by The Mythical Muscle Car Lost Value After an Unusual Modification
The Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Jailbreak has always been one of the brightest representatives of modern muscle cars, a symbol of great power and bold design. Therefore, the owner’s decision to turn the coupe into a convertible attracted attention but also seriously impacted its market price.
This 2023 model year car, one of the so-called “Last Call” editions bidding farewell to the Challenger model, recently appeared on the Bring a Trailer auction with only 4,500 kilometers on the odometer.
An Expensive Conversion into a Convertible
Initially, the car was a full-fledged coupe with a dealer price of over $83,000. Its heart remains a supercharged 6.2-liter atmospheric V8 engine producing 717 horsepower. However, the owner then decided to remove the roof.
For the conversion, the car was sent to the DropTop Customs atelier in Florida, where for $25,999 the roof was replaced with a folding soft top.
Thus, the total investment in the car, including the conversion, approached $110,000. Interestingly, the convertible’s exterior turned out quite harmonious, and if Dodge itself had released such a version, it would probably look similar.
Market Reaction to the Custom Project
However, the owner’s investment did not find resonance at the auction. The car managed to sell for only $73,000. This was already the second sales attempt – in November, bids did not exceed $70,500, failing to meet the seller’s minimum price.
Undoubtedly, the open roof allows for even greater enjoyment of the powerful engine’s sound, but it is difficult to assess how the conversion affected handling and body rigidity. The very uncertainty regarding these parameters seems to have scared off potential buyers.
In the final minutes of the auction, the seller left a comment, regrettably noting that the car “should have been worth closer to $100k!”. However, the market set its own price.
This story well illustrates how radical individual modifications, even when executed with quality, can sharply narrow the circle of potential buyers and reduce a car’s liquidity. This is especially true for such special, “farewell” editions, which are collectible items in their own right. Converting a coupe into a convertible leaves many questions regarding long-term reliability and the preservation of characteristics, which is critical for serious collectors. At the same time, for the new owner, this is a unique opportunity to own a one-of-a-kind Hellcat with an open roof for a significantly lower price than was invested in its creation.
