fact that modern titles [about 20 years & newer] have specific codes in the title sequence number. This is a Federal requirement from DOT. One of the codes deals with “salvage” or “rebuilt” conditions. There are a few states that if they see the title says it was a FORMER salvage car, they won’t let it be titled for road use, and may even issue the new owner another salvage title!

    In 1996 I bought a 1973 Triumph TR6 that had a fire around the gas tank area, burned paint confined to the trunk area, a convertible top that was folded down at the time of the fire, and the seats, not much more — an easy repair. I bought it from the State [MD], fixed it quickly, then found the State said “Once a salvage title, always a salvage title.” No one would buy the car.

    I parted the car out & ended up making more money that way. Still have the title too — anyone need a red salvage title with serial number plate, for a 1973 TR-6?

    Like 3
  36. Gaspumpchas

    Yep these cars are not for the faint of heart– one of the guys at SEMA told me that if you run a Demon at full throttle for 15 seconds you will drain the 18 gallon tank!!!

    Like 3
    • Terry Johns

      So its not what you’d call eco friendly 😱

      Like 1
    • George

      Supposedly you only need 9 seconds for the quarter mile. I guess that this is to have enough gas to get back to the pits…

      Like 2
  37. PRA4SNW

    Hand it over to Mark Worman. He could make an entire season or two out of the repair of this thing. Much like he did with the “Phantom” Cuda.

    Like 1
  38. Superdessucke

    From the damage pattern, my guess is he got a bit fishy and slammed the driver’s side into a parked car and bounced off, given the damage pattern and the fact that the front wheel only has a single dent. I’d like to see the other guy.

    That must have been loud and glorious! I wish I would have seen it (at a distance of course).

    Like 1
  39. Pete

    I am thinking if you bought a standard model and transfered over all the Hellcat options you would still have one fast car. My buddy has a Purple one and took me for a ride in it. We hit 140 in about a 1/4 mile and then back down to 5 MPH in what seemed like 400 feet. It takes a lot to scare the poop outta me. But he was sure close to doing it with all the power that thing had. He said he also got a free block of instruction from a driving school out in Vegas with the car when he bought it. I do think it would be prudent to have someone take a safety course if they want to own one prier to actually taking on the road. Most insane car I have every ridden in.

    Like 1
  40. Millenkneeil

    Today’s cars will not be restored 30 years from now. There will be no replacements available for the mouse urine soaked computer. Dead

    Like 1
    • Bill McCoskey Bill McCoskey Member

      Back in the mid-1970s most antique car guys were in agreement that the new cars of the day would never be restored. We observed the massive amounts of plastic in places like the interior, and the “cheapness” of the other aspects of the cars, most due to making cars lighter, to get better fuel economy.

      Of course we were wrong. Plenty of 1970s and 1980s vehicles are being restored today. For example; back in the ’70s we noted those horrible little Japanese cars flooding the American market, and we all agreed no one would want to restore them 30 or 40 years later. Cars like the Datsun 240/260/280Z and the 510 sedans are hot on the collector car markets today. A few very rare Japanese cars have even sold for close to 7 figures.

      The advances in technology over the next 3 decades will likely result in ways to overcome the problems with tomorrow’s restoration difficulties.

      I restored a 1985 Rolls-Royce Silver Spur in 1995, after the car had been in a river water flood, and the Bosch SEALED ignition & fuel injection computer had water sloshing around inside. The Rolls-Royce factory said to replace that $1,900 computer box as it was not repairable. Because it was not in salt water, I knew it could be dried out.

      I drilled several tiny holes in the case, and using a hot plate on low heat, started a series of heating & cooling cycles, and basically dried it out over a 2 day period. I then sealed the holes again. There was no problem with the electronics, and when I sold the car, it had been a running & driving vehicle.

      Like 3
      • Miguel

        Bill, you are right that was said back then, however the availability of replacement parts changed that.

        If companies hadn’t started reproducing the plastic parts for those cars, nobody would be trying to restore them because it would be impossible.

        I don’t think these new cars will be restored after they have been sitting in a barn for 20 years. The sensors and the computers will be impossible to find, unless a company reproduces them all for that purpose.

        Can you imagine the cost to buy the sensors and computers it will take to get one of these rolling computers back on the road with all the safety devices working?

        Like 1
      • TriPowerVette

        @Bill McCoskey – The Spur is one of my bucket list cars (also, a Camargue). Thanks for saving this one.

        Like 1
  41. Bill McCoskey Bill McCoskey Member

    Miguel,
    Those who restore vehicles and those who create replacement parts when none are available are all very creative and usually find a way to accomplish the impossible. I’m betting today’s vehicles will still be restored, if only because those who had them now, will want them again in their middle years!

    Like 1

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