Thursday, February 10, 2011

Challenger - BadAss American Muscle Car ... ?



I saw the Chrysler commercial that played during the Superbowl, "Imported from Detroit". I was very impressed with its message. Strong and simple - American car manufacturers, in particular, Chrysler, are back and going strong. Buy American ...

A cornerstone of Chrysler's resurgence is the Challenger, the modern reincarnation of the manufacturer's last entry in the Pony Car wars of the '60s. Along with the Mustang and Camaro, this is the rebirth of American Muscle. The Challenger is a great looking car, fast, relatively nimble, and by God it comes with a Hemi!

Have you seen the Chrysler commercial where George Washington leads a flock of Challengers out of the woods to attack the poor English Red Coats? US flag proudly waving - a powerful buy American message.

Makes you proud of American Muscle, almost makes me want to go out and buy one. (Almost ... I'm a Ford guy through and through.)


Last night I saw one of Nat Geo's Ultimate Factories episodes. It detailed the construction of the Challenger, from raw sheets of metal to rollout as a completed vehicle. Incredible technology, very impressive to see it come together. Unbelievable that it takes just 20 hours from start to end for a car to roll off the line.

The most surprising thing I saw on this was where the factories were. The huge, modern plant where the Hemi engines are built is in Mexico. The monsterous facility where the car itself is constructed, from start to finish, is in Brampton, Ontario, Canada.

What the hell? One of the saviors of the American auto industry, one of the key members of the resurgence of the American Muscle Car, isn't even made in America?

I'm sorry, but I'm really disappointed by this.


1 comment:

Outlaw13 said...

Glad you liked the commercials, your tax dollars paid for them.