If you’re a fan of James Bond movies, then you’ll probably agree that 1964’s Goldfinger is probably the best 007 flick ever. Sure, it’s a bit dated, but it still stands up very well in the 21st century, which has filmmakers using computer-generated imagery (CGI) to keep the audience from staring at their cell phones. From its cast of memorable villains and unforgettable female cohorts to the stunning scenery of the Swiss Alps and luscious green pastures of Kentucky horse farms, Goldfinger has become a cult classic. Both old and young movie fans alike love this flick. And let’s not forget that super-sexy and tricked-out Aston Martin DB5 James Bond drives to its ultimate demise. Like the movie, the second-generation Dodge Charger has also stood up to the test time. Its timeless styling was ahead of the curve for 1968 and still looks great in 2024. It’s kind of hard to improve the looks of this American Pop Culture icon who was also a big screen star stalking Steve McQueen all over the streets of San Francisco in the hit movie Bullitt.
For premier custom car shop eXoMod, their four-wheel creations are also pure American Pop Culture. Their designers have reimagined the iconic GEN II (1968-1970) Dodge Charger for discriminating global customers. And they’re under the guidance of 53-year-old self-admitted “Mopar® Obsessive” enthusiast Rick Katzeff, eXoMod’s CEO. He makes sure the O.E. Concourse Gold Level Restoration shop stays on track in creating over-the-top restorations and retromod builds. For over two years, Rick’s team of designers and craftsmen have garnered numerous prestigious awards at major automotive shows and events in the Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals (MCACN) and one of Barrett-Jackson’s TOP 50 BUILDERS of 2023.
“My passion for Mopar Muscle began at a very young age when I spotted my first 1971 Plymouth Satellite hot rod that my next-door neighbor used to wrench on in the driveway. I’ll never forget when they brought home a big block 440 from a junkyard that was pulled from a sedan and replaced the tired 318 that was in the Satellite. That Mopar B-Body sure did come to life after that engine swap,” recalled Rick. “I created eXoMod to reimagine Mopar muscle cars with bespoke carbon fiber body panels fitted onto a modern Challenger platform. My inspiration was to create a more cutting-edge Retromod that performs like a modern car. I want my company’s creations to be safe, reliable and fun to drive while combining modern technology with classic old-school styling and looks. I feel retromod with modern drivetrains is definitely the wave of the future. Nobody wants 50-year-old technology anymore. What we do is miles ahead of a typical retromod since we use new car technology as the platform. Our team of passionate members, including Scott Gregg and his devoted family, put their heart and soul into every one of our builds.”
Like any inspirational dream and vision, it takes a lot of work to achieve your goals. Rick and his team were up to the challenge in taking the retromod movement up a notch. “There’s over 3,000 hours invested into creating the first prototype and carbon fiber molds. We concluded the modern Challenger (2008-2023) has almost the same wheelbase as the 1968-1970 Dodge Charger. We located a donor chassis, a Hellcat Challenger, and the proportions of the finished product looked spot on,” said Rick. As with many of his teams’ creations, they sometimes get sold at major auto auctions like Mecum or Barrett-Jackson. “There’s no sadness at all seeing some of them going across the block at the Vegas Mecum auction, it’s the natural evolution of a low-production builder. But we have two other cars completed that were also featured at SEMA. Those, along with the two additional C68 CARBON models we have going through the build process, are keeping us busy,” noted Rick.
Regarding the “GOLDFINGER” ’68 Charger, it’s a serious machine that should not be taken lightly. It has all the street manners to be driven daily but can easily put the hurt on many machines that want to take it on. Along that sinister-looking black paint with contracting bronze bumble bee stripes, the interior on “GOLDFINGER” would suit a tuxedo-wearing James Bond as he strides up to the bar and orders his trademark Martini Vodka, shaken, not stirred. The fabric on the high-back leather seats rival the furniture at world’s best exotic and private clubs 007 would frequent. Under the hood of “GOLDFINGER”, it packs a punch with 6.2L supercharged HEMI® engine pumping out almost 800 horsepower. Rick’s team chose to back it up with the tried-and-true TorqueFlite® 8–Speed Automatic Transmission with Paddle Shifters. To make sure you don’t run past your headlights, a 200 MPH Redeye Spec Speedometer lets you know how bad you’re breaking the law.
eXoMod’s “GOLDFINGER” was a commissioned build, and the current owner lives in North Carolina and is enjoying the bending corners on those hilly country roads. With the car rolling on Forgeline wheels and Brembo® 6-piston front caliper brakes with All–Speed Traction Control, this ride is wheel planted. That’s why many owners are more likely to drive these machines. While the car community has called these things “restomods” since this movement began almost 20 years ago, Rick was quick to educate us. “We like to refer to these vehicles as ‘retromods’,” he noted. “We reimagined what these cars could be with 21st-century technology and classic styling with a modern interpretation. I think retromods are definitely the wave of the future. Nobody wants 50-plus-year-old technology anymore. What we do is miles ahead of your typical restomod build since we use new car technology throughout the whole platform. We’re not sticking a modern engine into an old car, as the platform. We start with a real Charger body then 3D scan all the sheet metal and create new tooling and ‘bucks’ to make new molds for carbon fiber body panels, so we feel ‘retromod’ better applies to these cars.”
When we asked Rick about his long-term plans for eXoMod, he wants to expand the company to do other retromods build for customers. “We’d like to do a 1971-72 Dodge Demon and create a modern version of that car,” smiled Rick. But for now, eXoMod’s line of C68 Carbon Chargers, including a modern version of the iconic 1969 Daytona that made its debut at the Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals (MCACN), have been shaking up the collector car/enthusiast community. All we can say is we’ll always be amazed at the machinery Rick and his band of craftsmen turn out within the walls of eXoMod’s shop in Pennsylvania.
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