Dodge confirmed that it will only build the Hellcat-powered Durango for six months. If you miss the opportunity to buy one, or you want something a little rarer, a Texas dealer will sell a first-generation Durango tuned by Shelby.
Don’t let the body kit and chrome alloys fool you; this is not a “Pimp My Ride” prop. It is one of approximately 300 units of the first generation Durango to emerge from Shelby’s workshop in the late 1990s. Called the SP-360, it’s powered by a supercharged version of Dodge’s 5.9-liter V8, which produces 360 horsepower and 412 pound-feet of torque, enough for a 7.1-second sprint from zero to 100 km / h. The eight-cylinder turns all four wheels.
We can hear you from here: this behemoth has less power than a 2021 Chrysler 300, and it records the same time from zero to 100 mph as a Honda Civic Hatchback, so what’s so special about it? Keep in mind it’s old enough to order a beer, and a 360-horsepower V8 was pretty impressive in 1999, especially when screwed between the fenders of a family-friendly SUV. Ferrari’s 360 Modena only put 40 horses under the driver’s right foot.
Enthusiasts could count on suspension made firmer and lower to control the extra power, and six-piston calipers were available for an additional cost. What they couldn’t count on was staying unobtrusive. Each SP-360 was finished in Viper Metallic Blue with contrasting white stripes, a combination inspired by the mighty Viper. And the bling-tastic chrome alloys were complemented by a deeper front bumper, a dedicated bonnet with dual air intakes, side skirts and twin round exhaust tips that protrude through a redesigned rear bumper.
Inside, Shelby added bucket seats for the first and second row passengers (those in the third row were stuck on a regular bench), gauges mounted on the A-pillar on the driver’s side, carbon fiber trim on the dashboard and center console, plus a numbered plate next to the transfer case handle. Carroll Shelby personally signed the one shown in our gallery in February 2003, although the serial number is not visible in the images.
Dodge planned to sell 3,000 copies of the SP-360, according to historical documents, but in the end it only found a home for about 300. The copy for sale in Texas has been modified with a more aggressive cam, larger throttle body, and a high-volume fuel pump, the selling dealer said. It has about 28,300 miles, it looks relatively well preserved and is priced at $ 24,995. It’s certainly not cheap, especially considering that Barrett-Jackson sold a 53,000-mile SP-360 for $ 8,250 in 2019, but when are you going to find another?
For context, the 2021 Durango SRT Hellcat has a supercharged, 6.2-liter V8 that delivers 710 horsepower and 645 pound-feet of torque. It is celebrated as the world’s most powerful mass production SUV, an honor that fetches it a base price of approximately $ 81,000.
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