2009 Dodge Challenger SRT-8 Limited Edition

Description

When this 2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8 'Spring Special' hit the streets, it was the hottest thing on four wheels. I'll wager that the original buyer paid well over sticker price to own it, because it represented the rebirth of an American legend. This particular car itself is a lesson in automotive history, simply because Chrysler was teetering on the edge of bankruptcy oblivion in '08-'09, resulting in just over 250 of these limited edition B5 Blue SRT-8s to be offered in 2009. In fact, Dodge only recently reintroduced the B5 Blue color on their high-end Challengers and Hellcats, making this early model a very rare bird indeed. If there's a late-model muscle car that will be collectable in the future, it's definitely this one: early car, limited run, impeccably preserved, and 100% stock.

The B5 Blue paint with carbon-fiber-look stripes was a combination Mopar fans absolutely begged for in the reintroduction of the Challenger, and even though the public was teased with so few units, it was adored by fans all over the globe. The carbon wasn't real, of course, but this was the car every Mopar guy wanted to own as they impatiently counted down the days until it was available in the showroom. This one has lived a life of pampered privilege in the warm South, carefully tucked away under the tutelage of two careful owners. It shows an incredibly low 794 original miles, so you know it's been a fair-weather toy that's basically just been shown. The finish is in fantastic, showroom condition due to its limited use, although there's just no mistaking the intent of a car that looks like this. It was built to drive. The look has aged quite well in the last 11 years and you'll surely find that everyone still stops to watch this Challenger drive by. The chin spoiler isn't all beat up by steep driveway aprons, the rockers haven't been blasted by debris, and you knew everyone's going to know what this car is all about when they see the HEMI badges on the hood. Add in a set of chrome exhaust tips, subtle SRT8 badging, and a surprisingly modest deck lid spoiler and you end up with one of the most successful pony car rebirths of the modern era. You want a new car? Say no more fam.

The SRT8 showcased everything Chrysler could do for a driver, and based on the 300's platform, it's a lot more spacious than you'd expect. The deeply bolstered black leather seats have grippy inserts and a blue stripe (also part of the limited edition), and you'd be hard-pressed to find much of a human footprint inside the cabin. You also got a fat steering wheel, big, round gauges with racy electro-luminescent faces, and a quick-shifting 6-speed manual transmission controlled by that reimagined pistol-grip shifter. Of course, on this flagship Mopar with the Customer Preferred Package 21X (SRT Option Group II), everything was included, including A/C, power windows, locks, seats, and mirrors, cruise control, and a cool touch screen multimedia entertainment system with navigation that powers the 13 Kicker SRT High-Performance speakers, 200W subwoofer, and 322W amplifier. This one also offers an optional sunroof, which is yet another rare option, and the power seats are heated, which makes a big difference on cool mornings. Everything works, there are no issues, and you can get in this car today and drive to California if you'd like. That's the power of modern technology.

By this point, the 6.1 liter HEMI V8 really needs no introduction. For the SRT8, they punched it out a bit to add the kind of low-end torque muscle car fans expect, and not even a vintage 426 Hemi could keep up with it. These cars are insanely popular and easy to modify, but this one remains completely stock, which is always what you want when you're buying a high-performance machine. The engine bay is tidy, highlighting the taller 6.1 aluminum intake, black HEMI coil covers, SRT shock-tower brace, and factory cold-air intake, and you can easily see that it's never done a commute in any weather other than pure sunshine. The big V8 starts quickly, idles properly, and has the kind of G-force inducing torque that most folks can't understand until they've driven a car like this. The 6-speed manual transmission means you get 425 horsepower, and it bangs off quick shifts when you're hustling but is unobtrusive when you're going easy. The 2009 model Challenger R/T model also ushered in a limited-slip differential and self-leveling rear shock absorbers, and the entire sport suspension is remarkably livable given its insanely high limits. Big Brembo disc brakes at every corner keep it safe and the factory-forged Alcoa 20-inch aluminum wheels and 245/45/20 Goodyear Eagle F1 tires are in excellent condition.

Still an apex predator, this Challenger offers a lot of performance for a very reasonable price. Documented with all of its original manuals, the original window sticker, an original car cover, and some OEM spare parts, this low-mileage collectable beauty is THE modern muscle car to own. Call today!