These are undoubtedly some of the safest cars on the road today, since each vehicle’s interior is lined with a roll cage and includes authentic racing seats, padded steering wheel and safety restraints.

A.R.C. has been producing the street legal racers since 2005 and, according to their website, corporate heads at various organizations implement the cars as rolling billboards for their products. Base price for a street legal Charger is $50,000, but you can get a more comfortable upgrade, including more “bells and whistles,” for up to $80,000. This product begs the question, “What happens when you have to make a right turn?”

American Race Car also produces NASCAR furniture and grills fabricated to look like race car front ends.

“Pricing for the SMS 570 Challenger is expected to begin in the mid- to high-$50,000 range, company spokesman Axel Catton said.” from AutoWeek.com

There are already many (and we mean many) pre-orders for the new Dodge Challenger. Those are cute and all, but how about a SMS 570TM Challenger or SMS 570XTM Challenger – meaning you could own a street legal SMS Supercharged 5.7L Hemi Challenger with 500 to over 700 horsepower!

Take a look at the press release below from Saleen, and be amazed how they stray from their Ford production history over to Dodge:

Steve Saleen and his new company SMS are pleased to introduce the first product in his line of Signature Series ultra-high performance vehicles, the SMS 570TM Challenger and SMS 570XTM Challenger.

As a professional racecar driver and innovative businessman, Mr. Saleen is well known as the founder of a number of Steve Saleen brands including Saleen Autosport, Saleen Productions, Saleen Speedlab, Saleen Performance, Saleen, Inc. and now SMS. In the years of building the many brands, Mr. Saleen oversaw and participated in every aspect of the business, in product development, sales and marketing. Mr. Saleen’s latest endeavor will focus on the expansion into the high-end of the diverse American Muscle Car markets.

The fully certified and street legal SMS 570TM Challenger and SMS 570XTM Challenger will be based on the all-new and exciting 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T platform and will feature a SMS Supercharged 5.7L Hemi with respective power ratings from 500 to over 700 horsepower! Both models are fully equipped with a compliment of SMS ultra-high performance components including: drivetrain, suspension, aerodynamics, tires, wheels and interior…

…Each of these limited edition vehicles will be personally signed by Steve Saleen as part of the SMS Signature Series product line complete with unique badges and graphics. Production numbers will be limited per year depending on the model, and the opportunity to be one of the few owners is limited to a first-come, first-served basis, so prospective customers need to act now as production is commencing in the fourth quarter of 2008.

Dodge’s Challenger first appeared on dealer lots in 1970, in response to the popularity of such models at the Mercury Cougar, Ford Mustang and Plymouth Barracuda. Many of the exterior elements were based off concepts from the 1966 Dodge Charger. Under the hood, it was a different story – at the time, one could take home an R/T edition (meaning Road and Track) with a Magnum V8 and 335 horsepower – maybe a bit too much for a trip to the grocery store, but in a pre-inflation world (where gas wasn’t engulfing the majority of your paycheck) it was great to plow down your town’s main boulevard on a Saturday night.

1970 Dodge Challenger 

1974 Dodge Challenger

In 1971 the cult-classic Vanishing Point showcased a dazzling array of car stunts, a breathtaking soundtrack and enough engine revs to make any motor-head’s …well… head spin. Both movie and automobile star became ingrained in American pop-culture.

“Lucy” 

Today, car makers are focusing their designs on both new age materials, safety and the ideas of yesterday’s classic automobile. If Dodge’s 2009 Challenger becomes successful, it will most likely be one of the early contenders in a race to create (or re-create) the best new “classic” muscle car.

Not Jouppi’s actual Intrepid

Earlier this week, Anne Jouppi’s 2001 Dodge Intrepid was stolen from a local hockey rink parking lot, where her husband left his keys in the ignition. Having your car stolen is one thing, but worse was the fact that it contained Jouppi’s two Maltese dogs – 10-year-old-Chloe and 8-year-old Maggie.

Anne, Maggie & Chloe

Today, Minnesota’s Duluth News Tribune reported some good news: later that evening local authorities found Jouppi’s Intrepid and hostage puppies parked at a student housing complex. The keys were gone, but that’s ok – Anne’s Maltese were safe & sound. They are now reunited and getting lots of doggie treats.

One fully-loaded Dodge Durango is a pretty sweet prom night memory to take home, but reading a little closer at the article it seems this Durango is part of the “over $10,000 in prizes” – so we’re guessing the lucky senior won’t be driving home a 2009 Hybrid.

Unverified reports from a “Chrysler executive” may come as a happy surprise to neo-nostalgic car lovers – A 2009 Dodge Challenger could be yours for as little as $23,995 base price. You won’t get the SRT8 model, just your basic V-6 (or possibly V-8? Perhaps that’s wishful thinking) for little more than a base V-6 Ford Mustang. You can still shell out approx $40,000 for your more powerful SRT edition – but if you’re looking to cruise in style without breaking the bank hope that Chrysler’s prediction comes true. Keep in mind, an official price for a base V-6 Challenger has yet to be released.

Chrysler’s ‘Deep-throat’ was not available for comment

3. Muscle – Flex It

Car enthusiasts love the roar of a powerful engine, and you can’t deny that drivers want to go as fast as possible; we all have places to go and less time to get there (or so we believe). Now well into the 21st century, the industry bares witness to a nostalgic peak in car purchasing. Ford’s new Mustang GT and Bullett models are eye catching and perform well on the road, as well as with buyers. Dodge, which resurrected the Charger a few years back, now steps into the nostalgia design ring with an all new Challenger. And what does Dodge’s Challenger bring under the hood to back up their record pre-sale requests? How about a 6.1-liter V8 SRT HEMI for starters.

Green muscle cars? It may sound like an “oxy-moron” – However, With the Chevy Volt and Dodge Zeo concepts stirring up auto industry experts you may soon be able to reach 65 mph in under 4 seconds, while saving Mother Earth. If nothing else, powerful electric vehicles will keep your ear drums from popping down at the drag strip. They sure do look different…And speaking of looks…

2. Design – Flaunt it

Again, nostalgia is key in today’s high end car market. Drivers want the safety of a space age vehicle with the looks of a 1960′s classic. Dodge is already on it’s way to claiming the classic car lovers’ hearts with the 2009 Challenger. Looking more like The General Lee than the new Charger, Challenger has already fascinated Auto Show audiences across the globe. Fresh looks and new ideas will always help keep you ahead of the pact.

1. International Growth

When you can sell in North America, why not give the UK a try! Chrysler recently expanded their Dodge Jeep Chrysler products to overseas markets, in an effort to take a larger chunk of UK change and to spread the word (world wide) that Dodge is a name you can trust. Just last month, Chrysler UK moved forward with a plan to merge their three-brand dealerships and give English car lovers a shot at owning a reliable and recognizable American made automobile.

Dodge’s network will be seasonal, offering up standings, scores, highlights and analysis through the season finale. It will most likely be one of the more popular channels with the upcoming playoffs, and is sure to help boost awareness of Hockey across the continent. NHL radio via XM Satellite will simulcast games with online channels.

According to an NHL press release “With the roll out of the [Dodge] Journey–a crossover SUV–geared toward consumers ages 18 to 34, Dodge plans to tell the story of the 16 unique teams and how they went from contender to qualifier in the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs, focusing on efficiency. So, the channel’s video vignettes highlight the SUV’s space and fuel efficiencies.”

NHL officials hope to create a viral marketing network across the Web as fans embed clips on Bebo, Facebook, MySpace, and other social network sites, thereby eliminating the game’s lessening interest.

The price has been set – $40,095 MSRP. But are you willing to pay 40k for the first run of a vehicle that has yet to be fully life-tested? And by that we mean proven to take people’s abuse, such as shifting in and out of driveways, parallel parking, potholes, school zones, snow storms, burning hot sunlight, upholstery damage and everything else that comes with your daily routine.

But is Dodge’s Challenger going to be a practical use automobile? Or will it become the next Viper – a midlife crisis vehicle purchased only to impress people on the streets and scare off kids pacing around in their Honda CRX’s. Not to sound like $40,000 is being tossed out your window – many dealerships will be offering standard 6.1 liter HEMI V-8, full leather trim, 20-inch aluminum wheels and 425 HP under such a price tag.

Yet, if the Mustang can become your daily commuter car, why not the Challenger? Cars are beautiful pieces of roving artwork (especially Chrysler designs, though we are partial at this site) – however, they are made to be used. Functional-artwork? Functional automobiles should be driven on a daily basis, so we will have to see if the Challenger is up to life’s…challenges?

Something male drivers of the Challenger may want to test – If you believe this advertisement, sitting in a new Dodge will catch the attention of gorgeous brunettes in sun dresses during windstorms.