1949 Dodge Coronet Base 3.8l on 2040-cars

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UAW papers reveal release dates for new Dodge, Jeep and Ram models

Documents published by the United Auto Workers union reveal key information about some of the products Dodge, Jeep and Ram will release during the early 2020s. All three brands will try to capitalize on the growing demand for trucks and SUVs in the United States. The agreement between the UAW and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) outlines what the period between 2019 and 2023 will look like from an employee's vantage point. The $4.5 billion factory the automaker is building in Detroit will begin manufacturing a three-row Jeep model in 2020, and it will add the next-generation Grand Cherokee to its roster the following year, according to CarScoops. The new Grand Cherokee will also roll out of the Jefferson North facility that makes the current model scheduled to retire shortly before its successor arrives. The Dodge Durango will continue to be built there, and the UAW papers mention a mild-hybrid variant of the SUV due out before the end of 2020. Two body-on-frame Jeep models tentatively scheduled to revive the heritage-laced Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer nameplates will break cover in 2021. They will be built alongside Ram pickups at the Warren Truck plant, and odds are the three models will share several components under the sheetmetal. Adding the two Jeep models is expected to create 1,400 jobs, FCA predicted. Speaking of Ram, the high-performance TRX model (pictured) aimed at the Ford F-150 Raptor's jugular is penciled in for a 2020 launch. The concept that previewed the model made its debut in 2016, so it's reasonable to assume it will have changed considerably by the time it reaches showrooms. It will be based on the newest variant of the 1500, not on the last-generation model still sold as the Classic. What won't change is the supercharged, 6.2-liter Hellcat V8 between its fenders. The plug-in hybrid Wrangler remains on track for a 2020 launch. The Cherokee will continue to come out of Belvedere Assembly in Illinois, but the UAW's documents mention "fresh models / features" off of its unibody platform. Whether that means new trim levels or additional body styles remains to be seen, but it sounds like something new and Cherokee-related is around the corner. The ancient Dodge Journey shares at least one thing with the beater you drove in high school: a four-speed automatic transmission. The gearbox is finally on its way out, according to the UAW, and the 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that powers the entry-level model isn't long for this world, either.

Guy trying to sell Challenger Hellcat for $89,000 because VIN ends in '666'

The Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat is undoubtedly one of the baddest cars on the road today. With a 707-horsepower supercharged V8 snarling under the hood, the coupe can go down the road like a bat out of hell. There's not much that could make one of these muscle machines much more menacing, but a seller on Craigslist has one bizarre solution: offering a hellacious Hellcat with a VIN marking the Dodge as the beastly 666. What's the price for such unholy identification? That's a cool $89,000 – around $30,000 more than a brand new, less sacrilegious example. The seller claims that the Challenger's blasphemous number makes the vehicle "one of a kind," which is true only to the extent that VINs ending 665 and 667 would be similarly unique. The seller also says in the Craigslist ad, "This car is sure to become a collector's item and will only increase in value." There's no question that the Hellcat is a special machine, and the models just might be worth something decades into the future. Expecting that a future owner is going to care about the VIN seems pretty optimistic, though, unless this is either the first or last example, which it's not. To the credit of this superstitious seller, the Challenger appears completely untouched with all of the warning stickers, paperwork and even the plastic still covering the seats. So, the new owner is at least getting a practically untouched example. While we applaud audacity here, a roughly $30,000 premium for an unholy VIN seems a bit... devilish.

1985 Dodge Omni GLH | eBay Find of the Day

Cars from the 1980s weren't exactly known for performance. The muscle car days had ended a decade prior, and computer controls and precision engineering standards were still in their infancy. But that doesn't mean the decade was a complete loss for automotive enthusiasts. For proof, take a look at this 1985 Dodge Omni GLH that's currently for sale on eBay. Carroll Shelby's affiliation with Ford was in hiatus (and under litigation in court), but the legendary tuner wasn't content to sit around and do nothing. Shelby turned to Dodge right around the time that the American company was dipping its toes into turbocharging. The partnership led to several interesting vehicles, but perhaps none of them were as unexpected as the Shelby-modified Omni hatchback. The '85 GLH you see above is powered by a turbocharged 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine that sends 146 horsepower to the front wheels through a five-speed manual transmission. These days, that might not sound like a lot of power. But when you consider that the base LG4-code 305-cubic-inch V8 in the Chevy Camaro Z28 spun out 155 hp that same year, you start to understand why the Shelby Omni was a big deal. Suspension changes to the Omni GLH included stiffer springs, firmer shocks, and a lowered ride height that dropped the bodywork closer to its 15-inch aluminum wheels. GLH badging — which, in true Shelby fashion stood for "Goes Like Hell" — and blacked-out bodywork rounded out the updates. Dodge sold 6,513 Omni GLH models in 1985, and just 3,509 were equipped with the turbocharged engine. You'll have to look long and hard to find one that's nicer than this on eBay. The seller claims it's mostly in original condition, and its low odometer reading of 15,901 miles seems to back that up. It's located in Wixom, Michigan, with an asking price of $18,900.