Dodge Challenger SRT8 added to Leno's Garage
Click above image for gallery of high-res shots courtesy Delbert Shoopman
Looks like late night television's most famous car nut is the latest person to fall under the spell of the new Dodge Challenger SRT-8. Autoblog friend Delbert Shoopman says he was walking around the NBC lot in Burbank and happened upon one black Challenger parked directly across from the Tonight Show studio. Further snooping revealed a Jay Leno parking tag on the spot (above). We snooped a bit ourselves and found a blurb on Chrysler's internal blog, Firehouse, where they talk about Jay's latest acquisition.
Seems Jay picked it up yesterday at Valley Dodge in Van Nuys. It will join his 1970 Challenger among the hundreds of other cars in Leno's Garage when he isn't driving it around the Valley or stopping off at local car meets. We'll keep an eye out for him at Bob's Big Boy and VCR to see what he thinks of his latest toy. We're guessing he will get quite a kick out of it, with its 425-hp Hemi V8 and retro-mod good looks. Drive it in good health, Jay.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
TriShield 7:32PM (6/03/2008)
Headline says Charger instead of Challenger.
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J.Crew 7:39PM (6/03/2008)
The car looks great in Black!
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TriShield 7:43PM (6/03/2008)
Easily one of the, if not the best looking car to be released this year. The Challenger and the other fullsize LX cars are one of the few things Chrysler does right.
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Andre 7:44PM (6/03/2008)
Umm, It's a Challenger not a Charger Writer..
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retro77 7:45PM (6/03/2008)
Ram Air= nice!
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auto-junkie 7:52PM (6/03/2008)
how about a job proof reading your blogs?
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jcar302 8:15PM (6/03/2008)
I do like the styling, but the performance is a little on the weak side when compared to the shelby mustang according to MT's numbers.
C&D also tested it, but up against a 30k bullitt mustang, and the challenger barely edged it out with 100 more hp on tap.
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IK47 2:02AM (6/04/2008)
who needs performance when you have imitation carbon fiber!?
domestics FTFW!!!!!!111
Eddy Alvarez 8:21PM (6/03/2008)
it sure is purty!
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icu812ru469 8:21PM (6/03/2008)
Crap, just like his comedy. Hope he crashed it and the airbag knocks his chin back.
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Torrent 10:30PM (6/03/2008)
ROFL!
Quicksilver 8:44PM (6/03/2008)
If Jay Leno wants any kids I'm open to adoption if I can drive some of the cars.
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Esprit bird 9:00PM (6/03/2008)
Whats the cars 1/4 time? cause while i BARELY edge out new Mustangs in my 02 WS6, im sure its probably right along side me.
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Parkerman 11:04AM (6/04/2008)
low 13's/high 12's... Should get a better idea on the 1/4th times when the manual comes out though.
Patrick 9:03PM (6/03/2008)
Jay Leno will soon be the only person who can afford the gas to drive it.
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johneboy 9:30PM (6/03/2008)
Leno had an easy choice to make. Challenger is THE car. Sorry GM, but the new Camaro will be too late to this muscle car war. Sorry Ford, but your Mustang is now the car for middle aged housewives who are feeling frisky. Brampton Assembly Rules!
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SimbaDogg 5:40AM (6/04/2008)
i love middle aged former housewives (recent divorcees)
jsjs 10:17PM (6/03/2008)
As retro muscle cars go - the styling of the Challenger is better done than the Mustang or the Camaro (which is particularly awful).
Too bad Chrysler didn't have the $$ to engineer the Challenger on an entirely new platform or put in a better interior - but if I had to pick btwn the 3 competitors, the Challenger would be it.
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Doug Danzeisen 11:26PM (6/03/2008)
Wow! Is there any real car person who wouldn't love to swap places with Leno for a day? The guy is the real deal, his joy for the cars is obvious in his webcasts. He shares his historical knowledge and appreciation with us and we are enriched by that. As a car guy myself for many years I know I will never have the opportunity to feel, drive, smell and touch so many of the cars I have loved through the years. Thanks to Leno's webcasts I know what it's like to cruise around in a Duesie, get up close and personal with a steam car and mod a new 'Vette.
Mr. Leno on behalf of all the people who live and love cars I salute you for living and sharing the dream that countless thousands of us have daydreamed about. You have well deserved fame and fortune and you did not self destruct, but found something outside yourself and in so doing enriched us further. Rock on Leno !
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Tagg 10:47PM (6/03/2008)
I saw my first one on the road today and it looks great but damn is it huge!!! It has to be a foot longer than the Mustang which is a pretty big car itself. My major gripe is that the sides are so flat and it gives too much mass to the side profile. It makes a big car look massive but still I would love to put one in my garage.
Too bad it will never sell in enough volume to help Chrysler financially. Maybe the Mustang is "the car for middle aged housewives who are feeling frisky" but at least those frisky housewives will count for sales and thats what its all about.
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