However, before it takes place at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis in May 2023, the famous HEMI racer will be on display at the Mecum’s Kissimmee 2023 car auction. It’s parked next to its contemporary sibling, supercharged 2023 Dodge Challenger “Black Ghost”. If you’re unfamiliar with this iconic Mopar, it previously belonged to Godfrey Qualls, a Detroit cop by day and a mysterious street drag racer. night. It’s a combination that could land you in jail today, but Godfrey got out of it in the 1970s.
That’s because he would suddenly show up at neighborhood gatherings, win 1/4 mile races and then disappear into the night. According to mythology, Godfrey and his Black Challenger won many races before disappearing forever in 1975, leaving behind a mythical legend. The exact identity of the “Black Ghost” was not revealed until Godfrey recounted the story to his son, Gregory, decades later. Qualls died, leaving the black muscle car to the family.
The HEMI-powered Challenger is still a cool unrestored survivor in 2023. The “Black Ghost,” which is still covered in battle wounds from its years as a night racer, is on its way to being the most expensive 1970 Challenger ever sold at auction.
Not just because it has a great story to tell. This mopar is a rare find as well. While Dodge sold about 77,000 Challengers in 1970, only 356 of them were equipped with a 426 cubic inch (7.0 liter) HEMI V8 engine. And only 60 of them have the SE package, which Godfrey’s cars have. In terms of rarity, it ranks second only to the Convertible offered by HEMI, which was produced in just nine units.
Either way, Mecum’s Kissimmee 2023 event is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness the original “Black Ghost” with the current car homage released by Dodge in 2023. The 21st-century “Black Ghost” of The Last Call series based on the 2023 Challenger Hellcat Redeye Widebody. If you can’t make it to Kissimmee, you can still see the cars in the video below. They arrived at 23:36.
But if you’re a lover of classic muscle vehicles, I highly recommend watching the full film since it’s jam-packed with vintage Mopar memorabilia. Yes, everything from Chargers and Daytonas to Road Runners and Barracudas will be on display.
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