This build shows incredible attention to detail.
The SEMA show’s hottest car didn’t come directly from an automaker or big-name specialty shop. This stunningly beautiful and custom 1968 Dodge Charger was not actually made in America. Johan, a Swedish man who also sells Volvo vehicles, built it. The project was completed in Johan’s garage with the help a few of his friends. Because it is too cold outside in Sweden, gearheads get mad and create the most dangerous Charger.
Before you make a decision about whether we are wrong, let’s take a moment to get to know the Charger that made its way to Jay Leno’s Garage following SEMA. Also, the team that brought it alive. Johan Eriksson was the man behind the project. It started as a severely damaged Charger that had been used as a racing car in Sweden. Eriksson claims that American iron is very popular in this part of the globe, so he began to build something that would redefine epic.
The Charger’s rear quarter panels were slightly widened to fit 24-inch rear wheels with 22s at the front. The roof was cut ever-so-slightly, 40 millimeters. It uses the underpinnings of a 2006 Chevrolet Corvette. It’s a Charger Restomod that looks almost exactly like a classic Charger with the volume set to 11. It’s also helpful to have a twin-turbo V10 engine of 1,000 horsepower from a Dodge Viper underneath the hood.
This is more than a nice car with a big engine. This machine has incredible attention to detail. Eriksson chose to pair the six-speed manual transmission with the hood by opening it electrically . He’s just freaking amazing. Because aluminum is grown on trees in Sweden, the interior is filled with custom-made aluminum bits. Eriksson’s team also created the wheels. The trunk can also be opened electrically to show off the most important stereo system. We weren’t being dramatic when we called the worst Charger in the World.
Eriksson received some sponsorship to help him get the car to the U.S. but the car was built by him and his friends on their own money. It was so fast that Eriksson barely had time to get behind the wheel. What was it like behind the wheel? This car isn’t just a show car, it’s also intended to be a driver. Jay Leno, for example, can take some time behind the wheel. We hope Eriksson, and the entire team who built this amazing car, get some road enjoyment too once they return home.