Snag a Demon for the good of mankind
Although Dodge dealers have promised not to sell the 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon for more than the muscle car’s nearly $85,000 MSRP, demand has been so high that some dealers have already sold buyer allocations for as much as $75,000. At this writing, several allocations are being offered on eBay for $20,000 or more.
For those who see the practice as a devious way to increase profit margin, we offer an exception. Bill Marsh Auto, in Traverse City, Michigan, which will receive one of the 3,000 Demons being built for the U.S. market, will host a charity auction for interested buyers shortly after taking delivery of the car in September. The winning bidder will receive the right to purchase the Demon for one dollar below MSRP, and proceeds from the auction will be split among several local charities.
“From our employees to our customers, and just people who know us, we’re getting an incredibly positive response to the charity auction,” said Mike Kent, Marsh’s marketing director. “It’s a way to support some local groups that are important to our company and community. Dodge knows it has a unique car that will be in high demand, and we want to use that demand to benefit the greater good.”
Local northern Michigan beneficiaries include the Father Fred Foundation, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Toys for Tots, and the Traverse City Patriot Game, a high school football showdown between TC West and TC Central that pays tribute to northern Michigan’s military veterans. Auction bidders must be past Marsh Auto customers.
The 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon, street legal but designed for use on the drag strip, is the fastest production car ever built. With a V-8 engine that produces 840 horsepower, the car can accelerate from 0–140 mph in about nine seconds. Marsh Auto estimates the Demon’s actual delivery cost at $89,000.
Kent said he experienced the excitement surrounding the highly anticipated muscle machine when Hagerty hosted one of three promotional vehicles at a weekly Cars and Caffeine event in June. Hagerty is the official insurance provider for the 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon.
“I’m more a marketing guy than a car guy, but after seeing the Demon at Hagerty and watching some amazing videos about the car, I couldn’t help but feel the hair rise on the back of my neck.”
The Demon has that effect on people. Come September, the folks at Marsh are hoping it spreads to those taking part in the charity auction.
