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Walking the floor at SEMA can be an unsettling experience. The first hour or two – or even longer if you don’t attend shows like this – will leave you wowed and wanting more. Nearly every inch of the massive multi-halled Las Vegas Convention Center is crammed to the gills with wildly expensive classic and modern muscle cars. It’s enough to make you look back at all the work you’ve poured into your own car and sneer.
The gold accents aren't too "in your face" while the black with red stitching PECCA leather interior covers up all the factory plastic.
But after a day or two, you become a little desensitized. If you hang around any longer, you’ll find yourself saying, “Oh look, another Shelby GT500. Boy, it’s not like I haven’t four of those already.”
Sure, there are those “stand out” cars that no matter how much you stare at it, or however many times you walk past it you just can’t get enough. But finding that, particularly with a late-model muscle car, is incredibly rare.
There were almost as many new Challengers on hand as new convertible Camaros and Mustangs reskinned to look like classic pony cars. The Challenger – despite its bottom of the trio performance and sales numbers – is still a stylistic champion, and has been the darling of customizers for several years since its first introduction.
So getting a new Challenger to look or act any differently from any previous is one tough gig…and that is why we’re so happy with Rockstar’s ’12 Challenger SRT8.
Built by LDRSHIP Designs out of Temecula, California, the modded 392 HEMI Challenger looks deceptively sedate, surprisingly all those who stop and take a closer look. LDRSHIP took “its all in the details” to the Nth degree, because this Mopar is swimming in little tricks and touches that kept us zooming in with our camera lens time and time again.
The 392ci HEMI is force-fed by a Votech High Output Air/Water Charge Cooled Supercharger. Like the idea of a 600HP HEMI beneath your hood? Sure who doesn't. New JBA exhaust funnels the spent gases out through dual polished tips.
Notice the 'Rockstar' imprint on the rear taillights. When we noticed it, builder Nicholas Ashby beamed with pride. The taillight was painted with several coats of clear over a stencil to get this look. A really cool and subtle touch.
Starting life as a SRT8, the factory 470hp/470ft. lbs. of torque HEMI got a huge shot in the arm from Vortech Superchargers – where the Challenger was parked – in the form the company’s new High Output Air/Water Charge Cooled Supercharger System, boosting the Challenger closer to 600hp.
Even the new Grant wheel was rewrapped in PICCA leather. We particularly like the Glock-style Pistol Grip shifter.
Inland Empire Drivelines provided a one-piece driveline as Ohio Gen pitched in a high performance alternator, Mishimoto supplied the high performance oil and water coolers, while JBA replaced the exhaust with some serious pipes.
KW Suspension race-grade coilovers and Brembo monoblock brakes improve the ride and handling, while giant DPE Engineering 20×9.5 and 20×11.5 three-piece rims were wrapped in Toyo rubber, totaling up to some serious rolling stock.
The body was equally as “plussed” with a Seibon carbon fiber hood, front valance and rear decklid. Inside, Stitchcraft completely revamped the interior in black-with-red stitching PECCA leather…and we mean everything. But, surprisingly enough, it wasn’t gaudy, which is kind of a regular thing with those energy drink-sponsored car builds. Sure, there’s all the giant “Rockstar” stars and logos all over the car, but this Challenger – for being a tire-smoking billboard – is actually really cool.
No it's not a wrap. All of the striping and logos were hand painted in PPG paint. They even purposely faded the black inset of the Rockstar logo to show the carbon hood come through the paint. Pretty trick stuff.
