Mopar Insiders Articles

1968 B029 HEMI® Barracuda Prototype Heads to Mecum Indy 2025 The Car That Launched Super Stock History is Hitting the Auction Block One of the most significant Mopars in drag racing history is finally crossing the auction block — and it’s not just any old HEMI® car. On Saturday, May 17th, 2025, at Mecum Indy, the legendary 1968 Plymouth Barracuda B029 Prototype — known as “The Mule” — will go under the hammer. This isn’t just a Super Stocker. It’s the Super Stocker — the very prototype Chrysler Engineering used to develop the 1968 HEMI Super Stock Barracuda program. https://moparinsiders.com/1968-b029-hemi-barracuda-prototype-heads-to-mecum-indy-2025/

Cassino Assembly Plant Shuts Down Again Amid Weak Demand Alfa Romeo and Maserati Models Hit Hard by Slumping Sales Production at Stellantis’ Cassino Assembly Plant in Italy has ground to a halt once again, and it’s not just a brief pause—it could last well into September. According to sources overseas, the plant officially stopped all operations on Wednesday, July 23, after limping along with limited activity in the assembly area. What’s more, Stellantis has moved the plant’s summer shutdown forward by a full week, originally scheduled to start on August 4. https://moparinsiders.com/cassino-assembly-plant-shuts-down-again-amid-weak-demand/

2026 Dodge Durango SRT HELLCAT Spotted Filming In Detroit Supercharged SUV Returns with Fresh Color and Classic Attitude It looks like Dodge is cooking up something exciting again—and it’s loud, fast, and mean. Just a couple of days after the new 550-horsepower 2026 Dodge Charger Outlaw was spotted shooting a commercial, a brand-new 2026 Dodge Durango SRT HELLCAT was also seen filming in downtown Detroit. The sighting was shared by the “Metro Detroit News” Facebook page, and it’s got Mopar fans buzzing for good reason. https://moparinsiders.com/2026-dodge-durango-srt-hellcat-spotted-filming-in-detroit/

One-of-One 1969 Dodge HEMI® Charger R/T Sells for $176K Bright Green Metallic Automatic Sets Auction Record at Mecum Harrisburg 2025 This 1969 Dodge Charger R/T HEMI® just shattered records at Mecum Harrisburg 2025, selling for a staggering $176,000 with buyer premiums included. That makes it the most expensive 1969 HEMI Charger with an automatic transmission ever sold at public auction. https://moparinsiders.com/one-of-one-1969-dodge-hemi-charger-r-t-sells-for-176k/

Could This Camouflaged Van Be the Next Ram ProMaster City? Prototype Appears to Match Fiat E-Scudo, Hints at Ram’s Return to the Small Van Segment A newly spotted camouflaged van riding on Stellantis’ “K0” midsize platform might be our first look at a future North American commercial vehicle. Captured by sharp-eyed photographer Walter Vayr (@GabetzSPYUnit), the prototype appears similar to existing Fiat vans sold in Europe, but some unique details have led to speculation that this could be a future Ram ProMaster City, slated for a possible 2026 launch. https://moparinsiders.com/could-this-camouflaged-van-be-the-next-ram-promaster-city/

Chrysler Recalls 21 Pacifica Minivans for Rearview Camera Issue Incorrect Radio Installation Causes Rearview Image Failure Stellantis (FCA US, LLC) is recalling approximately 21 units of its 2024 to 2025 Chrysler Pacifica (RU) minivansthat were built with an incorrect radio, which may prevent the rearview camera image from displaying. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 111, “Rear Visibility.” https://moparinsiders.com/chrysler-recalls-21-pacifica-minivans-for-rearview-camera-issue/

One-Off Jensen Interceptor “Viperceptor” Stuns at Auction Viper V10-Powered 1973 Jensen Interceptor Sells for £75,000 When you think of iconic British GT cars, the Jensen Interceptor usually isn’t the first to come to mind—but maybe it should be. Especially when someone goes and stuffs a massive 8.3-liter (505 cubic-inch) VIPER V10 from a Dodge Viper SRT-10 under the hood, hand-builds the entire thing from the ground up, and dubs it the “Viperceptor.” That’s exactly what happened with this one-of-one 1973 Jensen Interceptor restomod, and it just sold at auction for a surprising £75,000 (or about $96,000 USD). https://moparinsiders.com/one-off-jensen-interceptor-viperceptor-stuns-at-auction/

Mopar Madness Set to Invade M1 Cars & Coffee on August 2nd SRT, HELLCATs, and Jeep® Legends to Take Over Woodward’s M1 Concourse Mark your calendars, Mopar fans—Saturday, August 2, 2025, is shaping up to be one of the biggest mornings of the summer for car enthusiasts across Metro Detroit. That’s when M1 Concourse in Pontiac, Michigan, hosts its next Cars & Coffee event, and this time it’s all about Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep®, Plymouth, Ram, and everything Mopar. https://moparinsiders.com/mopar-madness-set-to-invade-m1-cars-coffee-on-august-2nd/

Sources Say Ram 1500 TRX Will Return In Early 2026 Updated TRX Will Make Start Production In Late-January Back in March, we reported that Ram was working behind the scenes to bring back its apex predator, the Ram 1500 TRX. Now, our well-placed sources within the company have confirmed that the high-performance off-roader is indeed set to return, with production (Job #1) expected to begin in late January 2026. While Ram has not officially announced the TRX’s comeback, everything we’re hearing points to a serious return—one that will also mark the first vehicle launch under the newly relaunched Street and Racing Technology (SRT) division. https://moparinsiders.com/sources-say-ram-1500-trx-will-return-in-early-2026/

Tiny Topolino Touches Down In The U.S. FIAT’s Quirky City EV Visits Select Dealers For American Feedback Since 2021, Stellantis has been pushing the boundaries of urban mobility with its trio of all-electric quadricycles: the Citroën Ami, Opel Rocks-e, and the Fiat Topolino. Originally designed for dense European city centers and Ultra Low Emission Zones (ULEZs), these pint-sized EVs are getting a surprising test run—right here in the U.S. Recently, Stellantis quietly sent 20 Fiat Topolinos to select American dealerships, including Golling Alfa Romeo Fiat in Birmingham, Michigan, to gauge public interest. https://moparinsiders.com/tiny-topolino-touches-down-in-the-u-s/

EXOMOD “Goldfinger” Blends ’68 Charger Style with HELLCAT Fury One-Off C68 Carbon Redeye with 797 HP Hits the BringATrailer Auction Block Just one day after we spotted EXOMOD’s D69 Carbon Daytona up for auction, another wild build from the Pennsylvania-based shop has surfaced — and this one is just as jaw-dropping. Meet “Goldfinger,” a 2022 Dodge Challenger SRT HELLCAT Redeye rebodied in full carbon fiber to mimic the iconic 1968 Dodge Charger, with EXOMOD’s signature twist. https://moparinsiders.com/exomod-goldfinger-blends-68-charger-style-with-hellcat-fury/

Stellantis Teams Up with 4screen to Boost In-Car Convenience New Real-Time Service Helps Drivers Find What They Need, Right From The Dash Stellantis is stepping up its tech game once again—this time teaming up with 4screen, a German-based mobility platform, to bring real-time, location-based services directly into the infotainment screens of select vehicles. This new partnership is all about giving drivers a smarter, more helpful in-car experience without pulling their attention off the road. https://moparinsiders.com/stellantis-teams-up-with-4screen-to-boost-in-car-convenience/

Smyth Performance Ends Production of Jeep WJ Truck Conversion Kit Final Orders for the 1999–2004 Grand Cherokee Ute Kit Must Be Placed by August 1st If you’ve ever dreamed of turning your old Jeep Grand Cherokee (WJ) into a head-turning pickup, you probably already know about the Smyth Performance Ute kit. Built for the 1999 to 2004 Grand Cherokee platform, this do-it-yourself truck bed conversion kit has gained a cult following over the years — and now, it’s heading off into the sunset. https://moparinsiders.com/smyth-performance-ends-production-of-jeep-wj-truck-conversion-kit/

EXOMOD D69 Carbon Daytona Roars to Auction One-Off HELLCAT Redeye with Full Carbon Fiber Charger Body Hits BringATrailer If you’ve ever wished Dodge would build a modern version of the 1969 Charger Daytona with today’s HELLCAT power, this might be as close as it gets — and then some. https://moparinsiders.com/exomod-d69-carbon-daytona-roars-to-auction/

Discovering the Chrysler That Never Was A Personal Encounter with the 1996 Chrysler Lugano Concept During a recent trip to Los Angeles, I decided to break away from the usual tourist traps and spend a day immersing myself in car culture with the family. While the original plan was centered on Disneyland and family fun, I couldn’t pass up the chance to visit the Petersen Automotive Museum, a bucket-list stop for any true gearhead. https://moparinsiders.com/discovering-the-chrysler-that-never-was/

Stellantis Recalls Over 121,000 Jeep® Grand Cherokee Models Second-Row Head Restraints May Fail To Lock Upright Stellantis (FCA US, LLC) is recalling approximately 121,398 units of its 2023 to 2024 Jeep® Grand Cherokee (WL74) and Grand Cherokee L (WL75) due to a defect in the second-row head restraints. The issue involves an internal locking mechanism that may not properly secure the head restraint in the upright position, thereby violating Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 202a, “Head Restraints.” https://moparinsiders.com/stellantis-recalls-over-121000-jeep-grand-cherokee-models/

Chrysler Readies Overland-Ready Pacifica Concept Pacifica Goes Off-Grid for Overland Expo Chrysler is taking a bold new direction with its beloved Pacifica minivan—this time, venturing off the pavement and into the world of overlanding. During the Chrysler Carlisle Nationals, Chrysler CEO Chris Feuell let it slip that the company is building a brand-new concept vehicle based on the Pacifica, specifically tailored for the upcoming Overland Expo. https://moparinsiders.com/chrysler-readies-overland-ready-pacifica-concept/

Stellantis Posts Preliminary H1 2025 Financials, Signals Bumpy Start To Year Tariffs, Restructuring Costs, and Product Transitions Weigh Heavily On First-Half Performance Stellantis just released a snapshot of its preliminary and unaudited financial results for the first half of 2025, and to put it bluntly—it wasn’t pretty. While the company is staying tight-lipped on full guidance until July 29th, it’s clear the global automaker is facing some serious growing pains. https://moparinsiders.com/stellantis-posts-preliminary-h1-2025-financials-signals-bumpy-start-to-year/

Unlocking the Dodge Charger Daytona EV’s Race Prep Mode MoparTechJordan Breaks Down How To Prep Your Daytona For Peak EV Performance When it comes to getting the most out of your all-electric Dodge Charger Daytona, one of the most important (and misunderstood) tools is the Race Prep feature. Thankfully, certified Mopar tech and Daytona Scat Pack Stage 2 owner Jordan Rose (@mopartechjordan) is here to show us exactly how it works. https://moparinsiders.com/unlocking-the-dodge-charger-daytona-evs-race-prep-mode/

GAC-FCA Officially Declared Bankrupt In China Three Years After Breakup, Chinese Courts Accept JV Bankruptcy Well, it’s official—another chapter in the long and rocky history of Fiat Chrysler’s attempts in China has come to a close. The Guangzhou Automobile Group Co., Ltd (GAC) – Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) joint venture, once seen as a promising gateway into the world’s largest auto market, has now been declared bankrupt. https://moparinsiders.com/gac-fca-officially-declared-bankrupt-in-china/