This technical summary details the build and exploits of the "Off-Road Challenger" (ORC) as featured in Roadkill Garage Season 2, Episode 4 The Vehicle: 1970 Dodge Challenger Originally a clapped-out dirt-track circle racer
, the car was purchased for roughly $300 after sitting in a yard for 15 years. Condition: The body was heavily modified before the
team acquired it. It featured a water-pipe roll cage, welded doors, and "sandblasted" paint that revealed old racing decals.
It utilizes the classic Chrysler E-body platform, though it was a base model rather than a high-performance R/T or T/A. The Build: "Mad Max" Transformation
In S02E04, David Freiburger and Steve Dulcich set out to turn this former circle-track beater into a desert-bashing machine. Modifications: To accommodate massive off-road tires, the team famously hacked away the sheet metal from the wheel arches. Powertrain: The initial build featured a 318 cubic-inch small-block Mopar
Massive 275/60/15 rear and 235/60/15 front tires were fitted onto 15x8 wheels. The Episode Highlights: Desert Bashing & Disaster
The goal of the episode was to test the E-body's capabilities in extreme off-road conditions. The Location:
The team took the ORC to a lava flow area for "desert bashing". The "100-Year Sandstorm": During the test, a severe sandstorm hit with 70 mph winds Catastrophic Failure:
The sandstorm proved fatal for the car’s 318 engine. Fine sand was sucked into the carburetor and engine bores, causing what Freiburger described as an "end-of-life experience" for the powerplant.
The engine was ruined by the sandblasting effect, leading the car to sit dormant for two years before its eventual revival in later seasons with a 360 small-block. Legacy and Later Appearances roadkill garage s02e04 the off road challenger
"Roadkill Garage" The Off-Road Challenger! (TV Episode 2017)
In Roadkill Garage Season 2, Episode 4, titled " The Off-Road Challenger!
", hosts David Freiburger and Steve Dulcich take a clapped-out 1970 Dodge Challenger and transform it into a desert-bashing "Mad Max" style machine.
Originally aired on May 4, 2017, this episode is famous for the duo’s decision to hack away the sheet metal of a desirable muscle car to accommodate massive off-road tires. Episode Highlights
The Build: 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 Desert Test: They take the modified "Off-Road Challenger" (ORC) to a lava flow in the desert.
The Sandstorm: The test drive takes a turn when they are hit by a "100-year sandstorm" with 70 mph winds that stripped paint and severely damaged the car's 318 engine.
The "Vanishing Paint" Connection: This car is also known as the "Vanishing Paint" Challenger, a project that would reappear in later seasons for further revival and racing.
Watch the transformation and desert-testing of the Off-Road Challenger in these highlights: Roadkill Garage - Dirt-Cheap 1970 Challenger Rescue! 15K views · 1 year ago YouTube · Roadkill Reborn This technical summary details the build and exploits
It looks like you're referencing "Roadkill Garage" Season 2, Episode 4, titled "The Off-Road Challenger."
In this episode, David Freiburger and Steve Dulcich take a beat-up Dodge Challenger and convert it into an off-road machine — essentially a muscle car turned desert runner. They focus on suspension upgrades, big tires, and drivetrain mods to make it capable of tackling dirt trails and jumps, while keeping the classic Challenger look.
If you're looking for a specific detail — like what engine they used, suspension changes, or where to watch the episode — let me know and I can dig further.
Roadkill Garage Season 2, Episode 4 The Off-Road Challenger! David Freiburger
and Steve Dulcich take the "Vanishing Paint" 1970 Dodge Challenger and transform it into a "Mad Max"-style desert basher Episode Highlights The Build Strategy
: Instead of a traditional restoration, the guys hack the sheet metal off the Challenger to make room for giant off-road tires The Mission
: The goal was to take the clapped-out Mopar and test its limits in the desert, specifically navigating lava flows and a massive The Carnage
: During the desert test, a severe sandstorm with 70 mph winds pelted the car, revealing old circle track lettering but ultimately leading to an "end-of-life experience" for the 318 engine. Vehicle Status & Legacy Sitting for Decades
: Before this transformation, the car had been off the road since at least 1989. The Aftermath Key Modifications & Engineering The hosts perform several
: Following the engine failure in the sandstorm, the Challenger sat neglected for two years before being revived in later episodes (like Season 4, Episode 1) with a fresh 360ci powerplant. Where is it now?
: More recently, the car was reportedly sold to a staffer and has made appearances in community videos, still known for its tendency to "blow transmissions". You can watch the full catalog of Roadkill Garage episodes on MotorTrend+ or via streaming services like Discovery Plus Are you planning to build your own off-road muscle car , or just looking for the next episode to watch
In Roadkill Garage Season 2, Episode 4, David Freiburger and Steve Dulcich transform a former dirt-track 1970 Dodge Challenger into a "Mad Max-style" desert-bashing machine. The build, featuring a 318ci V-8, was heavily modified for off-road use before a 70 mph sandstorm severely damaged the car during testing. Watch the full episode on Prime Video.
The hosts perform several key modifications to prepare the Challenger for the dirt:
Suspension Lift (The "Cheap" Way): Rather than purchasing a proper lift kit, Freiburger and Dulcich employ the classic budget hot-rodder trick: inserting wooden blocks between the leaf springs and the axle. While crude, this provides the necessary clearance for larger tires and allows the suspension to articulate better over bumps.
Tire Swap: The street tires are swapped for General Grabber All-Terrain tires mounted on Cragar wheels. The goal is to find traction in loose dirt and mud without spending money on dedicated mud-terrain rubber.
Engine Management: The 12-valve Cummins is mechanically simple, making it ideal for dirty work. The hosts adjust the fuel delivery to ensure the heavy car has the low-end torque required to churn through mud without stalling.
In true Roadkill fashion, Steve Dulcich and David Freiburger take a break from the drudgery of restorations and sanctioned racing to answer a question nobody really asked: Can a rusty, decrepit 1972 Dodge Challenger be transformed into a capable off-road warrior? In "The Off-Road Challenger," the duo puts their budget-mechanic skills to the test by attempting to blend classic Mopar muscle with raised-truck utility, proving once again that with enough fabrication and a welder, anything is possible.
“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 “The Off-Road Challenger,” 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.
After the build, the team takes the Challenger to a local off-road playground to test their modifications.