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.
The comment above is incorrect. Smyth will soon start to sell the kits to builders. That should help the value of the finished cars, as they will be assembled correctly.
The company is not going out of business.
Mark Smith did the same thing when he owned Factory Five . Elevates the cars to the next level.
Their website says that for 2025 they will be limiting sales to established “builders” and no longer selling kits to first time DYI’ers – do you know something different?
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
I see your comments often enough to know that you are a qualifiedvopinion. You should know that the shortest way to the fast lane is to start with the nicest car you can afford.
“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.
Seems I recall some ex cop Chargers received this treatment. YouTube video?
Back in ’03 I turned my rear ended Porsche 928 into a 6 wheel pickup. Used it as our shop truck for a couple years before putting it on a RORO ship to the new owner in Germany.
I really love their ‘99-‘03 Jetta kit, sharp looking car after the conversion.
Dodge 1/4 ton.
This is indeed a Smyth conversion. Looks very good in the pics.
I finished the build on my Dodge in spring of ’22 and have added 15000 miles
since then. Not much that gets more looks than one of these.
The man behind Smyth’s is the same man behind Factory Five Racing
Semi-related – about 25 years ago I imported a 1964 Australian Valiant “UTE” which was a factory (1 of 2,000) pickup trucks on the Valiant chassis. It was a nice truck, but didn’t really suit my needs, so off to Barrett-Jackson it went.
A few years ago, I sold a guitar to a guy who, after noticing my ’13 Charger, said that he was building a Roadrunner from a kit that fits the era of Charger that I had.
He said he bought an ex-police car and that the kit looked really good.
Maybe also a Smyth kit?
Jarred from the “Questionable Garage” (look it up on YouTube) did this to his Charger after a tree fell on the back end. Turned out okay – he calls it Road Block. Worth a look.
The proportions are out as they all are when you do this with a 4 door , the doors are too short !
I like these Smyth conversions ,sorry to hear he is stopping production. The bid is 13 K now. Someone might get a very good buy!
Make you wonder why Dodge did not make one, let alone a 2 door Charger hardtop & even convertible.
Lot of lost sales & money. IMO.
Their thinking must have been that it would eat away from Challenger sales.
They are supposed to be coming out with a Charger 2 door, maybe that will replace the Challenger?
Then why was there a 2 door barracuda, challenger, & charger(NO 4 door), in 1970?
In fact, EVERY american car was avail as a 2 door back then. & there were TONS to choose from.
Just saw a very kewl med blue 1967 2 door Merc Comet Caliente hardtop on the old “the Invaders” tv show that i was not even aware existed back then!
The easiest answer to that question is that 2 door cars are nowhere near as popular as they were back in those days.
Case in fact is my 2 door Bronco. It is easiest the most retro looking of the newer ones, yet I hardly see another 2 door on the road. Everyone wants 4 or more doors now.
There is probably a more complex answer that the manufacturers xcan give for that question (product mix, manufacturing cost, dealer inventories, ,etc)
Ranchargo?