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Misty Jain

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  • Published: Jun 10 2025 07:24 PM
  • Last Updated: Jun 11 2025 01:36 PM

Kevin Hart built a 3,500 hp Dodge Challenger to smash drag records. See how this one-of-a-kind muscle car blends comedy with insane performance.


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Kevin Hart is officially serious about drag racing - the comedian/actor revealed a one-off 1970 Dodge Challenger with 3,500 horsepower. Created with SpeedKore Performance, this all carbon fiber vehicle (nick-named "Muscle Beast") is targeting a 6-second quarter mile, which would make it the quickest street legal muscle car in the world. The wildest part? The vehicle is a product of Kevin's near fatal car accident in 2019, as he calls it his "redemption project." The vehicle is so powerful that they had to come up with new methods to keep it from tearing itself apart during test runs. 

This is not your grandpa's challenger. 

Below the classic body is cutting edge technology:

- A twin turbo 7.0L Hellephant V8 putting out 3,500 hp on race gas

- Fully carbon fiber body that is 40% lighter than steel

- 0-60 in 1.5 seconds (quicker than a formula 1 car)

- A custom purple paint job created by Hart's daughter, Heaven

  "That's just like putting a rocket engine in a classic muscle car," says lead engineer, Dave Salvaggio. The team had to make tires specifically for it because regular drag radials would literally explode under the power.

Why This Build is Personal for Hart

After his horrific Barracuda crash, and doctors told him to stop driving while Hart frantically ramped it up:
 
Spent more than 200 hours in racing simulators to prepare
 
Had to go through stringent driving tests before being permitted to drive
 
Designed to beat his good friend Dwayne Johnson's 1,500-hp Chevy
 
Calls the car "therapy on wheels" to help him move past the trauma associated with his crash
 
The build was not without its challenges - during fabrication the engine bay caught fire twice, and the first transmission broke when it was taken out on its first test.

"Muscle Beast" Specs At A Glance

Feature

Specification

Engine

Twin-turbo 7.0L Hellephant V8

Horsepower

3,500 hp (on race fuel)

0-60 mph

1.5 seconds

Quarter Mile Goal

6.3 seconds @ 220+ mph

Body Material

Full carbon fiber

Weight

3,200 lbs

Price Tag

~$2.5 million

Conclusion

While most stars are content with expensive sports cars, Kevin Hart channeled his inner mad scientist and created something completely unique. This Challenger is not just fast - it's a statement on overcoming fears and pushing boundaries. The entire drag racing landscape will be focused on it attempts it's world record runs later in the year. One thing for sure is whether it wins or loses - it will definitely be memorable.

Source(Image / Thumbnail): carscoops

FAQ

Technically yes - it has lights, tags, and meets basic requirements. But you wouldn't want to daily drive something this loud and powerful.

It makes 3x the power of a Dodge Demon 170 and weighs 1,000 lbs less. The acceleration would make most supercars feel slow.

The big target is the quickest street-legal muscle car record (currently 6.16 seconds). His team thinks they can hit 6.0 flat.

After extensive training - yes. But he admits it's terrifying: "This car laughs at your courage, then eats it for breakfast."

Amazon Prime is filming a 6-part series following the entire project, due out in 2025.

The "comedy emergency kit" in the glovebox - Hart says if he crashes again, "at least the paramedics will get some jokes."

Planned appearances at 2024 SEMA and 2025 Hot Rod Drag Week before record attempts.

Hart says conquering this fear was important: "Life hits hard - sometimes you gotta hit back harder.

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