Can a HEMI V8 Rescue This Damaged Dodge Charger Daytona EV from Being Scrapped? | Carscoops

      If no one is interested in fixing this Dodge, many of its components can likely be salvaged and sold.

      The damaged Dodge Charger Daytona EV has only recorded 1,085 miles.

      The force of the collision was sufficient to deploy the curtain airbags.

      We all anticipated this outcome, or at least we should have. In fact, it has already occurred once before. The all-electric Dodge Charger Daytona began deliveries earlier this year, but now a second damaged unit has appeared at auction in Florida. While it might be fixable, given the lukewarm response to Dodge’s electric muscle car, we’re not optimistic about a successful restoration.

      This dark blue Charger Daytona was in a collision with only 1,085 miles (1,746 km) on the odometer and is in poor condition. The exact cause of the damage is unknown, but it seems to be confined to the driver’s side. It was likely either T-boned by another vehicle or possibly slid sideways into an object, although the pristine condition of all four wheels makes the latter less likely.

      The driver’s door is badly damaged from the impact, with dents extending onto part of the rear quarter panel. The force was also strong enough to deploy the side curtain airbags, which often leads to a car being declared a total loss by insurance. Despite being nearly new, it appears the insurance company deemed it unrepairable, possibly due to limited availability of spare parts and potential damage to the frame.

      If the door and rear quarter panel are the only damaged parts, they should be relatively easy to replace for someone willing to take on the challenge of restoring this Charger Daytona. The Copart listing indicates it’s the flagship Scat Pack model, featuring two electric motors that deliver a combined output of 670 hp and 627 lb-ft (850 Nm) of torque, powered by a 100.5 kWh battery pack.

      There’s also an intriguing possibility: a Dodge enthusiast might be pondering the idea of removing the electric components and replacing them with a classic HEMI V8. While this would be completely unnecessary and delightfully chaotic, this platform certainly seems ripe for such an identity crisis. We can't say for sure if it's feasible, but that has never deterred someone with a welder, a dubious collection of parts, and a vision.

      If nobody chooses to repair it or commits the sacrilege of installing a gasoline engine, there’s always the alternative: parting it out. The battery and motors alone could be repurposed for future EV projects. However, considering how early we are in this car’s lifecycle, even that seems doubtful. Regardless, the next chapter for this Charger Daytona is unlikely to align with Dodge's original vision.