The Charger nameplate returned to the Dodge fold in 2006 using the LX platform. Unlike the Chrysler 300 (also an LX), it was a performance machine and could be equipped with a 6.1-liter Hemi V8. And like the 300, it was only offered as a 4-door sedan. Per the VIN provided by the seller, this 2007 edition began life as an SRT8 model (Hemi) but was treated to a professionally done conversion into a pickup. That would make it something like a modern “Dodge El Camino.”
For the past 20 years, the reinvented Charger has played a major role in the Dodge product line. From the beginning, muscle was the name of the game and the SRT8 brought a 370 cubic inch, 425 horsepower Hemi V8 to the playing field. It was paired with a 5-speed automatic transmission (the seller’s possible one-off has a 6-speed). We’re told that both of these in the seller’s truck have been rebuilt, which sounds reasonable as the vehicle has traveled nearly 200,000 miles (no garage queen).
We would like to know more about the conversion process from sedan to pickup, but no specifics are offered. Was this a one-of-a-kind project or could it have been treated to a truck kit by Smyth Performance? They advertise selling a kit to do this on a 2006-10 Charger for about $4,000. But someone has to do the actual work. Whatever the case, this is the first one I’ve seen and I wonder if any of our readers have run across one of these “Mopar Rancheros.”
The body looks great on this Dodge, as does the Inferno Red paint and black leather upholstery. The steering is “performance-tuned” and the truck has an upgraded cooling system for the engine. With all these changes, you have to wonder how the Dodge handles, without or without cargo in the back (any guess as to the payload capacity?). Located in Farmingdale, New York, this well-treated Mopar should be a head-turner and is available here on eBay. The current bid is $8,100, but the reserve is somewhere north of that.
Smyth has called it day and has (or will very soon) produce their last units. This looks like a nice one of a fairly limited number.
Pretty cool!! I clicked on sellers other items, over 9,000 came up.
Why?
Exactly. I’ve seen plenty of hacked up cars either shortened, had the roofs cut off or turned into “pickups”, all were beaters to begin with. But to turn what appears to be a perfectly good and desirable car into a professionally converted pickup doesn’t make much sense.
Steve R
“Some people see things as they are and ask, “why”, I see things as they aren’t and ask, “why not”
So as a 2wd I’m thinking it must eat rear tires. I had a 2005 Magnum RT AWD and it was fierce but at least tire wear was somewhat balanced.
I really like it, but what would you do with it, haul cordwood in from the woods? Or maybe lumber (the short stuff) from Home Depot? Build a really sleek, low slide-in cabover camper for it? The possibilities are endless :)
Looks like they did a pretty nice job turning this into an “El Chargerino”. Some conversions of cars into trucks work well like this one does. I’ll bet with that hot engine and light rear end this can really smoke the tires. But if you wanted to haul something at least you could do it quickly.
Thats one way to get rid of two extra doors on a Charger.