Dodge to Auction Off First Challengers

Dodge is taking a page out of Ford’s playbook, auctioning off the first three production examples of its all-new 2008 Challenger muscle car. The first one will be auctioned at Barrett-Jackson’s annual event in Scottsdale, Ariz., between Jan. 12 and 20. This is a strange move because the production version of the car isn’t supposed to be revealed to the public until the Chicago Auto Show on Feb. 6.

Proceeds from all three cars will go to various charities. All the Challengers will be of the high-powered SRT8 variety, featuring a 6.1-liter Hemi V-8, Hemi Orange paint and hood stripes.

Ford auctioned off the first Shelby GT500 at Barrett-Jackson in 2006, and it raked in a whopping $600,000 for charity.