Imagine having enough restraint to own a V8-powered, manual-transmission sports car, yet only drive it 1,500 miles over the course of 16 years. That’s next-level self-control! And that’s essentially what happened here.
Featured on AutoHunter is this low-mileage 2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8 Coupe. The car is being sold by a private seller in Bridgeport, Ohio, and the auction will end Thursday, July 17, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. (PDT).
The car was sold from Country Club Dodge in Clarksburg, West Virginia, to its first owner on January 20, 2009. From there, it took about a year and a half for the car to rack up its first 300 miles. And the rest, as they say, is history. A decade and a half later, it’s a showpiece (dare we say time capsule?) of automotive history that probably still has the new-car smell in the cockpit.
The Challenger hit the nail on the head when it came to blending retro styling with modern performance. The latest, and final, generation of the car was introduced to the market in 2008. It went through a vast number of versions in the years that followed (some of you may remember the Hellcat, the GT, the SRT Demon, the Redeye, the Widebody, and many others).
In this case, we are looking at an SRT8 that is powered by a 6.1-liter HEMI V8 rated at 425 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque. A six-speed manual transmission sends power to the rear wheels. The original window sticker, showing a total retail price of $45,525, outlines some of the options that were added as part of “Customer Preferred Package 21X”:
- SRT Option Group II ($1,045) including white-face instruments and an upgraded stereo system with six-disc CD, 13 Kicker speakers, 200-watt subwoofer, and 322-watt amplifier.
- Six-speed manual transmission ($695) with “Track Pack,” a 3.92 axle ratio, 20-inch wheels and hill start assist.
- Power sunroof ($950)
- Uconnect multimedia GPS navigation system ($890)
- Goodyear three-season 245/45 front and 255/45 rear tires ($100)
On top of all that, the gas guzzler tax (which I discussed a bit here) added $1,300 because the vehicle’s combined fuel economy rating was just 16 mpg.
The car looks as-new, and the AutoHunter listing says there are no notable imperfections. On a collectability note: the Challenger was taken out of production after the 2023 model year following a 15-year run, so maybe this is a good chance to pick up a low-mileage, stock example for safekeeping.
The car had an unmistakable impact on the automotive landscape, and perhaps that’s why it stayed in production so long. A magazine said, “This is not some white-knuckle carnival ride, but a thoroughly modern piece of engineering that marries pure power with measured control.”
Final thoughts: You might have known that the new 2025 Dodge Charger Daytona EV (an all-wheel-drive, all-electric coupe) took some of its styling cues from the Challenger. Stellantis hopes its athletic lines will lure buyers into its showrooms for a different type of muscle car.
Personally, I’d stick with an old-school HEMI V8 stick-shift version. And you’d better believe I’d put miles on it instead of stashing it away!
The auction for this 2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8 Coupe ends Thursday, July 17, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. (PDT).
Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery
