Wisconsin-based SpeedKore wasted no time putting Mopar’s mighty Hellephant V8 to good use. He dropped it in a one-off 1970’s Dodge Charger with carbon fiber raw enough to earn the Hellraiser name.
Built for actor Kevin Hart, who smashed one of SpeedKore’s earlier builds, the restored muscle car goes beyond the average aftermarket build. The company began scanning a 1970 stock loader and fed the data to a five-axis CNC machine that made the molds. SpeedKore then constructed the bodyshell from aerospace grade carbon fiber to ensure a smooth, strong and regular finish. Hart asked to leave it bare.
Mechanics dropped the body onto a SpeedKore-designed frame with an integrated 14-point roll cage. Even if build ended there and the drivetrain remained fully stocked, we’d be impressed with this charger. However, the composite construction and redesigned underpinning are just the tip of the proverbial iceberg.
When the massive bonnet opens, a 7.0-liter Hellephant V8 engine is unveiled that we heard screaming from its heart in late 2020. It’s tuned to develop 1,000 horsepower and 950 pound-feet of torque, numbers that obscure Dodge’s Hellcat models in normal production. It spins the rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission from Challenger Demon and a 9-inch Ford rear, and it exhales through a custom exhaust system.
After sifting through Mopar and Ford’s parts bins, SpeedKore scoured Chevrolet’s stock. He pulled out a sixth-generation Corvette front suspension that was modified with Detroit Speed and Woodward parts. At the rear, the rear is connected to the frame via a four-bar system and adjustable Penske shocks. Brembo brakes (including six-piston front calipers and four-piston rear calipers) control the V8’s power when needed.
The 3.0-liter supercharger cuts right through the hood. Take a closer look and you’ll see that most of the exterior trim (including the grille) is made of solid aluminum. Inside, the Hellraiser will include Recaro sports seats for the front passengers, new gauges, a three-spoke steering wheel and a specific center console. All these components are new, but they have a 70’s atmosphere. It doesn’t sound like it’s from the 70’s though: SpeedKore has installed a state-of-the-art sound system with Focal components.
SpeedKore didn’t reveal how much Hart charged for the Hellraiser, but it probably wasn’t cheap. The bike alone cost nearly $ 30,000, and it sold out in just 48 hours. If you want one that’s a bit more accessible, keep an eye out for some previous versions of the company; they sometimes appear for sale. In 2020, an exotic car dealer in Texas listed one of four Dodge Challenger Demons with carbon fiber for about $ 170,000.
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