Every now and then a car comes along that makes me question my “less is more” taste in custom vehicles. Johan Eriksson’s 1968 Dodge Charger “RTR” is one such car – I simply fell in love with it. Ultrace Club 2024.
From a distance it might look like ‘just’ a clean Charger, but up close it takes a moment for your brain to grasp the sheer size and presence of this Swedish-built American construction machine.
After all, this was a car that was 17 feet long and nearly six feet wide when it rolled off the Detroit production line back in the day. That’s a big car, and it got even bigger because Johan had nearly every exterior panel fabricated and modified to fit his vision.
A 40mm roof cut should hint at the detail that went into the build. As should all the bespoke billet aluminium detailing around the Charger, from badges and trim to clamps and fittings scattered across this ‘Viking Blood Red’ beast.
The modified bodywork front and rear hides the rounded outer and tubbed inner wheel arches, which blend so smoothly into the exterior lines that it took me a second to notice that Johan’s Charger had been made wider. Not only that, the drivetrain and suspension are mounted to custom subframes at both ends of the car.
That explains how the Charger effortlessly swallows the custom 22×11-inch and 24×15.5-inch split wheels, wrapped in 295/30 and 405/25-profile tires, respectively. Behind the wheels sit bespoke brakes, consisting of custom Bentley Continental GT calipers up front and Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 (front) calipers in the rear.
Aside: I’ve never seen tires rated for road use whose width starts with a 4…
An air suspension system allows Johan’s Charger to be lowered onto its wheels, but there’s no air tank in sight. Instead, the trunk is packed with Pioneer subwoofers and amplifiers in a fabricated enclosure with windows that reveal the extensive setup, something I can really get behind.
Note the custom American flag panel on the inside of the trunk lid. It’s just one cool feature of this larger-than-life build.
The interior is also an incredible piece of craftsmanship, filled with billet aluminum pieces that contrast with the black leather surfaces, such as the entire steering wheel and the custom center console that runs the length of the cabin.
There’s also a leather-wrapped roll cage and individual rear seats with their own billet cup holders. Rear passengers deserve comfort, too.
The 21 Pioneer speakers in the car ensure that Johan would never be able to hear his passengers over his music, but even if the audio system were turned off, the 8.4 liter Dodge Viper V10 engine would have the same effect. Unless the passengers shout while fully opening the throttle.
A V10 alone would never be enough for such a complete build. With two hidden BorgWarner turbochargers, the whole thing is easily equipped with 1,500 hp, although Johan keeps the tuning of around 1,000 hp.
The Charger is a real powerhouse, and under the hood it’s beautiful too. From the engine bay sheetmetal and slam panel to the billet rocker covers and intake, everywhere you look there’s something special. Even the hood latch is custom made, made to look like the bow of a Viking dragon boat.
The exhaust manifolds have turned gold in colour due to the heat, a beautiful sight to behold in use. Johan was not the first person to drive the Chargeralthough, Because once it was finished, it was shipped to America to be displayed at the SEMA Show.
The first driver? Jay Leno for a Jay Leno’s Garage feature. What a story, huh?
from Johan construction is a real show car through and through without the character of a ’68 Charger. No wonder it won a Top 16 award at Ultrace this year; are unbelievable.
Mario Christou
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