Originally founded in 2014 as an automotive blog website dedicated to everything resto-mod, “RestoMods” eventually expanded into its own brick and mortar garage in San Diego, California that restores and modifies classics to give away in online sweepstakes.
Since starting their online sweepstakes, they’ve given away over one million dollars’ worth of custom cars and cash! To commemorate the 30th giveaway from RestoMods, the team at RestoMods Speed Shop decided to build a 1970 Dodge Charger this time around.
The team started with a clean solid base model 1970 Charger and sent it off to SV Body and Paint where the body was smooth and massaged to perfection. During the body work, the side marker lights were shaved for a clean look. Once the body work was completed, it was painted a stunning deep coat of Viper Red with a black bumblebee stripe across the rear. Brand new bumpers, chrome, glass, emblems and trim were installed to compliment the red paint.
Up front, the team blacked out the grille to match the black accents and Holley LED Retrobright headlights were installed. Out back you’ll find Digitails LED sequential tail lights. The team also replaced all of the rubber gaskets and weather stripping on the entire car to make sure everything was water tight.
To go along with the resto-mod style of the build, the interior is a perfect blend of modern and classic. The original front seats were replaced with Sparco GT leather and suede bucket seats that hold you in place when you throw the car around corners. The original back seat was reupholstered to match the fronts and a TMI leather center console with a wireless phone charging pad was installed.
Sit down behind the Billet Specialities split-grip leather steering wheel and you’ll find a restored dash with modern Dakota digital gauges and a stock looking radio that has been upgraded with modern technology such as Bluetooth. Standing out prominently is the legendary Hurst pistol grip shifter that has been upgraded with a custom walnut handle made by Joe Kraver.
The door panels, dash pad, headliner, A-pillars, sun visors and carpet are all brand new reproduction pieces from YearOne to match the originals. The steering wheel is mounted to a Flaming River tilt steering column and the entire interior is kept cool by Vintage Air A/C for those hot summer days.
Under the hood, the Charger is anything but vintage. The entire engine bay including the firewall has been shaved for a smooth and clean finish and Ring Bros billet hood hinges were installed. Between the fenders sits a Gen III 426 cubic-inch crate Hemi producing 650 horsepower from Blueprint Engines. Built off a new Hellcat Hemi engine block, Blueprint installs the best of the best when it comes to parts to build the perfect combination of performance and reliability.
The Hemi has been fitted with a CVF front accessory drive system, K&N cold air intake and a Powermaster alternator. Fuel is provided by a Holley Terminator X-Max EFI system which pumps fuel from the Tanks Inc. fuel tank (fitted with a 340LPH in tank fuel pump) through a FiTech fuel pressure regulator to the Hemi.
Everything breathes through stainless steel Hooker shorty headers that run into a full Magnaflow Street series 2.5” stainless steel X-pipe exhaust system. Cooling is provided with a big aluminum radiator with dual Proform Parts electric fans. The entire car was rewired with harnesses from American Auto Wire.
Backing the G3 Hemi is a Tremec TKX 5-speed manual transmission set-up from our good friends at Silver Sport Transmissions. Shifting is a breeze thanks to the McLeod clutch and hydraulic throwout bearing installed with the Tremec. The modern Hemi and Tremec transmission are guaranteed to put a smile on the driver’s face! Out back sits a factory 8 ¾ rear differential that has been totally rebuilt.
Underneath, the body has been upgraded and stiffened with sub-frame connectors, torque boxes and chassis bracing from US Car Tool. The factory suspension was removed and upgraded with a top of the line full rack and pinion cradle set-up from the masters at QA1 to give the car performance handling and a comfortable driving feel. Front and rear coil overs were installed along with a rear four-link set-up all from QA1 as well.
Of course, with all that go from the Hemi, you also need to stop well. Braking is done by a four-corner Wilwood disc brake set-up. Upfront are 6 piston calipers with 14” rotors and out back are 4 piston calipers with 11” rotors combined with a Wilwood master cylinder for guaranteed high performance stopping power.
The Charger rides on American Racing “Groove” wheels (18×8 front and 18×10 rear) wrapped in Falken RT660 tires (245/40/18 front and 295/40/18 rear) to complete the modern suspension.
“To me, these cars are large with big overhangs and so with the decision to paint it Viper Red; it made the car feel a lot sportier. It’s very fitting because that was the general theme of the car when we were picking out parts such as the wheels and seats. We wanted to bring the car more to modern driving standards while maintaining the classic look. Just because it’s a big car, doesn’t mean it has to handle and stop like a big car. Drivability was huge with our build” says Sparza, team lead at the RestoMods Speed Shop.
Overall, the cost of the build was $150,000 for the car and parts combined with over 2,000 hours of labor for an estimated total cost of $450,000! Now, of course as we mentioned, RestoMods specially built this car for the 30th giveaway sweepstakes which means you can WIN this car! On top of that, the winner will also get $50,000 cash!
From now until September 2nd, 2025, you can enter to win this car in a variety of ways. If you join the RestoMods Car Club for $12.95 a month, you’ll receive 15 entries to the sweepstakes every 30 days along with a ton of other great perks.
If you don’t want to commit to the club, they have the option of purchasing cool swag in their online store. With that you’ll get one entry for every dollar spent! They even run bonus promotions that double or triple your entries! Last but not least, if you mail them a postcard, you’ll score 50 entries free of charge!
To enter the sweepstakes and for all rules and guidelines; please visit the RestoMods website.
