A Sprinter’s Charger
American culture is broad and far-reaching, touching lives across the globe. Growing up in Slovokia, Peter Sagan’s early encounter with America’s car culture was the T.V. show The Dukes of Hazzard. Imagine seeing the General Lee on television, a larger-than-life anachronism compared to the hatchbacks and compact cars typically found on the streets of Europe. The menacing Charger with its bellowing V8, power slides, and aerial acrobatics left an indelible impression.
Now an up-and-coming star in the top rungs of competitive cycling, Peter Sagan finally had the means to build the Charger that captivated him as a kid. He commissioned Scott Tedro and Ken Maisano, co-owner’s of MASCAR Modern & Classic Autobody & Paint Repair in Costa Mesa, California, to build him a Charger. Not long after his initial contact with Scott and Ken, Peter saw The Fast and The Furious, a visual extravaganza that also starred a Dodge Charger. Smitten with the blower, hood scoop, and big, fat rear tires, Peter wanted one just like it. Scott and Ken commissioned famed artist Steve Stanford to create a rendering that incorporated the elements Peter had to have, as well as some other touches that showed the metal working skills of Ken’s team at MASCAR, led by head fabricator Adam Stankus. The result is the car you see here. It represents more than two years of work and thousands of man-hours.
The car delivers on it’s promising looks with a blown 572 wedge engine that delivers power and devastating looks like a punch to the gut. Airbag suspension allows a show-low ride height, but easily raises itself to clear steep driveways or speed bumps. The massive rolling stock gives Peter the steamroller wheels wrapped in modern, low profile Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires.
They began with a locally sourced and reasonably clean-looking 1970 Charger. Media blasting uncovered some hidden rust and rot. The car was completely disassembled and treated to a rotisserie restoration. Though restoration is not quite an accurate description of the job, because it doesn’t come close to communicating the amount of custom work that went into this build. Every panel on the car has some fab work, and all the body modifications are all done in steel.
The interior was treated to the same amount of customization as the exterior. From the Procar bucket seats, hand-built console, and modified dashboard, nothing was left stock. Everything is wrapped in premium leather or swathed in high quality cloth or carpet… READ MORE HERE
