Get Into the Time Machine
By M.J. Yue
The distance from Antelope Valley High School to 10th Street West is one mile. But if you were growing up in the Antelope Valley during the 1950’s though the 1970’s and are driving the right car or listening to the right music, that distance can be measured in decades. After taking delivery of our 2012 Mopar Edition Dodge Challenger, we knew that one-mile was a “must drive”.


The Dodge Challenger was one of the first cars that I worked on during my auto shop days at Antelope Valley High School. For some reason my Auto Shop teacher, Frank Draves, took a liking to me and immediately put me to work to realize the potential of my mechanical aptitude. I learned many things the hard way – rebuilding carburetors, performing a valve job, changing out heater cores, how to rebuild a suspension from scratch, performing a complete brake service, and tuning up an engine to perfection.


One day Mr. Draves threw me the keys to a 1971 Dodge Challenger and asked my to perform an oil and lube service and a tune up. That was the day I learned to fall in love with a car. The aggressively sensual exterior and interior design as well as the raw power from Chrysler’s 383 V-8 were enough to make me want to own one.


Driving out of the Antelope Valley High School parking lot, we noticed that the timeless design of the 2012 Challenger transcended the generations. Baby boomers and GenX/Y’rs equally admired the vehicle. I had not received that many looks in a car exited the AVHS parking lot since the day I was riding with my varsity songleader friend (thank you Cathy Breen!).


Approaching Sierra Highway, Downtown Lancaster’s modern landscape seemed to change before out eyes. Callas Meat Company and Frontier Furniture appeared to our right as we passed Yucca. To the left on Sierra Highway was the old Lancaster Arcade, where Bond Music was located. Lancaster Hardware was to our right, which features tools that were made in Lancaster. The Western Hotel and the old Post Office looked exactly the same, but Kleiner’s was open for business. The Stereo Shop, Lancaster Music, King Photo Supply, and the House of Sound appeared in the former locations, as well as the Westerner, Nondas, Marians’, Parker’s Men’s Wear, the Male Box/Me Too For Gals, and the Uniform Corral. And as we approached the mid-way point of our drive through memory lane, Odyssey Jeweler’s, Sav-On and J.C. Penney’s appeared. We thought we saw American Savings and Loan, Bank of America, and Burn’s Pharmacy.


After we “cruised” back toward AVHS, we turned right on Sierra Highway. We “saw” H.W. Hunter on the right, where new Chrysler muscle cars were sold during their heyday. On the left was the former Lancaster Ford. Then we turned right in to the R&E Racing garage, which has been in the same location since the 1970s.


Pulling in to the garage, we could not believe our eyes. There was a 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T on the dynamometer. We quickly pulled its newer sibling next to it and allowed them to get acquainted. We thought that we detected some moisture around both cars’ headlights as we admired the two generations of muscle car classics.


The 2012’s resemblance to the 1970’s version was purely intentional. The side-by-side comparison showed how Dodge addressed the deficiencies from the original version. First, four adults can now ride in comfort in the supportive, well bolstered leather seats. The truck is now shaped to maximize cargo capacity and lined to provide sound insulation and protection for the luggage. The controls all made sense and there was no way one could confuse the hood release with the brake release.


Being next to its older sibling showcased the modern technology in the 2012 version. Four wheel anti-lock Brembo brakes, four wheel multi-link independent suspension, 20-inch “SS Crager” wheels with 245/45/20 in front and 255/45/20 Goodyear F-1 Eagles in the rear, electronic stability control and a new 3.06 Sure-grip differential ensures that most of the 425 horsepower and 420 foot-pounds of torque make it to the pavement.


Unlike the original muscle cars, the 2012 Challenger yields a well-refined performance luxury driving experience, more along the lines of a BMW M3 rather than the new Ford Mustang. We tend to drive close to 1000 miles during our evaluations and not once did we exit the vehicle feeling exhausted. One can see why all of Dodge’s (and most of their competitors) NASCAR drivers and crews favor this vehicle, as well as its four-door sibling, the Charger.


As with our other test Challenger, our test vehicle had Chrysler’s performance workhorse V-8 engine, the 5.7-liter Hemi, and a five-speed automatic shifter with the famous chrome T-shifter, with an engraved Mopar logo. Unlike the original Challenger, the 2011 version is a refined performance car. You don’t need to use both legs to push the clutch. The exhaust noise doesn’t drown out the music. And the car actually handles. The suspension seems to set similar those used on road racing vehicles. Garlock Turnpike, Bouquet Canyon Road, and Angeles Crest Highway are an absolutely joy in today’s Challenger.


Popular since it was introduced in 2009, the Mopar Edition lets the buyer customize the Challenger to their individual tastes. Already a looker with the Inferno Red, our Mopar Edition test vehicle has many nice accessories that seemed to transcend the generations. The exterior features were clearly inspired by the 1970’s Challengers and Barracudas. The “wing” rear spoiler, the ”super stock” hood scoop (non functional), the famous Chrysler back “strobe” side stripes, and the 20-inch S/S Crager inspired chrome wheels added a timeless look to a very attractive exterior design. Under the hood, a carbon fiber engine cover, an aggressive engine bay brace, and a Mopar-designed free flow cold air intake system were admired by the crowds at the two weekly Orange County classic car shows. And the interior featured a very nice chrome “T” shifter, billet pedals, carbon fiber dash inserts, and very attractive leather seat covers. To tope things off, our AM/FM/CD/iPod/Navigation system featured two larges woofers in accustom case in the truck – very much like the old Cerwin-Vega High Energy Design speakers from the 1970’s. The addition of these accessories made the Challenger appealing to all ages, all genders, all income levels, and all ethnicities. The irony of having customized accessories greatly increasing the appeal of a vehicle was not lost on us.


As an auto journalist, I’ve had the privilege of driving many fine automobiles is many exotic, spectacular settings. But even with the distances I’ve traveled for my trade, only the 2012 Mopar Edition Dodge Challenger has made me travel through time.


You can see the 2012 Dodge Challenger and order your Mopar accessories at H.W. Hunter (www.hunterdodgechryslerjeep.net) in the Lancaster Auto Mall.