A symbol of American muscle has reached the end of the road: Stellantis, the Amsterdam-based conglomerate that owns Dodge, announced it will retire the Dodge Challenger and Charger in 2023.
Seven different “heritage” models will be released during that final year of production, bearing a plaque under the hood that reads, “Last Call.”
“We are celebrating the end of an era — and the start of a bright new electrified future — by staying true to our brand,” stated Dodge Chief Executive Tim Kuniskis.
Chargers and Challengers have been a part of American culture since the 1970s when they could often be seen featured in Hollywood movies and television shows, like The Dukes of Hazzard, the 1971 film Vanishing Point, and still now in contemporary media such as The Fast and the Furious and Stranger Things.
“What draws people to muscle cars is exactly what draws people away from them, and that’s the volume and the deep-throated sound of the exhaust,” said classic car appraiser Steve Linden, speaking with The Washington Post.
Hearing the rumble of a Charger or Challenger coming down the street could inspire awe or curses at “that racket.”
The sexy exterior and tough engine also played their part in American culture.
Both cars saw a resurgence in the early 2000s as car enthusiasts began buying them and souping them up. Car lovers hung on to the vehicles’ retro feel and high performance while many Americans pivoted towards SUVs, hatchbacks, and fuel-efficient sedans.
Brian Moody, the executive editor of Kelley Blue Book, theorized that the nostalgia of the Challenger and Charger holds a certain luxury and feeling of prosperity.
“The abundance of power is something you’d want and not need,” said Moody.
In a departure from its usual strategy of staggered sales throughout the year, Dodge stated its final-year editions for 2023 will be distributed to dealerships “at once.” More details will be released later this year.
The 2022 Specialty Equipment Market Association show will take place in Las Vegas in early November, where the seventh and final model, which Dodge referred to as “the very last of its kind,” will be unveiled.
It is unclear whether this last hurrah will be a Charger or Challenger.