Before landing in the Roadkill Garage , the Challenger was complete but heavily weathered, having spent years sitting idle. It was powered by a low-compression, 318-cubic-inch small-block Mopar V8 that produced a meager estimated 140 horsepower in its original state. Despite its lack of straight-line speed, its rugged, stripped-down state made it the perfect canvas for an extreme budget transformation. The Build: Cutting Up an E-Body
The project center on a 1970 Dodge Challenger that had originally been a dirt-track race car. Because the car was already "clapped out" and not a candidate for a standard restoration, the duo felt no guilt in modifying it heavily for the dirt. Sheet Metal Surgery:
Rather than executing a pristine, numbers-matching restoration, the duo embraces the core Roadkill philosophy: doing the wrong things the right way to maximize cheap, mechanical fun. The Backstory: From Dirt Track to Off-Road
While driving through a lava flow area, they were hit by a severe sandstorm with 70 mph winds. Natural Sandblasting: roadkill garage s02e04 the off road challenger
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," David Freiburger and Steve Dulcich take a 1970 Dodge Challenger and transform it into a "Mad Max"-style desert basher.
Massive 275/60/15 rear and 235/60/15 front tires were fitted onto 15x8 wheels. The Episode Highlights: Desert Bashing & Disaster Before landing in the Roadkill Garage , the
“Roadkill Garage,” the spin-off that lets David Freiburger and Steve Dulcich dig deeper into the mechanical mayhem away from the roadside repairs, hit a high-water mark of lunacy in Season 2, Episode 4. Titled simply this episode is a textbook example of the show’s core philosophy: take something completely wrong for the task, hammer it into submission, and see if it survives.
Beyond the massive tires, the car retained its iconic "stacks" and a generally rugged, unfinished look often referred to by fans as a "Battlecar". The Desert Test & "The Sandstorm"
: The build prioritized function over form, utilizing a roll cage made of water pipe and a "garden fence" style grille for a distinct, ratty look. The Build: Cutting Up an E-Body The project
The episode provides a masterclass in "junkyard engineering." Unlike high-budget garage shows, Roadkill Garage thrives on problem-solving with limited resources. Viewers are treated to the gritty details of the lift process, which involves cutting, welding, and re-purposing parts rather than ordering expensive bolt-on kits. It’s a raw look at automotive fabrication, showcasing the ingenuity required to make mismatched components work together.
When it comes to automotive mayhem, few shows capture the spirit of doing the wrong thing the right way quite like Roadkill Garage . In Season 2, Episode 4, titled “The Off-Road Challenger!”, hosts David Freiburger and Steve Dulcich embark on one of their most audacious projects yet. They take a 1970 Dodge Challenger and transform it into a desert‑bashing, off‑road monster, pushing the boundaries of what a classic muscle car can—and arguably should—be. The result is an episode that stands as a high‑water mark for the series, blending irreverent engineering, epic adventure, and a healthy dose of self‑inflicted suffering.
The most iconic moment of the build is when the guys take cutting tools to the pristine (well, mostly) rear quarter panels of the '70 Challenger . The goal? To make room for giant off-road tires.
: The guys start with a mundane dirt-track race car (previously seen in Roadkill episodes 54 and 56). To make it trail-ready, they cut into the bodywork to fit giant off-road tires.
: The 318 engine was ultimately devastated by the sand and gravel intake during the storm, leading to the car sitting for another two years before later being revived in subsequent episodes with a "Junkyard 360" engine. Where to Watch