Lee Carter (@ScrapLifeLee) has taken on one of the most ambitious automotive rebuild projects of the year. After purchasing a stolen 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 for just $20,000, he has turned a nightmare into a rolling masterpiece. The Demon 170, initially finished in B5 Blue (PQD) and with only 61 miles (98 km) on the odometer, was recovered in pieces after thieves had dismantled much of the vehicle. While many components were missing and the chassis had been cut up beyond use, the police managed to recover the engine and transmission before they were sold off.
Undeterred by the car’s state, Lee began his journey by acquiring another stolen Challenger with a solid chassis. He pieced together a Demon 170 knockoff from scratch, but this was no ordinary project. Fitting the Demon’s supercharged V8 and transmission into a standard Challenger body wasn’t enough—he wanted to retain the original design elements of the Demon. Lee sourced several Demon-specific OEM parts, including the unique hood, doors, front bumper assembly, and trunk lid. One of the more challenging tasks was welding the Demon’s distinct rear fender flares onto the replacement Challenger.
With the body restored Lee made a bold decision regarding the car’s new color. Rather than sticking to its factory B5 Blue paint, he opted for Panther Pink (FM3), one of Dodge’s legendary high-impact colors from the muscle car era. First introduced as a Spring color in 1970, Panther Pink (known as Moulin Rouge by Plymouth) is an iconic but rare color. Back then, it wasn’t very popular, and only a few hundred cars were painted in this vivid pink. However, it’s a highly sought-after hue, especially among muscle car collectors.
In fact, the only Demon 170 in Panther Pink is a one-off Jailbreak edition, made available as part of a limited run with 40 custom color choices. While Lee was aware of the one-of-one Panther Pink Demon 170, he was quick to note that his goal wasn’t to create a knockoff of that specific car but to pay homage to the Challenger’s heritage and its high-impact colors. He sees Panther Pink as a perfect tribute to a muscle car icon that was discontinued after the 2023 model year.
Once all the metalwork was complete, Lee took the car for a full rotisserie repaint, bringing the Panther Pink hue to life in spectacular fashion. With the body shining in its bright, bold color, Lee now faces the challenge of completing the car. The sheet metal and drivetrain are in place, but he still needs many interior and performance components. To that end, Lee acquired a wrecked Challenger, which he got for free, though the overall cost of parts and labor so far has reached $46,850.
That figure is close to the price of a brand-new 2023 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack, but for Lee, this project is about more than just money—it’s a labor of love. His dedication to reviving the stolen Demon 170 and making it his own with a custom Panther Pink finish shows a deep passion for Mopar cars and their history. Though it’s not the easiest or cheapest project, the end result is bound to be an eye-catching and powerful machine, ready to hit the drag strip and pay tribute to Dodge’s muscle car legacy.
