Barry Newman tests the 2006 Challenger concept car • The Dodge Challenger Message Board

by **christer** » 25 Dec 2006 21:43

...says it´s triple-tough. Well, not exactly but he likes it very much. Want to know more?

by **christer** » 25 Dec 2006 21:55

Here is the VERY NICE looking and intresting article as a whole. I assume that you want to have it translated into english, right?

BTW; The article is from Automotor and Sport (a non-Mopar mag!), # 18 September 2006. I wonder if they from the beginning just had it translated into swedish, and that the article originally was published somewhere else? Does anyone have an answer to that question? It looks a bit too good to be from a small swedish mag, if you ask me.

BTW; I found the mag at a toilet at my work. I thought I needed it more so I plan to borrow it for a long time. :s026:

by **christer** » 25 Dec 2006 22:18

Here is my attempt to translate the article. See it as I have tried to pick the highlights of the article. (I did not have enough energy to translate page 5. Sorry! :s022:

Maybe I will do it a little bit later.)

The platform is Chrysler IX - normally used in Chrysler 300C, Dodge Magnum and Dodge Charger. The difference is that the wheelbase has been shortened with 4 inches, from 120" to 116". The chassie components and brakes are standard 300C-stuff. During the test drive, the 21"-rims have been swapped for a set of more functional 20"-rims. The throttle-valve openings on the hood are functional as opposite to the original Challenger hood intakes. The body and the hood are handmade of carbon fibre. The 6-speed gearbox comes from the Dodge Viper. The car is 2" wider than the original. The concept car weight is above 2 tons (2000kg) in spite of the fact that the body is made of super-light carbon fibre. The details are of the masculine kind; the centre console, the seats, the steeringwheel, everything is sturdy and manly. The rear seat is SPST - Short Passangers Short Travels.

There are four huge gauges in front of the driver, big as cylindres on a big machine and in front of them there is an enormous hood against a horizon of hopes. And there are no false hopes. Starting the Hemi engine immediately creates an invinsible force-field. The people around it unconsciously takes one step backwards.

The Challenger concept car is the first car where Chrysler have combined the Hemi engine with the Viper 6-speed gearbox. It feels like these two are buddies direct from the start. The clutch works smoothly but distinctly. The V8 signals a lot of torque but since it is a prototype, only half-throttle is allowed. It is enough. It is enough for me to believe in the 0-60 4.5 sec/280 km/h (about 175 mph?) figures. But more important than performance figures is the feeling. Kowalski would feel at home when he slide behind the three-spoke steeringwheel.

Why did Chrysler have doubts whether they should start series production or not? One consideration was the capacity in the Brompton factory in Ontario where the Chrysler IX cars are built. Hopefully no problems will arise - it is all about preventing the project from another Vanishing Point. The Challenger R/T concept is too good for that. It has got Super Soul in it´s genes.....

Barry Newman says that Vanishing Point is an "existence movie" (translation? :s006:

). Barry is now 67 years young. (He recently finished a movie called "Grilled" where he played against Burt Reynolds.) Already when he read the VP manuscript, he knew that Vanishing Point was more than a car-chase movie. Unfortunately, the US audience didn´t understand that back in 1971. It was first when it had been a great success in Europe, 20th Century Fox did a re-launch as a "double" together with French Connection. Ever since then Barry Newman has had the nickname Kowalski - and had to be challenged at the red-lights of Kowalski-wannabes regardless if he wanted it or not. Newmans career as an actor has been a little like a roller-coaster ride since Vanishing Point. During the seventies, he was a star in the tv-series "Petrocelli" but after that, he mostly have had smaller role carachters. (He was a part of "The Limey" in 1999). Barry Newman still have preserved love for the old Challenger. "It had so much horsepower, too much for the rest of the car. It nearly felt as if the car would raise when you floored the gas pedal with first gear in....." Barrys intrest for car driving grew bigger during the time VP was made. Newman did a lot of the driving himself under the supervision of the stunt-legend Carey Loftin. Carey was fantastic - we told him to roll the car four turns and then stop at a specific point. He just stared at us and said "Yep".

Newman is impressed by the new Challenger R/T concept car. It is delicious. The proportions are almost identical with the cars we used - the small quarter glass, the shape of the beltline - just fantastic! After a test drive he is even more impressed. "Wow, this car has POWER!"
And gimmicks from the seventies like the pistol grip shifter - even the seats feels right. Would he consider buying the new Challenger (he is currently driving a Porsche Boxster)? The answer is "absolutely!"
"The Challenger is sleek and slender." What does he think of the VP remake? "SHIT!" is the answer. It couldn´t have been said more clairly. He doesn´t exclude a new movie using the same theme, but it has to be a continuation of the first movie, and not a bad copy....

Before Barry says goodbye to the new Challenger he comments on the violent ending of the VP movie - Kowalski doesn´t commit suicide, he sees the small gap between the bulldozers, that is why he smiles the last time we see him. The movie audience understand that he will die, but Kowalski smiles because he thinks that there is a chance. He has seen an escape route...

by **Eddie** » 25 Dec 2006 23:50

Very VERY cool, I am a big Kowalski "fan" hard to believe he was shot with a .45 Long Colt a few years back according to MCG magazine and the mans name was FORD that shot him! :s004:

by **rockanimal** » 26 Dec 2006 19:54

Thanks for posting that Christer, I never read that magazine either so this was quite a nice surprice! - Robert

by **christer** » 26 Dec 2006 21:20

airfuelEddie wrote:Very VERY cool, I am a big Kowalski "fan":

It feels like you did the right thing when you signed up for this time-consuming wonderful board... :wink:

airfuelEddie wrote:hard to believe he was shot with a .45 Long Colt a few years back according to MCG magazine and the mans name was FORD that shot him!

That reminds me of a Mark Twain qoute after that he had read the announcement of his own death in the column: The rumour of my death is considerable exaggerated, he said.

by **christer** » 26 Dec 2006 21:21

rockanimal wrote:I never read that magazine either so this was quite a nice surprice! - Robert

Yeah, the article was a very pleasant surprise for me too. :s025:

by **christer** » 26 Dec 2006 21:26

...and finally the translation of page 5.

Vanishing Point(S)

When Barry Newman drow a camera equipped Challenger along the highway, he nearly crashed with another car. A policeman had been careless and one car had slipped through a road block without beeing stopped.

Kowalsi meets a gang called "J Hovah" in the desert. The gang consists of Delaney and Bonnie and also David Gates, singer in the band Bread. Also included is Rita Coolidge and we hear Kim Carnes songs for the first time.

The actress Charlotte Ramling is the hitch-hiker who Kowalski picks up at the end of the film. "She was supposed to represent the Death" Newman says. I could hardly believe it when the top management at 20th Century Fox decided to cut the scene in the US version. An odd decision since that scene was included in the version who had done a great success in Europe.

The Vanishing Point manuscript is partly based on a true story where a guy got chased by a record number of cops, before he crashed into a road block.

The expertise argues about how many Challangers that were used during the making of Vanishing Point. It seems like they have agreed upon that five Challengers were used, four 440/manual-cars and one 383/automatic-car.

The OA-5599 Colorado licence plate is one of the most valuable license-plates among collectors.

by **Eddie** » 26 Dec 2006 22:11

I would have paid money to see the "look" of the Chrysler executives faces when they saw the preview of the film. I guess they thought brady Bunch or something. :mrgreen:

by **jh27n0b** » 27 Dec 2006 1:41

Does anybody remember the 1970 convertible Barracuda in the Brady Bunch? Or the 1971 convertible Challenger in the Beverly Hillbillies?

by **Eddie** » 27 Dec 2006 4:29

Grew up with them man, Jane Hathaway always drove some nice Chryslers. Remember the Monkees Hot Rod and the blown v-8 in their surfmobile?

by **dave-r** » 27 Dec 2006 10:17

I used to want a MonkeeMobile so bad when I was a kid in the '60s. :mrgreen:

It is one of only two di-cast models I still have on a shelf to my left here as I write.

by **Eddie** » 27 Dec 2006 16:09

dave-r wrote:I used to want a MonkeeMobile so bad when I was a kid in the '60s.

It is one of only two di-cast models I still have on a shelf to my left here as I write.

And of course the Monkees skateboard had a little motor on it too! my favorite show when I was a young kid cause of that car! Im not sure who built it, George Barris I think? Maybe The Alexander Bros.?

by **ianandjess** » 28 Dec 2006 8:54

if my memory serves me correctly the monkees car was built by george barris along with many other icons like the batmobile & the munsters coach
cheers ian

by **dcfox** » 28 Dec 2006 12:30

I believe that article was first published in Motor Trend Magazine.
I have it around here somewhere.I'll dig it up and scan it(it's already in english,lol)

by **christer** » 28 Dec 2006 12:39

dcfox wrote:I believe that article was first published in Motor Trend Magazine. I have it around here somewhere.I'll dig it up and scan it

Yeah. please do that. :nod:

dcfox wrote:(it's already in english,lol)

(I wish there were more smiley´s to select from. Jr? *joke*)

by **dcfox** » 29 Dec 2006 3:25

Well Guys...here goes...
Here's the cover...and every page of the article...in the order it was in the magazine...and in it's entirety ...

by **christer** » 29 Dec 2006 6:24

Wow, thanks a lot, David! :nod:

by **Eddie** » 29 Dec 2006 11:27

Thanks man!

by **dave-r** » 29 Dec 2006 12:36

Many many thanks. :thumbsup:

by **christer** » 29 Dec 2006 13:30

dcfox wrote:Well Guys...here goes...
Here's the cover...and every page of the article...in the order it was in the magazine...and in it's entirety ...

On page 51, #7 it says "Our roof is about four inches taller". Compared to what? Is it four inch taller than the original or what?

by **Eddie** » 29 Dec 2006 17:18

Yes it would seem so, he goes on to say that production costs had something to do about it. It Cant be four inches taller than the current 300C?

by **dcfox** » 30 Dec 2006 3:34

Since that page is a comparison to the original '70...I'd say that yes...they are more than likely referring to the roofline being 4" taller than the roofline of the '70.

by **christer** » 30 Dec 2006 20:20

dcfox wrote:Since that page is a comparison to the original '70...I'd say that yes...they are more than likely referring to the roofline being 4" taller than the roofline of the '70.

Yes, it looks like you are right there. I have got the following dimensions:

1970 Challenger: Length: 191.5 inches, Width: 76.5 inches, Height: 51 inches
(from: http://www.dodgechallenger.com/1970/ )

2006 Challenger: Length × Width × Height in: 197.8 × 78.6 × 57
(from: http://www.rsportscars.com/eng/cars/dod ... lenger.asp )

A full 6 inch height difference in other words. Quite a lot....

by **babyelephant** » 30 Dec 2006 22:25

Great articles :thumbsup:

Would've loved to find any of those magazines in the toilet at my work...

by **dcfox** » 31 Dec 2006 4:22

If anyone is interested...Primedia sells back issues of this magazine.
Here's a link to this particular issue...

http://www.primediabackissues.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=PB&Product_Code=MTR0608&Category_Code=MTR

by **472 R/T SE** » 31 Jan 2007 20:15

Thanks dcfox. I just backordered this issue. :thumbsup: