Official Release:
Showcasing the first-ever Direct Connection 1500 HEMI crate engine from DSR Performance, the carbon-fiber Charger sits atop a Roadster Shop chassis with a custom candy-red finish and will be listed on the Hemmings live auction platform following its debut at the 2024 SEMA Show
RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, CALIF. (Nov. 5, 2024) – Blazin Rodz, a new team of young builders pushing the boundaries of innovation in the custom car world, presented its latest creation at the 2024 SEMA Show, the carbon-fiber 1970 Dodge Charger “Sangria.” Debuting in the Hemmings booth (#22493) in Central Hall, the Charger will showcase the very first Direct Connection 1500 HEMI crate engine from DSR Performance. Immediately following the unveiling, Sangria has been made available for bidding on Hemmings live auction website, marking the first time a vehicle of this caliber will be available during the SEMA Show. The entire build has been documented as part of season one for the new show, “Blazin Rodz: The Series,” which is currently airing on YouTube and Roku TV.
“Sangria has been an ambitious project, pushing our team to innovate every step of the way,” said Riccardo Salatino, master builder of Blazin Rodz. “We wanted to set a new standard, blending Mopar muscle with the lightness and precision of carbon fiber. Every inch of this Charger, from the carbon-fiber body to the 1,500-horsepower HEMI, is constructed to deliver an experience like no Mopar has done before.”
Sangria’s body is finished with Wild Cherry Kandy from House of Kolor, which highlights the perfectly aligned autoclave-produced carbon-fiber weaves. It is an extraordinary example of what experts can build utilizing multiple products from Mopar Direct Connection, including the autoclave carbon-fiber body mated to a Roadster Shop Fast Track chassis.
The heart of Sangria is the first Direct Connection 1500 HEMI crate engine produced and delivers a new level of performance, making 1,500 horsepower and over 1,000 ft-lbs of torque. The GEN 3 HEMI has a 426 cubic-inch displacement in a stroked cast-iron block with a Stage 2 3.0-liter Gen 5 Whipple supercharger mounted on top. This is the most powerful crate engine ever produced by Mopar. That immense power is routed through an eight-speed Pure Drivetrain Solutions Stage 2 ZF 8HP transmission.
Adding more carbon to the party, the Charger utilizes Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes to bring the 1,500 horsepower to a rapid halt. Custom wheels from Kompression are perfectly fitted for a staggered stance, with 20×9-inch wheels up front and 21×14-inch wheels in the back. All four are wrapped in Pirelli tires, with the fronts measuring 255/30R20 and a massive 355/25R21 in the rear.
“Sangria pushed us to combine cutting-edge materials with classic Mopar heritage, and the result is something truly remarkable,” said Scotty Zimmerman, operations manager at Blazin Rodz. “This car embodies the levels of innovation, performance and craftsmanship we always strive for at Blazin Rodz.”
The interior was finished by the experts at Avant Garde Design, who utilized Sparco bucket seats and Vintage Air performance air conditioning to keep Sangria’s future owner as comfortable as a modern luxury car. Not a single detail has been overlooked, with a complete sound system powered by a Pioneer head unit feeding a TRU Technology amplifier and Morel HiFi speakers custom fitted throughout.
To see every step of the build process, be sure to watch the premier episode of “Blazin Rodz: The Series” on YouTube and Roku TV now. Watch the team turn this carbon fiber classic Mopar into a masterpiece for the 2024 SEMA Show. For more information on Sangria or Blazin Rodz, visit www.BlazinRodz.com or check them out on Instagram.
Rick Seitz is the owner and founder of AutoCentric Media, the parent company to Timeless Muscle Magazine, and has a true love and passion for all vehicles. When he isn’t tuning, testing, or competing with the magazine’s current crop of project vehicles, he’s busy tinkering and planning the next round modifications for his own cars.
