If you’ve never driven a car down a drag strip, you won’t get it. It doesn’t matter how many times you’ve watched it, or how involved you’ve been, you just won’t understand. However, if you have driven the quarter mile, then you’ll know what it’s all about, and no doubt be well aware of just how addictive it can be. Unfortunately for Rob McBride’s bank balance, he knows all too well just how all-consuming the desire to go faster can become.

It all started out innocently enough, as it tends to, when Rob took his street-driven Dodge Challenger down the strip about five or so years ago. Before he knew it, he was looking for ways to extract more (more…)

With a red, 440-powered Dodge Challenger in the garage, Terry McKeown was a happy man. Having been a fan of the iconic E-body shape for many years, he thought he’d reached the acme of his Challenger ownership — that was unless somehow he could find (and fund the purchase of) a Hemi-powered one, which is near on impossible.

Things changed though when a particular ad caught his eye while casually browsing Mopar Collector’s Guide magazine. The ad in question read: “1970 Dodge Challenger RT S/E, 440 Magnum, air, leather, 59,000 miles, three owners.” While the mileage was remarkably low for a car over 30 years old, that wasn’t the part that got his attention — the label ‘S/E’ however, did.

Even many fellow Mopar owners are unaware of the S/E Challengers, or what exactly the S/E (Special Edition) stands for. The obvious visual difference is the unusual (more…)

Taking inspiration from the Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR, the Chrysler Group’s Mopar Underground tuning team applied a similar hardcore treatment to the latest Challenger SRT8 392 before it debuts at the upcoming SEMA Show in the States.

The hard-tuned model is staunchly track-focused but remains street legal and has been upgraded with a range of Mopar performance parts. The new additions include a coil-over suspension, front-and rear-strut tower braces, short-throw shifter, front splitter, cat-back exhaust, custom exhaust headers and a set of Goodyear F1 Supercar tyres.

Mopar Underground didn’t stop there either and made changes to the modern muscle car’s interior and exterior appointments. The car wears white paint with a charcoal coloured roof, there’s a carbon fibre bonnet and rear boot lid, red flame stripes, painted mirror caps and “ACR” badging. (more…)

The November issue of NZV8 Magazine has just hit shop shelves so it’s time to get a fresh fix of all that’s happening on the kiwi V8 scene. The new issue is a beaut and comes packed with feature cars, news and event reports so get your copy before they are all gone.

In this month’s issue we have an epic cover article that celebrates high power Fords. There’s a 1970 Ford Torino Type N/W cover car that’s immaculately finished and uses a 514ci big block motor to produce 700hp plus. If the Torino wasn’t enough this V8 lover also has a late model FPV GT-P daily driver with 413kW on tap – that makes for a high horsepower garage. Other feature cars include a beautifully chromed 1957 Chevy Bel Air which is simply stunning inside and out. There’s also a ’72 Dodge Challenger finished in slime green and packing a 528ci motor it can achieve 9-second passes. No issue would be complete without a Chev Camaro and this months is a classic 1969 RS/SS model with a 410ci small block engine and a track-spec fit out. Away from the feature cars we have a article celebrating kiwi automotive success stories and we visit a huge private collection of Packards and motorbikes. We report back from the recent Pukekohe Hot Rod and Horsepower Show and also the annual Father’s Day Drags.

All this plus the usual technical advice, readers’ rides, posters and news to keep you up to date with all that’s happening on the NZ V8 scene. This is a stellar issue so make sure you pick up a copy today before they sell out!

Big power, immaculate presentation and the perfect stance, what more could you ask for in a muscle car.

Knock, knock, knock. Many of us have heard it at some stage. It’s a noise no one wants to hear coming from under the bonnet. The one that sounds like there’s a little man with a hammer going to town on the inside of your engine. If it hasn’t happened to you, cross your fingers, bless your good fortune, and pray to the automotive gods that it never does.

Kyle Kitson, owner of this 1970 Dodge Challenger, clearly hadn’t been praying devoutly enough.

As a member of active West Auckland’s Huapai Hot Rod Club, Kyle regularly takes part in the club’s annual drag day held each November. The 2009 edition will be an event Kyle won’t forget in a hurry. Nor for that matter will his older brother Mike (whose Ford Galaxie was on the cover of NZV8 issue 40). (more…)

Having 470 horsepower under the bonnet means you’re going to move with some gusto but when there’s 570 rabid ponies up front, things can get wild.

Chrysler knows the difference and is planning to step things up a notch with a new top tier of SRT vehicles with upgraded powerplants. If recent rumours prove true later this year, the Dodge Charger SRT8 and Chrysler 300 SRT8 will be made available with an Eaton-sourced supercharger. This blower will boost the output of these machines to somewhere around 540-570-horsepower.

The supercharger option may be a dealer install job and will be offered on 2013 model year cars. What’s more Chrysler may fit its new eight-speed auto transmission to its four-door sports cars next year. (more…)

The Chrysler group has released a new video showing off its hardcore SRT8 range, the Charger, Challenger, 300 and even the Grand Cherokee star in this smokey clip.

There’s plenty of drifting and burnouts to break in the new stand alone SRT brand. It also gives enthusiasts the chance to hear the new 470-horsepower, 6.4-litre HEMI motor in action.

Check out the video below. (more…)

The Dodge Challenger SRT8 392 represents the very latest Mopar offering of this well known vehicle and a few of these brand new models are now on their way to NZ.

To kick off 2011 model-year production, Dodge has built 1,100 Inaugural Edition models of the Challenger SRT8 392, all with exclusive content. Only 5 of these will make their way to New Zealand’s shores this month, 4 of which already have homes.

With only one out of the five Challengers left for sale, prior to arrival, Todd Groves Divisional Manager of the Chrysler portfolio in New Zealand, is confident the SRT brand can become a vehicle kiwis will aspire to own. “It’s an honor to facilitate the entry of these specialised vehicles into the New Zealand market and to be able to provide our discerning customers with their very own slice of muscle car heaven. Being such a small market on the international scale, NZ is often overlooked for allocation of exclusive vehicles like these, but this time we managed to make it happen for our SRT fans and I’m really proud to be a part of that.”

On the outside, Dodge is offering unique customisation for those first 1,100 owners. Two colors and fullbody stripe combinations include Deep Water Blue with standard Stone White stripes or Bright White Clear Coat with standard Viper Blue stripes. All Inaugural Edition models will ride on standard 20-inch SRT-exclusive wheels that feature a polished face and satin black painted pockets. (more…)

Over in the States the 2010 Mopar Challenger arrived last year and proved an instant hit. Mopar fans went crazy for the machine and with Chrysler only offering 500 copies of the model, they sold out rapidly. Now in 2011, the all-new Dodge Charger is filling up Dodge showrooms around America, and Chrysler aren’t going to miss a trick by not giving some special vehicles a Mopar makeover.

As a signal of intent, Chrysler has released a first teaser sketch of its forthcoming special edition model. The rendering shows off a black and blue color scheme similar to that of the Challenger, but the side stripes have been replaced with a stripe that stretches across the bonnet, roof and boot. The Mopar team has also dropped the bulbous hood scoop for the model, opting for a more streamlined appearance. (more…)

This week on the show, we head down to Fram Autolite dragway to catch up with the American Muscle Car Club, Take a spin in an amazing Dodge Challenger (as seen in the current issue of NZV8 Magazine), head down to Morrinsville to catch some burnout action, and discuss the upcoming drag racing season with top alcohol drivers Morice McMillin and John Neilan.

NZV8 TV is on at 2:30 pm, this Sunday on TV1. It will run each week at the same time so check it out.

Also watch this week for your chance to win a 3D LG TV and other prizes. Click here to find out more.

Click here to view profiles of this season’s presenters.

If you missed the first episode of this season’s NZV8 TV, no worries, click here to view it online.

To watch Episode 2, click on the video boxes below.

Part 2

Part 1

Despite the recent GST rise, the following books have had between $5-10 taken off their price in our online shop. It’s a great opportunity to get your Xmas presents sorted now!

There’s only a couple of each book left at most so click on the link below to check out the book.

Chevy Small Block V8 Interchange Manual 2nd Ed by David Lewis

NASCAR Racers by White & Kinrade

Challenger & Barracuda 1970-74 Collector’s Originality Guide by Jim Schild

Virgil Exner Visioneer – The Official Biography Of Virgil M. Exner Designer Extraordinaire, by Peter Grist

The September issue of NZV8 has just hit the shelves, so grab a copy today.

In this month’s issue we have a super tough tubbed and blown Ford Falcon XY ute packing 730HP. We also feature a high-power 1957 Chev 210 with a 335ci small block and a stunning 1951 Ford Twin Spinner which tool 14 years and 700+ hours of panel work to complete. We get amongst the madness which is the 2010 Snowball Run and we have a special guide to buying a second hand engine. We feature a very rapid ’72 Corvette with 650hp on tap and we road test the new 2010 HSV GTS. We teach you how to Photoshop your ride for great results and our final feature car is Kyle Kitson’s flawless 1970 Dodge Challenger. We also have a guide to the latest in car audio and sneak in a bike review of the Honda 1200 VFR.

All this plus the usual advice and technical information, readers’ rides and competitions to keep you up to date with all that’s happening on the NZ V8 scene. Pick up a copy now before they sell out!

Following on from a popular debut at the SEMA show last year, American tuners HPP has released new details about their Daytona Concept conversion package for the Dodge Challenger.

Designed to mimic the old favourite Plymouth Superbird, the base package features a new front nose, pop-up headlights, an aluminum bonnet (with a T/A-style scoop), new taillights, 20-inch wheels and of course a signature massive rear wing. The cabin gets a replacement instrument cluster, a unique shifter, and HHP floor mats.

Other available options include a special ventilated hood, ground effects lighting, painted interior trim and custom seats.

In terms of performance, the company offers three different superchargers for the 6.1-litre HEMI V8, three KW coilover suspensions, and a Magnaflow exhaust.

Getting this old school cool machine isn’t cheap and with every aftermarket item selected the entire package adds up to $41,461 USD and that doesn’t include the price of the donor Dodge Challenger.

Check out images of the HPP Plymouth Superbird in the gallery below. (more…)

Last week Dodge announced it’s new custom factory built model the Mopar 2010 Dodge Challenger and now a new video of the Challenger has hit the web. The video shows the special Challenger in the flesh and is accompanied by some interesting commentary on the build process.

The Mopar Dodge Challenger is powered by the 5.7-litre HEMI V8 and features various enhancements including a cold air intake, a bonnet-scoop system and a stiffer chassis. The Mopar 2010 Dodge Challenger is priced from $39,000 USD. Click here to find out more.

Check out the video below. (more…)

More Powercruise action from Taupo with the burnouts and dyno comp. Jon Kosmoski, founder of House of Kolor shows us his painting skills, and we take a look over a mint (green) 1970 Dodge Challenger.

More Powercruise action from Taupo with the burnouts and dyno comp. Jon Kosmoski, founder of House of Kolor shows us his painting skills, and we take a look over a mint (green) 1970 Dodge Challenger.

GT1 Jaguar Trans-Am, a 427ci (7-litre) Ford Brute ute takes to Hampton Downs, new Dodge Challenger vs 1972 Dodge Challenger, Walkinshaw Group A Holden Commodore, and a big-block Chrysler VG Valiant.

GT1 Jaguar Trans-Am, a 427ci (7-litre) Ford Brute ute takes to Hampton Downs, new Dodge Challenger vs 1972 Dodge Challenger, Walkinshaw Group A Holden Commodore, and a big-block Chrysler VG Valiant.

2009 Dodge Challenger R/T walkaround

Remote controlled 1/3 scale T-Bucket w/ Challanger V8 engine.

The world’s first wide-body 2009 Dodge Challenger that was custom built by expertise fabricator Topo and JW Motorsports in Bellflower, California. The Challenger was a crowd favorite at this year’s SEMA and features 24-inch front and 26-inch rear custom-built Asanti wheels. What they did was bring out the body four inches to fit that 7-inch lip. They also lowered the suspension and added custom exhaust for more horsepower. At night, the cars reflectors make it more noticeable and give it a bit of personality when rolling down the street.

First look at the 2008 tricked out Dodge Challenger SRT8. One of the first Challengers to hit the streets (VIN# 11)

Chrysler promises that ‘if you can dream it, we’ll do our best to build it.’ The Dodge Challenger aims to specifically realise the muscle car dreams

Driving footage, including a big smokey burnout