Meet the 1st Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Convertible (Video)

While the Dodge Challenger competes in the same segment as the Chevrolet Camaro and the Ford Mustang, one area where the modern Mopar muscle car has never challenged the cross-town rivals was in offering a convertible model. While we have seen more than a few Challenger convertibles at SEMA over the years, along with privately owned Dodge coupes transformed convertibles, the company has never made a move to offer a droptop muscle car from the factory.

The same is true of the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat, but one South Dakota customizer has decided that the 707 horsepower muscle car needs to be enjoyed without the hindrance of a roof over your head.

Iverson Dodge Hellcat Challenger Convertible
The Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat is a marvel of modern engineering, with a supercharged 707 horsepower engine that puts that power to the ground very well. I have played with the Hellcat Challenger on a variety of road courses and a few different drag strips, along with logging thousands of miles on the open road. The 707hp Challenger performs beautifully in every driving situation and I wouldn’t want to do anything that would add weight and (possibly) reduce chassis rigidity, but I can see how some people might want their monster muscle car to drop its top. After all, both the “old” Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 with 662hp and the new Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 with 640 horsepower have convertible variants, so there is no question that the demand exists for high performance muscle car convertibles.

Even with the obvious demand, the lack of a Dodge Challenger convertible has led to the lack of a Hellcat Challenger convertible…until the folks at Iverson Customs got their hands on the white Mopar muscle car shown above. With the help of Drop Top Customs, the Hellcat Challenger had its metal roof removed and a folding canvas top replaced it, along with all of the chassis reinforcements needed to make the car structurally safe after the loss of the fixed roof. The video below offers a quick look at one of the reinforcements in the form of the white strut tower brace under the hood.

I would imagine that this Hellcat Challenger convertible also has some reinforcements in the undercarriage and perhaps in the doors. That leads to a heavier car, but with 707 horsepower and 650lb-ft of torque on tap – I’m sure that this customized muscle car still gets up and goes in a hurry. Also, it should be noted that this custom Challenger doesn’t look too bad when driving with the top up.

Finally, Iverson Customs had Chrysler design mastermind Ralph Gilles sign the engine cover and the battery box.

It’s on Sale, but It’s Not Cheap
The best news is that if you have a serious hankering for a Hellcat Challenger convertible, the Iverson Customs car shown in the video below is available for sale. The bad news is that with a price of $139,900, the first ever Hellcat convertible costs roughly double the cost of the original car’s MSRP.

In the end, the buyer of this Hellcat Challenger is paying double the MSRP for a car that is heavier and slower than the standard version, but for the hardcore convertible lover who has some very deep pockets – this could be the muscle car of their dreams.

Image above captured from the video.

Source: AutoEvolution