The company is also famous for its long line of D-series trucks (which eventually led to the creation of the Ram division) and is credited with starting the minivan craze with the Caravan in the 1980s. It also gave us the 426 cubic inch HEMI, one of the largest V8s ever. At the same time, their modern Dodge Challenger spawned the most powerful factory muscle car in history.
But these are just a few standout products from the Dodge assembly line. To celebrate one of Detroit’s most important automakers, we’ve compiled a list of the 50 greatest Dodge models of all time. Having already discussed the numbers 50 to 21, here is the third part, which includes the numbers 20 to 11.
20. 1984 Caravan
Photo: Dodge
The Caravan’s history dates back to 1977, when Chrysler began developing a vehicle that would provide seating for up to eight people, provide car-like comfort and fit into a standard-height garage. Originally scheduled to hit the market in 1982, the Caravan arrived a year later along with its Plymouth Voyager sibling.
Beating the Renault Espace to market by a few months, the Caravan became an instant hit and kicked off the minivan craze in the United States. Initially available with only four-cylinder engines, the Caravan also gained V6 engines later in the 1980s, further improving sales.
Redesigned in 1990, the Caravan ran until 2020, when Dodge exited the minivan segment. Still, it’s responsible for a market that remains strong in an era dominated by SUVs and crossovers.
19. 2021 Durango SRT Hellcat
Photo: Dodge
Without a doubt, the most spectacular SUV outfitted with a Dodge badge, the Durango Hellcat was born in 2021 when the company finally caved and dropped the Challenger’s supercharged V8 HEMI to the people mover.
The world’s most powerful SUV at the time, the Durango Hellcat hit showroom floors with a massive 710 horsepower and 875 Nm of torque at its disposal. All that thrust sent it flying from 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) in 3.9 seconds and on to a top speed of 180 mph (290 km/h).
Discontinued after just one year on the market, the facelifted Durango returned in 2023 with the same engine and almost identical features. And it remains the most powerful petrol SUV ever made, replacing the likes of the Porsche Cayenne Turbo, Lamborghini Urus and Cadillac Escalade-V.
18. 2004 Ram Rumble Bee
Photo: Dodge
Launched in 2004, the Rumble Bee was part of a campaign that saw Dodge introduce a long list of special edition Ram trucks in the mid-2000s. The effort also included the Ram SRT-10, HEMI GTX and the Daytona. Inspired by the Coronet-based Super Bee of the golden muscle car era, the Rumble Bee package added a similar bee stripe to the rear of the bed and yellow accents inside and out.
It also featured underbody cladding, a hood scoop, 20-inch wheels, and a serialized number plate. The package was limited to regular cab/short box pickups, while exterior colors were limited to solar yellow and black. Power comes from a 5.7-liter HEMI V8 engine good for 345 horsepower and 375 lb-ft (507 Nm) of torque, enough to push the truck to 60 mph (97 km/h) in less than eight seconds
Dodge sold 4,858 units in 2004 and an additional 5,174 units in 2005 for a total production of just over 10,000 trucks. Far from rare, but a great truck nonetheless.
17. 1970 Super Bee HEMI
Photo: Mecum Auctions
Born in 1968 as a low-priced muscle car based on the Dodge Coronet, the Super Bee remained in production for just four years. And while each version is sought after today, the 1970 variant stands out thanks to its double-loop front bumper and overall more aggressive design.
Dodge offered three engine choices in 1970, starting with the base 383-cubic-inch (6.3-liter) Magnum. The A12 package replaced it with the 440-cubic-inch (7.2-liter) “Six-Pack,” but the company also offered the mighty 426-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) HEMI as a range-topping option.
The latter is obviously the most desirable iteration of the Super Bee, much more so since 1970 production fell dramatically compared to the previous year. Dodge still managed to sell 15,506 muscle cars, but only 42 rolled off the assembly line with the HEMI V8.
16. 1970 Challenger T/A
Photo: Mecum Auctions
Born in 1969, the Dodge Challenger became the company’s contender for the SCCA Trans-Am Championship in its first year on the market. And since the homologation process required a series of production cars, Dodge’s motorsports company spawned the road-legal Challenger T/A.
Aimed at the Ford Mustang Boss 302 and Chevrolet Camaro Z/28, the T/A did not feature a big-block V8 under the hood. Instead, Dodge opted for a 340-cubic-inch (5.6-liter) mill topped off by an aluminum intake manifold and a trio of two-barrel carburetors. The V8 came with 290 horsepower.
The Challenger T/A also used a number of weight-saving features, including a fiberglass hood (finished in matte black). The package also includes a unique air intake, a low-restriction exhaust system, front disc brakes and a heavy-duty suspension. A gem of a single year, the T/A was built in just 2,399 units.
15. 2017 Viper GTS-R
Photo: Dodge
Developed during the Viper’s final year on the market, the GTR-S is a higher-performance version that pays homage to the nameplate itself and the car’s motorsport success. Finished in white with blue painted stripes and US flag decals, it also got ACR-based aerodynamic features and lots of carbon fiber parts.
Manually adjustable Sabelt seats trimmed in leather and Alcantara, unique door sill plates and an 8.4-inch Uconnect screen completed the bespoke interior package. Oomph was provided by the then familiar 8.4-liter V10 engine rated at 645 horsepower and 813 Nm (600 lb-ft) of torque.
Built in just 100 units and with a starting price of around $145,000, the 2017 GTS-R is now a sought-after collector’s item to the point where low-mileage examples change hands for over $400,000 at auctions. public auctions
14. 1968 Loader R/T
Photo: Dodge
Born in the early years of the golden muscle car era, the Dodge Charger arrived in 1966 as a slightly more luxurious performance fastback aimed at the Rambler Marlin. However, Dodge gave the Charger a significant overhaul for the 1968 model year, turning it into a full-on muscle intermediate aimed at the Pontiac GTO. In addition to the more aggressive coke-bottle styling, the 1968 Charger also got a new high-performance R/T package.
Short for Road/Track, the “R/T” badge came with the 440 cubic inch (7.2 liter) “Magnum” V8 as standard, while the 426 cubic inch (7.0 liter) HEMI V8 was available as an option. Additional perks included bumblebee stripes wrapped around the rear and some heavy-duty chassis components.
The Charger R/T remained in production until 1971 when Dodge discontinued most of its high-performance big-block engines, including the HEMI, due to the oil crisis. Coming in 2023, the R/T version is one of the most desirable iterations of the nameplate.
13. 2015 Charger SRT Hellcat
Photo: Dodge
Revived in 2015 after several decades of absence, the Charger returned as a full-size four-door sedan. But despite the significant change, it didn’t abandon its muscle car roots. The modern, powerful HEMI engines were immediately joined by special edition models that paid homage to the 1960s, including the Daytona and the Super Bee.
But none were as powerful as the SRT Hellcat version that arrived in 2015 after an extensive facelift. Equipped with a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 good for 707 horsepower and 650 lb-ft (880 Nm) of torque, the Charger Hellcat hit 60 mph (97 km/h) from a standing start in 3.4 seconds and reached a top speed of 207 mph. (333 km/h).
These figures made it the fastest and most powerful factory four-door sedan. These feats continued until Dodge released the SRT Hellcat Redeye version in 2021.
12. 2015 Challenger SRT Hellcat
Photo: Dodge
Launched alongside the Charger Hellcat, the Challenger Hellcat hit showrooms with similar goodies, including the 707-horsepower blown HEMI. And like its four-door sibling, it became the most powerful offering in its segment, besting both the Shelby GT500 and Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 by a wide margin.
While not as fast as the Charger, the Challenger Hellcat was impressively fast for its time. The sprint to 60 mph came in just 3.6 seconds, while top speed reached 199 mph (320 km/h).
The Hellcat was the first in a long line of high-performance Challenger models, including the Hellcat Redeye, the SRT Demon, the Super Stock and the SRT Demon 170. All have set new benchmarks in the muscle car segment on arrival.
11. 1998 Viper GT2 Championship Edition
Photo: Dodge
The ACR is widely regarded as the most extreme version of the Dodge Viper, but the company released an equally cool special edition model a year before the first one arrived in 1999. I’m talking about the GT2 Championship Edition, a Viper inspired in the race GTS-R that won its category in the 1997 FIA GT Championship.
Somewhat similar to the race car design, it came with a front air intake and splitter, front bumper fins, ground-effect side skirts, a tall rear spoiler and a low-profile air cleaner restriction Dodge also included 18-inch BBS wheels, two-tone leather, and Oreca seats in the package.
The slightly improved 8.0-liter V10 engine provided 460 horsepower, ten more than the regular RT/10 and GTS. And it was powerful enough to become the most powerful sports car in America at the time. For reference, the Chevrolet Corvette C5 arrived with “only” 345 horsepower in 1998. Built in just 100 units, the GT2 Championship Edition is now considered a rare collectible.
