The Dodge Challenger SRT Demon Won't Return; No Word on a Satan Edition

It’s always risky naming a car or ship after a denizen of the dark underworld. You could run afoul of Christian groups, as Chrysler did in the early 1970s with its original Dodge Demon (later renamed Dart Sport), or possibly meet a much grimmer fate, as explorer Sir John Franklin did with his two ships, the HMS Erebus and HMS Terror.

On a happier note, the Dodge division saw mostly positive PR from its decision to turn its already potent 707-horsepower Challenger SRT Hellcat up to “11.” The 2018 Demon and its associated Demon Crate drag kit became instant collector items. And why not? The Demon was a full-size two-door sedan making 808 hp (on premium gas) that you could order with a single seat.

Despite repeated promises that the model would be a one-time-only thing, however, rumors exist about a 2019 run.

As planned, just 3,000 2018 Demons rolled out of Fiat Chrysler’s Brampton, Ontario assembly plant starting last September, bound for American buyers. Another 300 went to the Canadian market. When it rolled out last year, FCA’s former head of passenger car brands, Tim Kuniskis, adamantly insisted that this was it. Buy it now, or lose out forever.

Writing in Allpar, Patrick Rall squashes online forum rumors of an extra Demon crop with two points. First, FCA would open itself up to consumer lawsuits if such a thing occurred, as buyers were told (and issued a letter stating) they were one of a special group of 3,300 buyers. Secondly, adding more Demons would sink resale values by reducing the model’s exclusivity. Those values are skyrocketing, by the way.

Retailing for $86,090 after delivery, Demons are now going for well into the low 100k range. TTAC’s Bozi Tatarevic recently saw six Demons headed for auction with “buy it now” prices ranging from $13,000 to $130,000. Signing a note for one right out of the gate was probably a better long-term choice than buying Bitcoin.

It’s looking more and more likely that the Challenger’s zenith arrived with the SRT Demon, at least for the current extended generation. While there are still Hellcats to satisfy that old-school performance itch, it’s probably time to forget about a 909-horsepower Exorcist variant.

[Image: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles]