A Mean Green Machine: Tom Ledoux’s Incredible Green Muscle Car – A Hellcat Redeye Story

Beyond the fantastic vehicles themselves, the most valuable aspect of my decades attending car shows has been the numerous close friends I’ve gained.

It matters not if we support different teams, vote for different parties, or prefer different music; if someone is genuinely passionate about cars, they’re alright in my book. Chances are, we’ll become friends based solely on that shared interest, because if they’re willing and able to discuss their favorite cars or some obscure detail about them endlessly, we’re kindred spirits.

On my first day at the 14th annual SpringFest Modern Mopar Show in Pomona, California, last March, I arrived at the Doubletree hotel to find many cars being prepared for the next day’s event. Challengers, Chargers, 300s, and even a Jeep SRT Grand Cherokee or two were there, being meticulously worked on and lovingly detailed.

My attention was immediately captured by arguably the hottest car present – a brand new F8 Green 2019 Dodge Challenger Hellcat Redeye Widebody. I quickly made the acquaintance of its owner, Tom Ledoux, a true enthusiast of the Green Muscle Car.

F8 Green Dodge Challenger Hellcat Redeye parked at a hotel

And just like that, I had made another great new friend. Tom is a serious car guy, and even better, a serious Mopar guy. To top it off, Tom is an absolute Challenger nut. And that, my friends, is precisely my kind of fellow.

Within seconds, Tom and I were engaged in what normal people might consider an obsessive and even pedantic discussion of all the details of his Redeye and the story of how he came to own it and bring it to SpringFest. I was so immediately taken with Tom and that impressive Green Muscle Car of his that I thought I’d share a bit about him and his car with all of you here on Shocknaue Entertainment News. His passion embodies the exciting intersection of personal interest and community often found in entertainment and hobby circles.

Tom, a 52-year-old Senior Systems Engineer with Dell Technologies, hails from Pearland, Texas, just outside of Houston. A car enthusiast from an early age, Tom became a devotee of Mopars in his teens.

“I have pretty much always been a Mopar person,” Tom shared. “When I was in college, my best friend joined the Marines Corps and had to sell his 1973 Dodge Charger. I bought it from him and have been a Mopar enthusiast pretty much ever since. I kept that ’73 Charger all through college and sold it when I graduated, which I now regret almost every day.” Tom’s history highlights the enduring appeal of 71 muscle cars and that iconic era.

Over the years, Tom bought and sold many Mopars and even added a 1998 SVT Mustang Cobra into the mix for a bit. “I pretty much like all muscle cars. Growing up in the 70s and going to the drag strip south of Houston when I was young really made me fall in love with all of the cars of that era. I really like that all three of the big US automakers have modern versions of those muscle cars,” he explained.

Tom’s Journey with the Modern Challenger

It made perfect sense, then, when Dodge introduced the retro-styled Challenger in 2008, Tom knew straight away that he had to have one. There was one caveat, though – the 2008 model year was only offered with a five-speed automatic. Like the author, Tom prefers a stick-and-clutch setup.

Modified 2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8, grey, parked outdoors

“I decided to wait until 2009 when the 6-speed manual transmission would be available,” Tom recalls. When the manual-equipped model came out, Tom snapped up an SRT8 with the 6.1-liter Hemi. He performed a few modifications, including adding 22-inch USW forged wheels, a Hurst short-throw shifter, Billet Technologies engine dress-up parts, a Mopar blue fuel door, a Mopar front strut bar, a Mopar cold air intake, blue Mopar fuel rails, BC Racing coilovers, and Oracle blue plasma LEDs.

Tom Ledoux accepting award next to a white Dodge Challenger

“I still have that ’09 Challenger,” Tom says, “and it was even named a Mopar Top Eliminator and was in the Mopar booth at SEMA in 2012.” This accomplishment highlights the dedication of enthusiasts like Tom.

Tom enjoyed his ’09 immensely for several years. Then, in 2015, Dodge announced the release of their latest fire-breathing beast, the 717bhp, 6.2-liter, supercharged Challenger Hellcat. Once again, Tom was entranced by the idea of owning such a powerful green muscle car (or other vibrant color).

Sublime Green 2015 Dodge Challenger Hellcat

“I was first in line for an order with a dealer being run by a member of Space City LX, the modern Mopar club I belong to,” Tom recounted. “That was my Sublime Green Hellcat Challenger.”

Once again, Tom lightly modified his new car, including many interior and exterior cosmetic touches, as well as a set of KW lowering springs to reduce its center of gravity and a BWoody cold air intake.

The Demon and the Rise of the Redeye

Then, when Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles revealed the Dodge Challenger Demon in 2017, Tom was the first person his dealer friend called. The Demon was a limited edition, 840 horsepower machine built primarily for the drag strip.

Dodge Challenger SRT Demon in red

“He asked me if I was going to order the Demon Challenger,” Tom said. “And while I did take my ’15 Hellcat to the track quite a bit, I don’t live close enough to a drag strip to justify a full-on race car, which is essentially what the Demon was. The race-tuned suspension and smaller brakes made me decide against it.” It’s a common dilemma for enthusiasts balancing street performance with track capability, similar to decisions faced by owners of classic models like the 1965 chevelle ss z16.

Tom’s dismay at not being desirous of Mopar’s latest and greatest only lasted for about a year. Fiat Chrysler then shocked him and the automotive world in general with the reveal of the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye.

Essentially an amalgam of the streetable Hellcat and the track-focused Demon, the folks at SRT actually managed to create a car that, for many, was better than both for real-world driving.

Tom Ledoux's F8 Green 2019 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye Widebody

Sporting a slightly detuned Demon engine, along with about 90 percent of the Demon’s go-fast goodies, the Redeye is a tantalizing car. Its 6.2-liter supercharged, high-output Hemi V8 puts out ninety horsepower more than a standard Hellcat (eighty more now that the 2019 ‘cat had a ten horsepower bump thanks to its redesigned ram air hood) at 797 bhp with 707 lb/ft of torque. This makes it a truly potent green muscle car.

This was achieved by installing a 2.7-liter supercharger, 0.3 liters larger than the standard Hellcat’s. Additionally, the Redeye’s fuel-injection system uses two fuel pumps as opposed to one in Hellcats. Furthermore, 24 other improvements, including strengthened, forged rods and pistons, an improved lubrication system, and a high-speed valve train, are packed into the Redeye’s motor.

Engine bay of the F8 Green Dodge Challenger Hellcat Redeye

The Redeye inherits the Demon’s After-Run Chiller that keeps the circuit-cooling pump running after shutdown and the SRT Power Chiller that uses the air-conditioning system to cool the air entering the engine. A reinforced steel prop shaft and upgraded 41-spline half shafts imported from the Demon also add to the performance capabilities of this green muscle car. Six-piston Brembo brakes with 15.5-inch rotors up front and four-piston Brembo calipers on 13.8-inch rotors in the rear give the Redeye better stopping power than the Demon, crucial for a car with this much power.

This was literally Tom’s dream car, save for one issue: unlike the standard Hellcat, the Redeye is only available with an 8-speed ZF-sourced automatic transmission. No commercially available manual could reliably handle the Redeye’s torque and still be covered under Fiat Chrysler’s standard drivetrain warranty. This is a common consideration when comparing powerful modern cars to earlier models like the 1972 javelin amx which offered manual options.

Front view of the F8 Green Hellcat Redeye's hood scoop design

Tom considered the automatic-only limitation but ultimately decided it was a minor disappointment compared to all the added power the Redeye brings to the table. Once again, Tom was hooked.

Choosing the Perfect Color: F8 Green

He had just begun the process of picking the equipment and options he wanted when he happened to be at the Charger Hellcat announcement at Vinsetta’s Garage. At the event, Dodge had a Challenger painted in a brand-new color: F8 Green.

“As soon as I saw that color, I knew that was it for my next car,” Tom recalled. “Another friend of mine had a Plum Crazy Purple Hellcat Challenger with the Sepia interior. Once I saw how beautiful that dark tan leather looked, I was hooked on that too.” The combination of F8 Green exterior and Sepia interior makes for a stunning green muscle car.

Sepia Laguna Leather interior of the F8 Green Hellcat Redeye

Tom pulled the trigger on the Redeye at Allen-Samuels Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep. He loaded the car up, opting for the Widebody Package, which adds the fender flares like the Demon’s and the 20×11-inch Devil’s Rim wheels; the 27Z Package, which affords the 2.62 rear and the SRT Power Chiller; the Plus Package, which includes heated and ventilated leather seats and upgraded interior trim; the Driver Convenience Group, which brings Blind–Spot and Rear Cross–Path Detection, High Intensity Discharge Headlamps, and Power Multi–Function Mirrors; the Harmon-Kardon audio group with subwoofer; the SRT Performance Spoiler; Navigation; and Grey painted brake calipers. He truly created a feature-packed green muscle car.

Then Tom waited. And waited…

“The factory took a long time to start building them,” he said. “I ordered the car in early October and didn’t get a call from the dealer until late January. It felt like forever!” The anticipation for such a desirable vehicle is understandable.

Finally, the call came, and Tom picked up his brand new steed. When he saw it, it was as stunning as he had envisioned it.

Custom Touches and Future Plans

He quickly embarked on modifying the car to make his green muscle car uniquely his own.

F8 Green Hellcat Redeye with painted lower trim

“For the most part, 797 horsepower from the factory is plenty enough for me, so most of the modifications that I wanted to do were more cosmetic,” Tom explained. “I pretty much knew what modifications I wanted to make. I always paint the black lower trim pieces on the front, rear, and side of my Challengers to match the body. To me, this always makes the Challenger look like it is lower to the ground.”

Once again, he opted to lower his car, this time again with KW lowering springs. Under the hood, Tom painted all of the plastic coolant tanks in the engine bay body color, added some Billet Technology dress-up pieces, and one of their oil/air separator catch cans.

In the interior, he swapped out the stock seatbelts for a set of Planet Military green seatbelts and added Xlume illuminated cupholders. These subtle, coordinated touches enhance the overall theme of this exceptional green muscle car. Building and modifying is a key part of the car enthusiast world, whether it’s a Hellcat Redeye or a 1969 chevy camaro project car for sale.

F8 Green Hellcat Redeye's rear view

“I still have more plans for it,” Tom confessed. “Mostly more cosmetic mods for now, until the factory warranty is expired. Then I may add some more horsepower to the motor. I do plan on getting some 17-inch rear wheels to see what times I can get at the quarter-mile strips in Houston.”

Having completed the first round of mods, Tom hopped in the car and took it on its first road trip in March, all the way to Pomona for SpringFest 14, where the author met him. This is similar to the journey a classic 1970 dodge challenger green might take to a show today.

Tom said he drove all 3,100 miles in his 797 hp car and managed to get an impressive 23 miles per gallon on the highway. “I’ve met so many wonderful people since I purchased my first modern Mopar 10 years ago in 2009. And I still enjoy going to car events and seeing new cars, new builds, and new people.”

F8 Green Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye Widebody at a car show

Tom tries to attend at least one car event per week and has already snagged a Best-in-Class award at the lone judged show he has entered the car in, the Space City Cruisers show.

“Houston has a very big car scene, but it’s such a big city that it’s hard to get to some of the events,” Tom muses, highlighting a common challenge for enthusiasts in large metropolitan areas.

Tom remains blown away by his green muscle car‘s power and streetability and still loves the colors and options he chose. “The F8 paint is what really catches people’s attention,” he noted.

When asked if he would change anything if he ordered and purchased the car all over again, Tom is resolute: “I wouldn’t do anything differently. I love it.” His deep satisfaction is a testament to finding the perfect vehicle.

I love it too. Roll on, buddy. This powerful, personalized green muscle car is a fantastic example of modern automotive passion.