Looking for a 1968 Dodge Super Charger for Sale? See the 1000 HP SEMA Concept
Even after 50 years, the second-generation Dodge Charger remains an incredibly clean and handsome design. A black 1968 R/T model from Fiat Chrysler’s corporate collection, equipped with an original 426 cubic-inch Hemi V-8 and a four-on-the-floor transmission, in front of a bench seat with a fold-down armrest, exemplifies why this design is arguably the best-looking among the generations of this iconic muscle car. While you might be searching for a 1968 Dodge Super Charger For Sale, the specific vehicle turning heads at the SEMA show was a unique concept car – a resto-mod built by Dodge to showcase both the timeless appeal of the ’68 Charger and the immense power of a new crate engine, offering a glimpse into what such a beast could be. The Charger nameplate is also looking forward with models like the 2024 dodge charger ev hinting at the future of performance.
The Iconic 1968 Dodge Charger Design
Joe Dehner, chief of Mopar and Ram exterior design, points to the “double-diamond interlocking body design” of the 1968-70 Dodge Charger as its key aesthetic strength. However, even he isn’t entirely satisfied with every aspect of the original styling, citing compromises necessitated by the production and design limitations of the era.
“The 14-inch wheels and tires are buried five inches into the body,” Dehner notes. The hideaway headlamps looked great when concealed, “but the open lights are not cool.” He also points to other elements like the sideview mirror, which was “probably off last year’s Coronet,” and the alligator vinyl top, suggesting “there are a lot of things on here that need updating.”
Transforming the Charger: The Super Charger Concept
And so, Dodge’s notable contribution to the Specialty Equipment Marketing Association (SEMA) show this year was the SuperCharger concept. This build serves as a modern counterpart, showcasing what’s possible with classic design and cutting-edge performance components, much like how models like the 2024 electric challenger reimagine performance for a new era.
Dehner’s team acquired a 1968 Dodge Charger with a 383 cubic-inch V-8 and factory air conditioning via the internet and transformed it into the stunning di grigio gray machine presented at SEMA. This specific paint color is a Ferrari shade, highlighting the advantages of connections within the Fiat Chrysler Automotive (FCA) group.
Side view of the 1968 Dodge Super Charger SEMA concept car in di grigio gray
Key Modifications and Features
To craft the SuperCharger concept from the internet-sourced ’68 Dodge Charger, Dehner’s team significantly altered its dimensions. They lowered the car’s height by two inches, increased the overall length by adding two inches to the wheelbase, and widened the body by a full four inches. The hood now features a new Challenger Demon hood scoop, and the headlights from a 2019 Charger peek out from behind the vertical-slat grille. A splitter was added underneath the front to manage the significant power boost – a staggering 575 hp increase over the gross horsepower rating of the original ’68 Charger’s 426 Hemi. The interior was updated with Viper bucket seats and steering wheel, a rear-seat delete, and a full roll cage, emphasizing its performance focus, distinct from production models like an all electric dodge charger.
Front three-quarter view of the 1968 Dodge Super Charger concept at SEMA
In the back, Dehner’s team rerouted the exhaust pipes to exit through the holes where the four “afterburner” taillamps were originally located. These new exits are finished with chrome tips sourced from the Alfa Romeo Stelvio, another nod to the beneficial Italian connection within FCA. New LED taillamps were installed in the space above the exhaust tips, on the rear valance panel.
The ’68 Charger’s original exposed fuel filler cap has been replaced with a new cap featuring a stylized picture of an elephant. This design element is a playful callback to the Demon’s demon logo and offers a direct hint about the potent powerplant lurking beneath the hood.
Close-up of the elephant logo fuel cap on the 1968 Dodge Super Charger concept
Powerhouse: The 1000 HP Hellephant Engine
The elephant on the gas cap is the key to the SuperCharger concept’s most remarkable feature: a hand-built 426 cubic-inch (7.0L) twin-screw supercharged Hemi V-8 crate engine. Mopar rates this engine at an astonishing 1,000 horsepower and 950 pound-feet of torque when running on 93-octane premium unleaded pump gas. This new powerplant pays homage to the second-generation Chrysler Hemi V-8, the original 426 cubic-inch engine that debuted in Richard Petty’s race car at the 1964 Daytona 500. Mopar engineers in the early ’60s nicknamed that legendary engine the “Hellephant.”
The Mopar Hellephant 426 Supercharged Crate HEMI Engine
The new Hellephant engine features a high redline for a pushrod design, hitting 7,000 rpm. Todd Beddick, chief of Mopar’s accessories and performance parts, stated that using race fuel should yield even higher numbers, confirming that “One-thousand horsepower isn’t the limit of this engine.” This contrasts sharply with the focus on efficiency and instant torque in upcoming models like the 2024 dodge challenger electric car.
The new 426 Hemi unit is more than 100 pounds lighter than the 392 Hemi it’s partly based on, thanks to replacing the 392’s iron block with an aluminum one. The bore and stroke are increased to 4.125 inches by 4.0 inches, respectively. Its 3.0-liter supercharger is larger than the 2.7-liter unit found in the Demon and produces 15 pounds of boost. The Dodge SuperCharger concept routes this immense power through a six-speed manual transmission, also sourced from the Viper parts bin, a driver-focused choice rarely seen in modern electric vehicles like the 2024 dodge challenger electric.
Availability and Price
While the 1968 Dodge Super Charger SEMA concept itself is not available for purchase, the star of the show – the Hellephant 426 Supercharged Mopar Crate HEMI engine – is something enthusiasts can acquire. The retail price for the crate engine is set at $19,000, with an additional $2,195 for the necessary electronics kit. It was scheduled to go on sale in the first quarter of 2019. Regarding its value proposition, Todd Beddick commented, “On a dollar-per-horsepower basis, let’s say it’s going to be very competitive.”
Conclusion
The Super Charger concept masterfully blends the iconic lines of the 1968 Charger with modern performance engineering and styling cues, creating a truly unique SEMA showpiece. It highlights the enduring appeal of classic muscle cars while demonstrating the incredible power achievable with Mopar’s latest crate engine technology. While the concept car itself is a bespoke build not intended for mass production, making finding a “1968 Dodge Super Charger For Sale” in this exact configuration unlikely, the availability of the 1000 HP Hellephant crate engine offers enthusiasts the tangible opportunity to recreate or simply power their own extreme projects with this formidable heart.
