The First Damaged Dodge Charger EV is Prepared for Its Hemi V8 Conversion.

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      I’m considering starting a bet on how long it takes for newly released sports cars to appear on junkyard auction sites like Copart. Whenever a highly anticipated new model comes out, it seems that someone crashes one within a month or two. For example, the Dodge Charger Daytona EV has been on the market for just a short while, yet one is already listed with front-end crash damage, although it’s still in decent enough condition to be restored as a project car. The big question is: How long do you think it will be before someone attempts a Hemi swap on it?

      The owner of this Charger Daytona managed to drive it for 682 miles before it was involved in a crash. Despite that, the vehicle appears to be relatively fine. The damage seems to be minor, affecting only easily replaceable front parts like the bumper, grille, and hood, based on what I can see. Although the front driver-side airbag deployed, the crash itself looks relatively insignificant considering the extent of the damage. Looking underneath the hood, the plastic covers are intact and the front trunk remains completely undamaged. If most of the front-end structure is intact, this could turn into an excellent project car restoration.

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      This particular model is a Charger Daytona R/T, which produces 496 horsepower from its dual electric motors (if it’s still operational) and is equipped with a 93.9 kWh battery pack. The photos suggest that the battery may still be functional, as the screens illuminate and there are no warning lights on the dashboard, indicating it could still work. If someone is looking for a distinctive project, they could purchase this car, restore the body, and obtain an affordable performance EV.

      Let’s be honest, though. There’s bound to be someone interested in fitting a Hemi into it. The Charger Daytona could be an ideal candidate for an EV-to-V8 conversion, given that the chassis and engine bay are already capable of accommodating the Hurricane straight-six. It may be feasible to remove the batteries, electric motors, and whatever a Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust is, and replace everything with some classic Detroit muscle.

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      A 5.7-liter V8 would likely fit under the hood of a Charger Daytona EV, despite initial claims that it would be “impossible.” Dodge hasn’t completely ruled out the possibility of a V8 Charger in the future, and some sources suggest that such a vehicle could arrive by model year 2026.

      Since DIY enthusiasts don’t need to consider factors like crash test compliance or emissions certifications, they could legally drive this car with a V8, as long as they can get it running. Don’t be surprised if this becomes the first experimental model, possibly driven by your favorite automotive YouTuber.

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