Nostalgia Hotrods' "Roid Runner" is gunning for the prestigious Ridler Award at this year's show.
Dustin Hacker is not just any car aficionado. As the visionary force behind Nostalgia Hotrods, he's a man known for crafting vehicular legends. But this year, he's about to outdo himself, presenting a Plymouth Roadrunner that screams perfection to the SEMA 2023 audience.
Harkening back to the golden age of muscle cars, the Plymouth Roadrunner was once the nemesis of the mighty Dodge Challenger, catching the eyes and hearts of many, even scoring a cameo as one of the coveted cars in the classic "Gone in 60 Seconds." But this time, under Hacker's magic touch, the Roadrunner has metamorphosed into the "Roid Runner"---an epitome of eight painstaking years of automotive artistry.
Aiming to clinch the prestigious Ridler Award, the Nostalgia Hotrods team spared no expense or effort. This isn't just a refurbished Roadrunner; this is a car reborn. From a meticulously handcrafted body to a custom-made frame that boasts an independent front suspension, the "Roid Runner" stands as a testimony to unparalleled attention to detail.
But it's not just about the show; it’s also about go. Hidden under the hood is a modified beast of a 392 Hemi engine, augmented with Dart heads, racing cams and a 2.9-liter Whipple Supercharger. While it's yet to flex its full muscle on a dynamometer, preliminary numbers hint at an exhilarating 700 horsepower output.
The interior is no less magnificent. Nearly half of the project's duration was devoted to crafting a cabin so exquisite, it might well be compared to high-end luxury saloons. Everything, right down to the air vents, bears the mark of unparalleled craftsmanship. Lush Italian leather wraps around handcrafted wood panels, while a futuristic TFT digital dashboard and a centralized tablet controller seamlessly melds past and present.
Yet, masterpieces like the "Roid Runner" command a steep price. Clocking in at over $1 million and still counting, the Roadrunner is an investment in excellence. But for Dustin, this isn’t the end of the road. After a stint under the spotlight at various car shows, plans are afoot to tune the Roid Runner for the open highways, where its legacy will roar into life.
SEMA 2023 attendees, brace yourselves! Dustin Hacker's brainchild is not just a car; it's a culmination of dreams, dedication and unparalleled craftsmanship. The Roid Runner is ready to race into automotive history.
Abby Andrews