Red hot drop top is world’s fastest convertible
In a hurry? Simon de Burton has just the car, as a Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 goes up for auction
Mecum Auctions
Fancy a bit of wind-in-the-hair motoring? Well, it doesn’t come much more ‘windy’ than this custom conversion of the insanely powerful Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170, the road-legal dragster that can dash-off a quarter mile in less than 9sec and hit 60mph from standstill in a hard-to-compute 1.66sec.
In this, you’ll burn off all-comers from a set of traffic lights
Mecum Auctions
Produced in 3000 units in ’23, the latest version of the Demon followed the original 2018 car which caused a sensation thanks to its ready-to-race specification, which included Nitto road-legal drag tyres, transbrake launch control and a 6.2-litre supercharged V8 that produced 828bhp on 100 octane fuel. The 2023 170 was, however, even more extreme thanks to being equipped with the first Hemi engine to produce more than 1000bhp which made it, according to Dodge, the world’s quickest production car.
6.2-litre supercharged Hemi V8 produces 1010bhp
Mecum Auctions
Colour is officially named TorRed
Mecum Auctions
All examples left the factory in two-door coupé guise, but the manufacturer sanctioned Florida-based Droptop Customs to chop the roof off and create – you guessed it – the world’s quickest convertible. The £20,000 conversions are carried out by renowned convertible coach builder Jeff Moran and his team using nothing more high-tech than an angle grinder.
Despite its massive performance, the 170 is brimming with mod cons for the road, including blind spot detection, rear parking cameras and rain-sensitive wipers
Mecum Auctions
The 170 can sprint from a standing start to 60mph in just 1.66sec
Mecum Auctions
Once the metal roof is detached from the car, it’s replaced with an electrically operated canvas top, with reinforcement being added to the cabin and underside to maintain rigidity during those pre-run burn-outs.
The TorRed example offered here hasn’t had a chance to endure such abuse, however – it has covered a mere 22 miles from new and has yet to melt rubber.
Mecum has not published a pre-sale estimate but since a regular 170 lists at $96,666 (around £72,000), this one seems likely to fetch a premium of at least 50% on top. (Or should that be ‘off top’?)
Cabin and underside are reinforced as part of the Droptop Customs conversion
Mecum Auctions
Sub 10sec drag cars must have an official NHRA rollcage fitted. The Demon never did – so it was banned
Mecum Auctions
2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 Convertible
On offer with Mecum Auctions, Kissimmee, Florida, July 9. Estimate: on request. mecum.com