SEMA Preview: 560-hp Challenger Convertible that Dodge won't build
by Damon Lavrinc on Oct 20th 2008 at 8:58AM 
Coach Builders Ltd. is known for its convertible conversions of the Chrysler 300C and Cadillac CTS, so after Dodge made the decision not to offer the Challenger in drop-top guise, it knew what it had to do.
The Florida-based company will bring a customized soft-top Dodge Challenger SRT8 to SEMA, packing a Vortech supercharger good for 560 hp and 510 lb-ft of torque. In addition to the hydraulically powered acrylic polyester cloth roof (complete with sound and temperature insulation), the Challenger is dropped courtesy of a KW coil-over suspension over 22-inch Foose wheels coated in Nitto rubber.
The cost of the conversion, which also includes a heated glass rear window, matching headliner and a rear strut bar to shore up the chassis, is a whopping $16,000, making for a $58,000 hair dryer when rolled into the $41,695 base price of an SRT8. We're not saying it's not worth it, but we could think of a few other mods we'd do to the Challenger before hacking the roof off.
[Source: Coach Builders Ltd. via InsideLine]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Yaroukh 9:07AM (10/20/2008)
the wheels just ruin it
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rar 9:13AM (10/20/2008)
I agree, the car looks great, but the wheels? Even the stock SRT8 wheels would look better than that.
refugee7 9:13AM (10/20/2008)
Totally agree. The wheels butcher it.
jcar302 9:18AM (10/20/2008)
Sometimes i wonder if companies actually take a step back and look at the car.
Horrific rims.
Duders 12:30PM (10/20/2008)
Isn't that what SEMAs about? How big of a wheel can I fit into my corollas wheel wells?
Domestic 6.0 1:36PM (10/20/2008)
Ca looks amazing just give it black wheels !
1970Dodge 1:56PM (10/20/2008)
Yeah, those rims remind me of a torque converter...
Benfolio 2:01PM (10/20/2008)
I liked the rims the white OLOA car had on it... much better modern rallye wheel IMO.
Shipey 9:15AM (10/20/2008)
They're SUPPOSED to look like up-sized original Chrysler rallye wheels, but wow... they fail miserably.
Car does look good topless though!
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Axis 9:36AM (10/20/2008)
Foose made those wheels, wow...that's pretty unexpected, considering most of their work is pretty killer.
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Red 10:46AM (10/20/2008)
Those wheels were meant for an SUV. Somebody should've slapped someone in the mouth for even suggesting these should be on a Challenger, let alone a Challenger Convertible.
The Viper SRT-10s wheels would've looked nice, maybe in an upsize 20".
Serge 9:56AM (10/20/2008)
I like this thing as a convertible :) Dodge is missing out on some image conscious buyers who will be forced to get a SAAB or a Solara or even worse :0 the Sebring.
My dad owns a 2000 Cadillac Eldorado that was chopped by Coach Builders Ltd. They do really good conversions.
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TJ 9:58AM (10/20/2008)
Those old Eldo-converts are real nice. I've always liked those.
Serge 10:24AM (10/20/2008)
Me and my dad went to get the top serviced last year, they had a retractable hardtop C6 Vette... that thing is sweet :)
http://www.coachbuildersltd.com
rsfourever 11:00AM (10/20/2008)
actually, i was in san diego last week, and i saw a Dodge Charger that was a converted to a drop-top!!!!! it was outrageous!!!
MajorGeek 10:44AM (10/20/2008)
Nice job, frankly 16k for the engine mods plus the exterior work is not out of control. As everyone has mentioned, the wheels are not ugly if you slap them on your 300 but fail miserably on the Challenger. This was a no brainer, Nitrous II by Foose:
http://www.chipfoose.com/images/wheels/nitrousII_enlarged.jpg
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AntBee 12:30PM (10/20/2008)
The $16,000 is only for the drop-top work, the engine mods, wheels and suspension stuff cost extra. At least that's how I read it on the source site.
Paul 10:45AM (10/20/2008)
GM might build it...
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Torrent 10:55AM (10/20/2008)
Like I said before, not making a vert is a dumb move. This is hot. although it's just like driving a boat with the top down (because of weight) it's awesome.
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Hassan 11:50AM (10/20/2008)
Looks like a bloated fish. Ugly car.
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