Mecum Auctions will hold their Houston 2024 event on April 2-4 and among the scores of gorgeous collectible vehicles rolling across the stage is a diverse spread of Dodge performance cars from the ’60s, ’70s, ’90s and the modern era – along with some very cool classic trucks. The Mecum website lists over 30 Dodge cars and trucks that are destined for the Houston auction block, ranging from a 1924 Dodge Brothers Touring to the 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT® Demon 170 – and below, we take a closer look at five of the coolest Dodge brand vehicles on that list.
Modern Dodge Muscle
The lineup of modern Dodge muscle cars being auctioned off at Mecum Houston includes a 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT-8, a 2008 Dodge Charger Pursuit, a handful of SRT Hellcat cars, a Black Ghost and a couple SRT Demon 170s.
One of those 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 units is one of the event’s “star cars” because it is being auctioned off for charity. This SRT Demon 170 is finished in F8 Green with black leather-and-suede seats and the proceeds of this vehicle will go to three military charities – Special Forces Association Chapter 79, 5th Squad and Jared Allen’s Home for Wounded Warriors.
Special Forces Association Chapter 79 educates the public regarding the history, present contributions and future development of U.S. Army Special Forces. 5th Squad is an organization that is devoted to caring for and empowering all American and Allied veterans and their families. Jared Allen’s Home for Wounded Warriors provides injury-specific, accessible and mortgage-free homes to our nation’s critically injured combat veterans. In short, the money raised by the sale of this SRT Demon 170 will go to three great charitable groups and it will sell for a number well into the six-figure range.
For those Mecum Houston attendees who want to buy a classic Dodge muscle car without spending six figures, the 2008 Dodge Charger Pursuit is likely to be the most affordable option on the list. This is a retired police car, which means that it is outfitted with a variety of heavy-duty, pursuit-rated components including the wheels, brakes, cooling system and electrical system, but more importantly, it is packing HEMI® engine power. This former police car is powered by the 5.7-liter HEMI engine and although it maintains the police-duty push bar and spotlight, it is in much better shape than your average ex-police car, thanks to fresh paint and new headlights.
Classic Dodge Muscle
The lineup of classic Dodge muscle cars is packed with Chargers, most of which are from the second generation but there are also some first- and third-generation models. Those Chargers are joined by a handful of 1968 and 1969 Super Bees, along with a couple second-generation Vipers, but the two standouts are the 1968 and 1969 Chargers shown below.
First up, we have this custom 1968 Dodge Charger restomod, featuring a late-model drivetrain and an array of exterior modifications to give the car a more modern look. This includes 18-inch wheels up front and 19-inch wheels in the back, “shaved” antenna, marker lights, windshield wipers and fuel cap, body-colored bumpers and black trim everywhere else you would have found chrome in stock form. The door handles, window trim, grille, taillight panel and mirrors are all black, as are the wheels, creating a very sinister look against the dark red paint. Add in the modern 392 HEMI engine, 8-speed automatic transmission, RideTech adjustable suspension and Wilwood brakes with 6-piston front calipers and 4-piston rears, and you have a classic muscle car with a modernized look and feel.
If you prefer your classic Dodge muscle cars to maintain their vintage look and performance, this 1969 Dodge Charger will likely fit your tastes a bit better than the car above. Inside and out, this Charger looks like it is brand new, but there are a few tasteful changes, such as the shaving of the marker lights. Overall, this car is clad in all of the chrome that you could want, which contrasts nicely against the gloss black paint and new black vinyl top. It even has classic-style Magnum 500 wheels, but it does have a power brake setup with slotted and drilled rotors for improved stopping performance. For improved performance, the 440-cubic-inch big block is upgraded with an Edelbrock intake manifold and an MSD Blaster coil, while fresh paint makes for one great-looking engine bay.
Muscle Trucks
The oldest Dodge truck on the docket for the 2024 Mecum Houston Auction is a 1947 WDX Power Wagon with a 230-cubic-inch inline-6, but the rest are newer and powered by either a V8 or V10 engine. There are a couple trucks from the 1970s and 1980s with small block V8s, a couple others with big block V8s and a 2005 SRT-10 with a Viper V10, but the most unique is the 1975 Dodge D100 shown below. This truck is tubbed, allowing plenty of room for big, sticky tires and this truck needs that traction, thanks to a 440-cubic-inch big block built by Craig Caulk Racing in Houston, Texas.
Finally, as a former owner of a Dodge Ramcharger, I wanted to point out this super-clean SUV that is coming to Mecum Houston. This 1993 Ramcharger has recently been repainted silver, fitted with sportier-than-stock wheels and lowered, creating one great-looking full-sized SUV. The chrome grille, bumpers and window trim looks to be in great shape as well, so this Ramcharger would be right at home at a classic car show or cruise-in.
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