Comedy and muscle cars may go hand in hand when it comes to handling, but at this year’s 2012 SEMA show in Las Vegas, Chrysler, Mopar, and Comedian Jeff Dunham made it official and teamed up to make a custom Dodge Challenger SRT8. Dubbed ‘Project UltraViolet’, it is part of Mopar’s 75th anniversary celebration.
Under the bonnet of Dunham’s Challenger UltraViolet is the new Mopar 426 (7.0-litre) engine, with 384 kW and 664 Nm of torque. That awesome power is accompanied by a heavily modified body featuring a new rear diffuser, new front splitter, new lower-rear spoilers, new boot-lid spoiler and custom aluminium side sills with side exiting exhausts.
The bumpers and fenders are modified too, to make room for 22-inch HRE performance wheels sporting a matte and semi gloss black finish. The suspension is also lowered and to top it all off is the ultraviolet two-tone paint scheme from whence the car got its name.
As for the interior, Dunham chose full-grain Nappa leather with accent panels, premium-grade stitching, once-off Lear custom seats and a Hurst short-throw shifter. “Alan and his guys do some of the best work my car buddies and I have ever seen,” Dunham said. “That’s why I chose them for this job. Everything from absolutely perfect body lines, to custom-built aluminum panels and parts, to paint work that’s unmatched”, Dunham said.
The stand-up comedian and ventriloquist was contacted by the Chrysler Group to show his love for cars with a modern-day hot rod. Mopar and SRT collaborated with Dunham and his crew from Palmer’s Customs of Camarillo, California, in customising this 2012 Dodge Challenger SRT8.
