HPP turns Challenger into Superbird

Those of you pining for the high-winged days of the Dodge Charger Daytona and Plymouth Superbird can open up your checkbooks and make one payable to Heide Performance Products out of Madison Heights, Mich.

The company can turn any Dodge Challenger into a '70s-inspired pavement burner, though they leave the actual pavement-burning modifications up to you: the Superbird/Daytona kit is an appearance upgrade only.

The full kit comes with a nose cone assembly ($5,999), three-piece wing ($2,499), functional Shaker hood and scoop ($2,499), rear aluminum louvers ($899), HPP Challenger hood pins ($179), Daytona or Superbird taillight overlays ($189), fender gills ($89), pistol-grip shift lever ($149) and rear diffuser ($1,299), or a total of $13,800. HPP says the paint and installation usually averages around $6,000, so the total cost is less than $20,000.

HPP says that many customers buy the kit a piece at a time, installing them as time and budget allows. We'd suggest starting with the two most expensive things -- the wing and nose -- or the five cheaper things before you add the big body panels.

The wing -- which rides 57 inches above the pavement -- is a three-piece unit made from epoxy resin over an aluminum honeycomb core. The crossbar is adjustable and has been tested at speeds up to 200 mph, according to HPP.

The nose cone is made from epoxy resin and urethane, has electronically controlled headlight covers and includes grille surrounds and screens.

Surprisingly, HPP won't be at the SEMA show in Las Vegas this year. It will be the company's first year off after three consecutive. They will have someone there representing HPP Revolution Design Studios, so seek them out if you're interested.

Otherwise go to www.hppcars.com for more information.

By Jake Lingeman