The 2023 Dodge Challenger Black Ghost is the latest “Previous Get in touch with” distinctive edition model—part of a bevy of end-of-the-road, gasoline-fed Challengers and Chargers coming ahead of the muscle mass motor vehicle goes electric—and pays homage to a legendarily mysterious black 1970 Challenger. Aptly nicknamed “Black Ghost,” the first muscle mass auto sometimes prowled Detroit’s Woodward Avenue fifty many years back or produced passes on an industrial street named Stecker before stealthily creeping absent, not to be found all over again for months or even a long time. Seemingly, it often received and in no way dropped, but under no circumstances hung all over to get a burger and socialize. Can you think about that these days? A mysterious muscle auto without any social media presence or car display appearances?
The likelihood of seeing a modern-day Black Ghost Challenger is practically as slender as looking at the primary in the 1970s: only 300 Black Ghost Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye Widebody (bumped to 807 hp) muscle autos draped in Pitch Black will be made.
It turns out the primary Black Ghost was a 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T with the SE bundle owned by a gearhead named Godfrey Qualls. Curiously, “GQ” was essentially a Detroit cop, possibly a conflict of desire that might assistance demonstrate the surreptitious nature of the Black Ghost’s showing and disappearing. Essentially, he was a motorbike cop, and the Black Ghost experienced a hitch to tow GQ’s bikes to racetracks. He was also an Army combat veteran.
According to an in-depth Hagerty writeup, GQ’s 1970 Challenger may possibly be just one-of-one construct, offered its 425-hp, 490-lb-ft of torque 426 Hemi V-8 with the 4-barrel carb ($778.75) 4-speed handbook ($194.85) AM/FM stereo ($213.60) vinyl “Gator Grain” roof ($24.60) and fabric and vinyl bucket seats instead of leather (-$48.25). The full matter came to $5,272.40. The Shaker hood, which it was meant to have, was hardly ever mounted. The Black Ghost lately grew to become the 28th car inducted into the Countrywide Historic Auto Register.
Apart from an aftermarket coil, 11-inch slicks, and ditching the mufflers, Qualls did not do a lot to the Black Ghost in phrases of modifications, in accordance to Hemmings. Qualls set more than 45,000 miles on the odometer, and it apparently in no way essential a clutch.
As exhibited by exterior cues, the new Black Ghost is a fashionable choose on the original, straight down to the black “gator pores and skin” roof vinyl graphs, Challenger script badges (grille, fender, and spoiler), and the white bumblebee rear fender graphics. Offsetting the black exterior are the chrome Dodge badge on the front and the chrome fuel filler doorway. (You could explain to Quall was a cop simply because he opted for a locking gas cap.) Black six-piston Brembo brakes support prevent the 20×11 Satin Carbon Warp Pace wheels.
On the within, the Past Connect with Black Ghost Challenger has legit carbon fiber bezels, a Dynamica suede headliner, an Alcantara steering wheel with a red SRT logo, and a Black Ghost interior instrument panel badge. As a aspect notice, that badge flashes the Fratzog logo. While the first didn’t, the new Black Ghost has leather, as exhibited by its Alcantara/Laguna leather-based seats and door bolsters.