Alright, let’s dive into the world of the Dodge Challenger. Eric Perrine’s garage houses two brothers from the same mother and father. They simply happen to have been born 45 years apart.
Does modern equal better? Or, is there really no school like the old school? The Challengers in question are a 1974 and a 2019, both proudly wearing B5 Blue. However, as Eric puts it, “B5 has changed slightly over the years.” In fact, the ’74 is “definitely darker; it’s a shade or two darker than the 2019.” It’s a testament to how even the most iconic colors/cars evolve over time.
Eric’s journey with his ’74 Challenger is a classic tale of automotive passion. He flew out to Norco, CA, to drive it home to Alabaster, AL. But as often happens with classic cars, things went differently than planned. “We didn’t get 5 miles into the trip home, and the car started overheating,” Eric recalls. This setback didn’t deter him; instead, it marked the beginning of a long-term restoration project.
Starting with a 318 and worn-out automatic, the ’74 has undergone numerous transformations. The engine has gone from a 318 to a 360 and has now moved to the 408 stroker currently residing under the hood. “I put 30,000 miles on it going to shows all over the Southeast,” he proudly states. This isn’t a garage queen; it’s a driver, and Eric isn’t afraid to get out there and rack up some miles. The car’s evolution didn’t stop at the engine. Eric reupholstered the interior and added a five-speed manual transmission for better highway manners, along with Hotchkis sway bars to improve handling. “This car drives really good. I mean, it holds the road … it takes the turns,” Eric enthuses.
Switching gears to the 2019 Challenger, Eric’s journey to this car is equally interesting. He traded in a Charger Daytona, which he enjoyed but never truly fell in love with the 5.7 under the hood. This 2019 Scat Pack Challenger solved that problem, giving him the bigger HEMI® engine and power he craved.
Eric chose an automatic for this car, partly because his wife expressed interest in driving it. “We test-drove a stick, and my wife really liked it, but she never learned to drive a manual. She said, ‘But Eric, I can’t drive that car.’ And I’m like, yeah, I don’t want to be mean. So we pushed the budget up a bit and got the automatic.” However, according to Eric, “She’s only driven it 3 times in the last four years.”
When it comes to how they drive, these two Challengers couldn’t be more different. As Eric puts it, “The only similarity between the two is hoping someone next to you is not going to wreck you.” The ’74 provides an old-school engaging experience: “That feeling of driving a stick shift car and all that comes with it. It makes you feel involved as if you are part of the car.” On the other hand, the 2019 model leaves him in awe of modern engineering. Eric makes an interesting observation about the modern Challenger’s appeal: “That car is built for the guy/gal who wants the best of all worlds.” It’s comfortable, powerful and still surprisingly agile for its size! The 2019 is truly the best of both worlds. Something fun for the backroads and still capable of 27ish MPG on the highway when the mood for a road trip is too strong to ignore.”
One quirky difference Eric notes is in how the cars break traction. “On a classic car, when it breaks loose, they don’t always break loose the same way,” he says. “When you romp on them, you don’t know whether the rear end is going left, right or staying straight. It’s not consistent.” The independent rear suspension on the 2019 keeps things a bit more tame when you tell the 6.4 it’s time to boil the tires.
Fuel economy is another area of stark contrast. The 2019 Challenger consistently gets 25-27 MPG on long trips, while the ’74, with its 408 stroker engine, gets about 18 MPG.
In the end, both cars offer Eric something unique. The ’74 is a project of passion, a car he’s molded to his liking over years of ownership. The 2019 is a marvel of modern engineering, offering comfort and performance in a package that pays homage to its ancestors.
As different as these two Challengers are, they both embody the spirit of American muscle. Whether it’s the raw, mechanical feel of the ’74 or the refined power of the ’19, these cars prove that the Challenger nameplate has stood the test of time, evolving while staying true to its roots. For Eric, owning both is the best of both worlds — a slice of automotive history in his driveway and a nod to current Dodge performance in the garage.
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