Convertible Demon for Sale

Discussion in 'Challenger HellCat Forum Engine & Performance' started by SRT-Tom, Jan 7, 2020.

  1. SRT-Tom

    SRT-Tom Well-Known Member Staff Member Super Moderator Article Writer

    Posts:
    7,061
    Likes Received:
    2,174
    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2011
    Location:
    southern New Jersey
    Anyone interested in a one-of-a-kind 2018 Demon convertible?

    This car is currently on consignment at, Cape Coral Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram, with an asking price of $145,995.

    I guess that it will sell to someone, but I think that the builder, Droptop Customs of High Springs, Florida, ruined the car's future value.

    In case you are wondering why this car is so expensive, significant changes had to be made to the car's structure in order to handle all of the car's extreme horsepower and torque in ragtop form. Here is what they did:

    The frame rails inboard of the rockers were reinforced on both sides with 1x2-inch pieces of metal, and diagonally mounted metal braces were added underneath to control twist. Structural supports were added to the front edge of the trunk, both the front and rear shock towers were reinforced, and the shop boxed the connection of the front rails to the engine cradle. To prevent the long, heavy doors from moving, the shop added gussets to the bottom rear corner of each door.

    When Droptop Customs cut off the top, the shop left 4-plus-inches of metal in place behind the windshield header to provide a strong perimeter.

    https://www.motorauthority.com/news...-srt-demon-convertible-is-for-sale-in-florida

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Jan 8, 2020
  2. KEVIN DONOVAN

    KEVIN DONOVAN Full Access Member

    Posts:
    135
    Likes Received:
    28
    Joined:
    Nov 9, 2019
    Location:
    USA
    I was recently in the market for a convertible Challenger. I contacted several dealerships in Florida and even the one in North Carolina that had previously commissioned two of these customs from the same shop in Florida. What I found was that even though the dealership in NC was still trying to sell one of the two they had done, they had no intention of doing more, and none of the dealerships in Florida had any intentions to get involved with a convertible Challenger. Matter of fact, they all stated they either had no knowledge of anyone being able to do the modifications or they outright stated that ones they had seen were terrible. I was left to assume that no reputable dealer wants anything to do with these things and everyone that actually paid to have one done, actually doesn't drive them. I ended up just buying a Scat Pack widebody for now and hoping that Dodge comes through with the rumored factory convertible option at some point.
     
  3. SRT-Tom

    SRT-Tom Well-Known Member Staff Member Super Moderator Article Writer

    Posts:
    7,061
    Likes Received:
    2,174
    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2011
    Location:
    southern New Jersey

    If you really want a convertible that bad, why not contact Drop Top Customs directly?
     
  4. KEVIN DONOVAN

    KEVIN DONOVAN Full Access Member

    Posts:
    135
    Likes Received:
    28
    Joined:
    Nov 9, 2019
    Location:
    USA
    Years ago, I worked for a company that built limousines etc, so I'm well aware of the ins and outs of drastically modifying vehicles. That being said, I wanted to feel out dealerships regarding whether Drop Top or any other custom shop actually produced a quality end product. From what I gathered, nobody currently makes a convertible Challenger that's much more than a collector car. Certainly not a car that retains a great deal of it's original integrity.
    Bottom line, I found that a custom Challenger convertible was not what I was looking for.

    Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk
     
  5. SRT-Tom

    SRT-Tom Well-Known Member Staff Member Super Moderator Article Writer

    Posts:
    7,061
    Likes Received:
    2,174
    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2011
    Location:
    southern New Jersey
    Drop Top Customs has built two Challenger convertibles for Shaquille O'Neil.
     
  6. KEVIN DONOVAN

    KEVIN DONOVAN Full Access Member

    Posts:
    135
    Likes Received:
    28
    Joined:
    Nov 9, 2019
    Location:
    USA
    Not sure what that has to do with anything. They've built several but from what I understand, they're little more than show pieces. I'm looking for a replacement for my '03 Cobra convertible. Something on par with a Mustang GT convertible or Camaro ZL1 convertible. I drive my cars. I don't just leave them in the garage and bring them out for shows.
     
    Last edited: Jan 9, 2020
  7. SRT-Tom

    SRT-Tom Well-Known Member Staff Member Super Moderator Article Writer

    Posts:
    7,061
    Likes Received:
    2,174
    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2011
    Location:
    southern New Jersey
    I not so sure of that. It looks like they did a lot of structural work to the Demon to make it driveable and not just a show car.

    "The frame rails inboard of the rockers were reinforced on both sides with 1x2-inch pieces of metal, and diagonally mounted metal braces were added underneath to control twist. Structural supports were added to the front edge of the trunk, both the front and rear shock towers were reinforced, and the shop boxed the connection of the front rails to the engine cradle. To prevent the long, heavy doors from moving, the shop added gussets to the bottom rear corner of each door."
     
  8. IntimidatorRT

    IntimidatorRT Well-Known Member Staff Member Super Moderator

    Age:
    68
    Posts:
    2,784
    Likes Received:
    748
    Joined:
    Aug 8, 2017
    Location:
    Rosepine,LA.
    i know a guy that has one with the cuda package also. he drives it more than I though he would. the good thing about Drop top is they make the back quarter window work not stationary. there was one other company that did convertible challengers but they actually left the rear quarter window out , the top wrapped all the way around the back so that cut down on your visibility more. Jeff Moran at Drop top is known nation wide. and does the job right, I would love to have mine done, but that price tag is something I cant handle right now.
     
  9. KEVIN DONOVAN

    KEVIN DONOVAN Full Access Member

    Posts:
    135
    Likes Received:
    28
    Joined:
    Nov 9, 2019
    Location:
    USA
    I remain highly skeptical. As I said, I spoke to people who claim to have first-hand experience with a few of these conversions and their input was pretty negative. I would have to see/drive one myself I guess. Considering what Dodge has to do just to put a sunroof in the Hellcat, I find it hard to believe that cutting the roof of a Demon does anything but ruin the car.
     
  10. tjfrombama

    tjfrombama Full Access Member

    Posts:
    55
    Likes Received:
    18
    Joined:
    Apr 13, 2018
    Location:
    Clarkston, Michigan
    If you really want a convertible Challenger, I got mine done by Drop Top Customs about 2 years ago. They did a great job and I was told their standard conversion will handle 1200 Hp. I'm remotely considering a Hellcat, so I just might part with mine if the price was right. Think 2010 furious fuchsia R/T classic with under 20K miles + 18K for the top for the price range. Collage.JPG