Hybrids and HEMIs; not two words one would normally associate with each other. In fact, if anything, these two words should not ever be used in the same sentence. They represent two extremely different, yet devoted, groups of car enthusiasts. Only a mad man would ever try to merge the two into a single automobile. Actually, it took a whole group of mad men to do just that.
Last year we brought you the story of the
Popular Mechanics Hybrid-Hemi Dodge Challenger. That car just recently sold on
eBay for a cool $35,500.
Picture: Popular Mechanics
This car caused shockwaves through the car community when
Popular Mechanics installed a 176 horsepower electric motor in between the HEMI motor and the rear end. Thus, when the car was placed in neutral, the electric motor could propel the vehicle at city speeds without sucking up any gas. The HEMI engine also received a horsepower boost, from 375 to 500 horsepower, thanks to cold air induction, a nitrous kit, and a fully reworked suspension.
The car was placed in the magazine, sat around for awhile, and finally wound up on eBay sans the hybrid unit. Perhaps the madness subsided, or maybe the hybrid unit didn’t work out all that well. But whatever the reason, this Challenger wound up with all the go-fast parts, but none of the hybridization. We like unique vehicles, and a 500 horsepower hybrid sounded right up our alley, so we have to ask, did
Popular Mechanics make the right move by converting it back to gas-only power?
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eBay Find of the Day: Hybrid Dodge Challenger
Hybrid Mode
