Why anyone would pay a million for that infamous Dodge Challenger R/T

A while ago we wrote about affordable American used cars. This infamous Dodge Challenger R/T SE doesn’t fit into this list at all. The muscle car went under the hammer for an absurd sum.

At an auction in the United States, the bid went to Ryan Snyder. The Florida collector was willing to pay $975,000 for the Dodge Challenger R/T. In addition, the auction house collects another 10 percent, which brings the converted total amount to 1 million euros except for a few euros. But why?

The story behind the Dodge Challenger R/T

First, it is an extremely unique specimen. In 1970, Dodge built just 23 Challenger R/T models with a four-speed manual transmission and the Special Edition package. This specimen is one of them. The black alligator print on the roof is striking. The owner had actually ordered a regular black top, but an error on the part of Dodge led to this and the owner took it for granted.

This accurate model has a rough history. The Dodge Challenger R/T became famous in the 1970s. The muscle car kept popping up at street races where the Dodge outshone the competition. Then he quietly disappeared back into the darkness. Well, quiet? That would not have been the case with a 7.0-liter V8.

Cop by day, street racer by night

Striking Detail: The mystery street racer turned out to be a motorcycle cop named Godfrey Qualls. No wonder the Challenger and its owner didn’t want to be in the spotlight too much. That changed with the infamous Dodge Challenger R/T SE, which has since been given its name Black Spirit preserved, resurfaced seven years ago.

Godfrey Qualls has since passed away. His son Gregory Qualls said in an interview that he never knew about his father’s nocturnal adventures. Of course he knew what kind of car was in the shed. “My dad taped a $100 bill to the dashboard and said I could keep the money if I could get the bill,” says Gregory Qualls. Just as he was about to lean forward, a burst of gas pushed Gregory back into his seat. “I never got the message. Besides, it scared me.”