Chrysler SR 392 Roadster - SEMA photos

[jetsetter]

A throwback Chrysler roadster with an old school 8-cylinder engine. It's not the Plymouth Prowler done right redux, it's the Chrysler SR 392 Roadster. The 6.4-liter motor hides in a steel body that is go-cart low. That crate engine, celebrating the original 392 Hemi, works in three flavors: with carbs and something like 540 HP, fuel injected for 525 HP, and with a long block. The chromed grill is extremely well done, and the suspension jewelry is heavenly to look at. While we're sure about the power, we're not so sure about driving it at speed on those throwback wheels and tires. But what fun is a hot rod if it doesn't make you a little scared when you're giving it some foot?

PRESS RELEASE:

A Custom SR 392 Roadster Featuring a 392 HEMI® Crate Engine from Mopar® Will Debut at the 2007 SEMA Show

* The distinctively 'Detroit' roadster is a collaborative build project between Chrysler's Mopar Underground SEMA design team and Quality Metalcraft
* The SEMA Show, the annual showcase of technology, trends and products representing the $36.7 billion automotive parts and accessories industry, will be held Oct. 30 – Nov. 2, 2007
* The Mopar booth (#42427) is located in the lower South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center

Auburn Hills, Mich. –
What do you get when you combine the new 392 HEMI® crate engine from Mopar® with the world's first-ever steel reproduction of a 1927 street rod body and three car-crazy designers? The result is a custom SR 392 Roadster that will debut in the Mopar booth (#42427) at the 2007 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show. The SEMA Show is the annual showcase of technology, trends and products representing the $36.7 billion automotive parts and accessories industry that will be held Oct. 30 – Nov. 2, 2007 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
For nearly two years, Chrysler's Mark Allen and Ralph Gilles planned to build the SR 392 Roadster as a SEMA stunner with Michael Chetcuti of Livonia, Mich.-based auto supplier, Quality Metalcraft (QMC). Allen is chief designer, Jeep®/Dodge Truck Studios – Chrysler LLC and Gilles is Vice President of Jeep/Truck & CFM Design, Chrysler LLC. Gilles and Allen are members of Chrysler's Mopar Underground SEMA design team, a group of in-house automotive enthusiasts who donate their time to SEMA project vehicles.
Allen said, "It was important to convey the car's theme as an homage to Detroit – the cool Detroit with its unique artistic community, music and gritty vibe. We used durable materials and let the mechanicals show to reflect the industrial backbone of the city. We wrapped it all up in a high-gloss black-and-chrome wrapper to evoke Detroit's cool attitude."
Allen, Chetcuti and Gilles saw a challenge in proving that the 6.4-liter HEMI crate engine could apply to a vehicle other than traditional muscle cars or modified up fits. The team's idea was to redefine the classic hot rod with a more functional urban and industrial attitude to create a distinctly 'Detroit' roadster.
The project was assisted by Chetcuti's QMC since the company has tooled, designed and now stamps the first-ever steel reproduction of a '27 street rod body - the Shadowrods XL-27 Roadster and Lakes Modified bodies developed by hot rod legend, Jon Hall.
"The core design elements of this roadster speak to the grit and industrial edge of our city," said Chetcuti. "Things like the mezzanine flooring detail and Eames-inspired seating - these take an industrial cue but are by no means 'rat-rod.' It is a refined and organized design throughout."
After several design variations were discussed (California hot rod king Chip Foose even had a peek), Allen brought his full resources to the design's completion. QMC stamped and performed the initial assembly on the reworked Shadowrods body – and fabricated and fit the revised hood, hood side panels, lower rocker panels and doors to the body.
With the car's extremely low stance, Shadowrods was asked to build a custom frame using a unique staggered truss concept. For the final build of the SR 392 Roadster, QMC turned to longtime concept- and show-car builder Wheel to Wheel Powertrain of Madison Heights, Mich.
Overseen by Gilles, the Mopar Underground SEMA design team has been customizing Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge production vehicles for the SEMA show since its creation in 2002. The team creates tricked, tuned and customized vehicle concepts meant to develop performance parts, accessories and customization, vehicle concepts and keep the Mopar spirit and passion alive.
About Quality Metalcraft
For more than 40 years, Quality Metalcraft (QMC) has been one of the leading prototype and low-volume production automotive suppliers in the world. Operations at QMC's massive Livonia, Mich. campus cover all phases of design, engineering and manufacturing from tooling to advanced laser and stamping capabilities. Projects include everything from simple brackets to large advanced prototype full body assemblies. Visit www.qualitymetalcraft.com for more information.
About SEMA
The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show, the annual showcase of technology, trends and products for the $36.7 billion automotive parts and accessories industry, will be held Oct. 30 – Nov. 2, 2007 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The premier automotive specialty products trade event in the world, SEMA draws the industry's brightest minds and hottest products to the Las Vegas Convention Center and attracts more than 100,000 industry leaders from over 100 countries in the automotive, truck and SUV markets. Open to domestic and international industry professionals and media, the 2007 SEMA Show will feature more than 2,000 exhibitors. More than 100,000 are expected to attend this year. SEMA was founded in 1963. The industry provides appearance, performance, comfort, convenience and technology products for passenger and recreational vehicles.

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/30/s...er-live-shots/

I would have gone with the carb version with this concept but eh, still looks good.

[nist7]

It's the Prowler done right. Period.

Too much chrome though...

[YF19pilot]

Originally Posted by nist7

It's the Prowler done right. Period.

Too much chrome though...

Considering what the car is suppose to be...not enough chrome...

[Elmo187]

Originally Posted by nist7

It's the Prowler done right. Period.

Too much chrome though...

the Prowler was done right. its just it was powered by a V6. its a great car overall though.

but this was what the Prowler could of been if Chrysler actually followed Chip Foose's dream....


Hemisfear Concept with the same crate 392. but its mid-engined.

[thedguy]

Definitely better than the original prowler, but the new Hemi doesn't hold a candle to the old Hemi.

I'll take the '34 Chevy GM built for Sema. http://forums.finalgear.com/showthre...863#post552863

[Shawn]

Looks very sleek and awesome... the chrome is alright considering it's a hot rod.

[transtek]

Well, there's Retro and there's Retro... what's next, a bl**dy modern version of a horse and cart???

[jetsetter]

Originally Posted by transtek

Well, there's Retro and there's Retro... what's next, a bl**dy modern version of a horse and cart???

1st. This is not a production vehicle.
2nd. Do you know what a hotrod even is?

[transtek]

Originally Posted by jetsetter

1st. This is not a production vehicle.
2nd. Do you know what a hotrod even is?

1. I'm taking the piss
2. Yes, and don't be so bloody righteous!
3. I'm taking the piss again

Seriously, though, my point is that instead of making a hotrod that looks exactly the same as the did in the 50's, why not make a modern version of the same concept, i.e. the reasons why and how they did it back then, and then do something modern and different, rather than just copying old stuff (a modern engine stuffed into a modern version of a old design just doesn't do it for me, might as well as build an original hotrod from scratch from a junk yard).

[thedguy]

Originally Posted by transtek

1. I'm taking the piss
2. Yes, and don't be so bloody righteous!
3. I'm taking the piss again

The car was built purely to show people that the engine is available as a create motor. GM currently dominates the world of crate engines and it makes them quite a nice chunk of change. Chrysler has always wanted into it and never been able to pull it off.

[bartboy9891]

What kind of tires are those?

[zenkidori]

Originally Posted by thedguy

The car was built purely to show people that the engine is available as a create motor. GM currently dominates the world of crate engines and it makes them quite a nice chunk of change. Chrysler has always wanted into it and never been able to pull it off.

yeah it's not really a concept car or anything, more to show off the crate engine shit.

[tigger]

Originally Posted by bartboy9891

What kind of tires are those?

Couldn't say for sure, but there are a few companies out there making tires like that. Coker, BFGoodrich, Firestone among others still make old school tires (even bias plies for crazy people.)

Pretty neat little car, reminds me that I need to go pull this late thirties Ford truck body out of the woods near the Kansas river . I'd like it better if it had a classic Hemi in it, maybe a 331-392 with a Hillborn set up or Offenhausers on it.

[Elmo187]

Originally Posted by thedguy

The car was built purely to show people that the engine is available as a create motor. GM currently dominates the world of crate engines and it makes them quite a nice chunk of change. Chrysler has always wanted into it and never been able to pull it off.

this is the 3rd concept in 2 years with the 392 in it.

both the Hemisfear and the Challenger Super Stock (based on the Challenger concept) were both shown at SEMA '06.

so i believe this engine has been showcased enough.

[thedguy]

Originally Posted by Elmo187

this is the 3rd concept in 2 years with the 392 in it.

both the Hemisfear and the Challenger Super Stock (based on the Challenger concept) were both shown at SEMA '06.

so i believe this engine has been showcased enough.

OK? Doesn't make this car anything that what it really is... a reminder that you can purchase a Hemi crate engine and shove it in your choice of vehicle.

[Elmo187]

oh and btw, Mopar, GMPP, and Ford Racing are pretty equal in the crate engine market.

all 3 offering anywhere from 4 bangers to big block V8's.

[tigger]

Originally Posted by Elmo187

all 3 offering anywhere from 4 bangers to big block V8's.

But in sheer sales? I'd be amazed if Ford and Dodges total crate engine sales even equalled GM's SBC sales. As for this being the 3rd car with a fuelie 392; there's no such thing as too much publicity. I would even go so far as to say that this car targets a slightly different market than the Hemisphere (street rodders) and the Super Stock (musclecar guys). This is a more traditional (looking) hot rod, targeting a different niche market.

[HuevosRancheros]

Originally Posted by tigger

But in sheer sales? I'd be amazed if Ford and Dodges total crate engine sales even equalled GM's SBC sales. As for this being the 3rd car with a fuelie 392; there's no such thing as too much publicity. I would even go so far as to say that this car targets a slightly different market than the Hemisphere (street rodders) and the Super Stock (musclecar guys). This is a more traditional (looking) hot rod, targeting a different niche market.

no doubt about that but the mopar guys need love too!!

give me the challenger in ther back ground, damn i can't wait for those....

[Elmo187]

Originally Posted by HuevosRancheros

give me the challenger in ther back ground, damn i can't wait for those....

that's not a Challenger....

that's a custom Chrysler Cuda built around a 300C SRT/8. its a one-off for a single customer, so don't expect Chrysler to actually build it.

[HuevosRancheros]

edmunds shows the underpinnings are a challenger


http://blogs.edmunds.com/Straightline/3672

Since you've probably had it with all those Dodge Challenger concepts, we present the 2008 Concept ‘Cuda. That’s right, no brand needed, just a really bright orange paint job and some 22-inch wheels. It’s pretty much the same as the Challenger underneath the skin, but in this case the skin is carbon fiber instead of that old rusty steel stuff. There’s a 6.1-liter Hemi V8 underneath the hood of course and a pistol grip shifter too. Six-piston Brembo brakes reside up front and the rear tires are meaty 305/35 Pirelli PZeros. It’s almost enough to make you wish Plymouth was still around. Almost. -- Ed Hellwig, Senior Editor, Inside Line