Dodge is gearing up to produce its latest Challenger Mopar Drag Pak, a stripped-out, turnkey race car.

The 2021 Drag Pak was announced last September, with a run of 50 cars slated to begin this year. Pricing starts at US$135,995 (AU$181,995) for a car without seats, wheels and tyres. It’s the first Mopar Drag Pak to be released since 2018, and is only available through the Dodge Concierge Service.

Under the bonnet is a 354ci Gen 3 Hemi V8, packing forged internals and topped with a twin-screw 3.0-litre Whipple blower. Fuel comes from a full Aeromotive system and 11-litre fuel cell.

The car has been NHRA-rated to 630hp, though it’s likely producing well over 1000hp – considering the 2018 Mopar Drag Pak ran a high seven-second quarter-mile with the same engine.

The engine feeds an SFI-cased TH400 three-speed auto, with a Precision Performance Products shifter. The stock Challenger rear end has been replaced by a custom four-link set-up with a Strange Engineering 9″ diff, 40-spline axles and 4.11:1 gears.

17×4.5 and 15×10 Bogart Racing aluminium wheels are featured, while Weld beadlocks are available as an optional upgrade.

Strange brakes sit on all four corners, with a line lock for easy burnouts. Steering is manual.

The carpeted interior features a carbon fibre instrument panel, holding a Holley 7″ Racepak dash. In accordance with NHRA regulations, there’s a 7.50 ET-certified chro-moly rollcage.

Several extra-cost options are available when ordering a Drag Pak, including five different colours, heritage decals and Racetech head restraint seats.

The Mopar Drag Pak is not street-legal, and is produced without a VIN. Like its predecessors, the new car is intended for use in factory racing competitions such as NHRA’s Factory Stock Showdown.

Dodge began offering factory drag-ready muscle in the 1960s, introducing the ‘Max Wedge’ packages and performance heroes like the LO23 Dart. After a 40 year hiatus, the first drag-built Challenger was released in 2008.

A Viper V10-powered Challenger wore the title in 2011, which was followed by another V8 Drag Pak in 2015. It was offered with either a blown 354ci or naturally-aspirated 426ci Hemi, with 35 and 25 built respectively.