When it involves customized automobile builds, usually occasions there isn’t any definitive “finish line.” There at all times appears to be one thing that may be improved upon, modernized, or tailored for evolving tastes. During the Future Collector Car Show earlier this 12 months, I used to be honored to fulfill Mike Klenofsky of Peoria, Arizona, who has spent the final almost 9 years making a 2015 Dodge Charger into his dream machine. What began as a stock-equipment household sedan has been reworked right into a one-of-a-kind wild trip.
Charger Backstory
The Charger mannequin has a longstanding historical past within the Dodge household, courting again almost 60 years to 1966 when it first got here out as a midsized two-door fastback. Mike’s automobile comes from the seventh era, which had by that point change into a four-door-only mannequin (though it shared some engineering components with the Challenger sports activities coupe). Mike’s automobile was in-built R/T trim and is powered by a HEMI 370-horsepower 5.7-liter V8 mated to an eight-speed automated transmission. That’s about the place the unique tools ends and the enjoyable begins for this particular Charger.
Mike’s Build
There isn’t any lacking the jaw-dropping vivid look of Mike’s automobile. In reality, Mike himself is fairly tough to overlook: He is thought to decorate in a brilliant orange and crimson wardrobe that matches the airbrushed three-stage customized paint job on his Charger. The entrance and rear bumpers have been up to date to “SRT”-specification tools, as eager Mopar fans will certainly observe.
The automobile originated as a bone-stock Charger that was a present from Mike’s spouse. “My wife is the greatest supporter of our build,” he says, “From the moment she surprised me with the new Charger, she was 100% in on building a custom car that we can be proud of and show at all different shows.” There is customized lighting within the headliner, door panels, wheels, and underbody. It’s a disgrace we couldn’t see the automobile at evening in the course of the Future Collector event as a result of it might have been gorgeous.
“It’s been a whirlwind of changes. Every part of the car has been touched multiple times.” Mike has a protracted checklist of sponsors and contributors who’ve been a part of the undertaking. The automobile has gained over 175 trophies, and it has been featured in magazines together with Mopar Action Magazine.
“The first couple of years it was a daily driver,” Mike says. While the automobile is now not used for grocery-getting, it’s nonetheless pushed to particular occasions like FCCS as a substitute of being trailered.
Future Plans
“There are only a few things we want to continue doing, including airbrushing the door jambs,” Mike mentioned. “My trunk is being completely done to prepare for the 2024 SEMA show.”
It was nice to stand up shut and private with Mike’s Charger, as a result of it was one of the eye-catching automobiles at this 12 months’s Future Collector Car Show. I can’t wait to see his future updates.
Stay tuned to the ClassicCars.com Journal and the ClassicCars TV YouTube channel the place you’ll meet different fans like Mike who contemplate their automobiles a type of self-expression.
