Click above for high-res gallery of the Dodge "Vanishing Point" Challenger
It's good to know that there are folks at Chrysler who are still having a good time despite the rubbish state of auto sales in the U.S. The best evidence of this is the automakers's entry this year's One Lap of America "cross-country" race. Chrysler's Vice President Ralph Gilles and Erich Heuschele, Vehicle Dynamics Supervisor for SRT, are entering a blank white Challenger inspired by the 1970 Dodge Challenger that stars in the cult film Vanishing Point from 1971. The plot of the original movie revolves around a guy named Kowalski who has to deliver a white 1970 Challenger from Denver to San Francisco. He's aided by a blind DJ named Super Soul who listens to the police band and delivers helpful if not clairvoyant info to the protagonist over the radio. It's fitting then that Gilles and Heuschele have entered the One Lap race this year under the names of Kowalski and Super Soul, and the car they'll be driving is the very first preproduction Challenger prototype that was ever driven on public roads. It's been rescued from the crusher and slightly modified with a fresh coat of white paint (the first ever seen on a new Challenger) and new wheels to more resemble the original. Check out our gallery of the "Return to Vanishing Point" Challenger below, and glimpse the fun film Chrysler produced after the jump. Thanks for the tip, Michelle!
[Source: Chrysler]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Mi key @ May 2nd 2008 12:10PM
Sweet Ride. Those Rims look Bad-ass.
SPG @ May 2nd 2008 12:49PM
You said it.
C.W. @ May 2nd 2008 2:16PM
it's just too bad they couldnt have made the interior look as sweet as the exterior.
they might kill themselves staring at the most boring I/P ever created for that long of a race...
Will @ May 2nd 2008 12:24PM
That looks pretty awesome. Having just seen Cannonball Run for the first time, I think Vanishing Point will have to be my next old cult car movie viewing.
tbss_in_the_D @ May 2nd 2008 12:27PM
That guy Gilles looks like a dork in that outfit.
The car does look really nice. Put some blue racing stripes on it and I would take one for sure.
friko @ May 2nd 2008 12:56PM
I think Gilles look was on porpuse.
If it wasn't...
Frank @ May 2nd 2008 10:07PM
Umm, they are dressed like the characters in the movie, Super Soul and Kowalski.
tankd0g @ May 2nd 2008 12:33PM
Far, FAR more interesting than Hennesy's ride du jour.
Mr. Oak @ May 2nd 2008 12:34PM
Don't care what anyone says, but nothing handles a trans-continental (North America) trip like American Iron.
Tried it once in an Audi, with disasterous results.
Toyotas were okay, but making the trip in a Frigidaire probably would have been more exciting.
Tried once in my navy buddy's 2ng gen Honda Prelude, and I swear that thing was powered by rubber bands. On the down-hills and flat stretches cat was fast. On the hill\mountain climbs, everyone that we had blown by on the flats just caught and passed us.
I'd be willing to make that deal with the devil, just to drive this car cross-country.
Allan @ May 2nd 2008 12:49PM
Tried a BMW yet? That was Alex Roy's choice (M5) in making the stint across the country for the "record."
I wouldn't think Audi would have the reliability for something like that and the others you mentioned aren't any sort of "premium" brand that I'd target with such an attempt.
Not to say a good ole American car can't do it... I think it would be pretty fun in just about any ride. And this one even looks pretty bad ass.
ckm @ May 2nd 2008 12:52PM
"Traded a sunrise for a sunset"
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5913236180431404795
Mr. Oak @ May 2nd 2008 3:20PM
Your name is Allan and you like BMWs, I think we have met. Actually, if you're the Allan I think u are, we work for the same company. you're in Dallas, I'm in New York.
I like big bottom ends (cars and chicas). No one does bottom ends like GM, Ford and Chrysler. You euro lovers are into the screamers.
Keith.
pez @ May 2nd 2008 12:39PM
yeah i not a charger fan- but this hella cool
Chad @ May 2nd 2008 1:10PM
It's not a Charger so enjoy.
Donald @ May 2nd 2008 12:45PM
This is the sort of fun promoting GM should be doing for the Camaro, instead of beating down the public with more "caught testing" spy shots and video of rolling mules.
We're tired of the viral marketing. This is just funny.
And those rims do look hot. Not bling, just muscular on that car.
Dustin @ May 2nd 2008 12:45PM
Damn, they stole my idea! Except I can still do a better job, because Kowalski's Challenger was an R/T... plus those oversize wheels look dumb. Real muscle cars have fat tires.
pnemeth @ May 2nd 2008 12:47PM
wow those rims look awesome. they've been out for a while, waiting for the right car to go on. i think the Challenger is ust that car. they never looked right on the 300C in my opinion. but look how much negative camber that car has. it is going to get horrible tire wear if it were to REALLY go cross country.
Andy @ May 2nd 2008 12:52PM
Dorks. Doing dork-like things that appeals only to...dorks.
Purifoy @ May 2nd 2008 12:53PM
You just gotta love it!!! (And actually, the Challenger doesn't look to bad in white!)
NOreasonY @ May 2nd 2008 1:08PM
im not huge fan of dodge or the challenger but...damn....that car in white looks amazing...