Mopar and Rich Evans team up to build custom Dodge Challenger for SEMA

Mopar has been doing some serious marketing in the past couple of days by first announcing the $2000 Mopar Bucks program specifically for drivers purchasing a Dodge Challenger and now this. Mopar will team up with custom car designer, Rich Evans to create a custom Dodge Challenger for the 2010 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show->ke216 in Las Vegas on Nov 3-6, 2010. The customization will begin with a base 2010 Dodge Challenger and then Evans will let his creative juices flow while using Mopar parts to trick out this ride. Evans will be customizing some Mopar parts while also using aftermarket suppliers to finish his build.

"Rich Evans has crafted some of the most remarkable customized rides on the street today," said Pietro Gorlier, President & CEO, Mopar Service, Parts & Customer Care, Chrysler Group LLC. "This Mopar SEMA project will demonstrate to our customers what they can create with proven, quality-tested Mopar parts and accessories."

For the full story plus the press release, follow the jump.

In addition to car customization, Evans will also appear as a judge in the new tuner category, the Mopar “Top Eliminator” enthusiast recognition program. The basis of this program is to creatively apply technology to a current Chrysler->ke21, Jeep->ke40, Dodge->ke28, or Ram->ke220 vehicle while maintaining brand integrity and values.

"I'm pumped up to team up with a premier organization like Mopar on these thrilling new projects," said Evans. "Together, I think we can seize the attention of the young Next-Gen crowd with the new 'Top Eliminator' tuner award and the SEMA-car build while still holding the attention of today's enthusiasts. You will see an amazing Mopar/Rich Evans creation in the Mopar exhibit at SEMA in November."

You may have seen Rich Evans on shows such as Pimp My Ride, Monster Garage, Man Cave and Chop, Cut & Rebuild. His most famous customizations have been Hardcore Knight, Hardcore H2O, Skull King, Ol Yeller, Black Knight, Penguin, Evil Soldier, Liberty Soldier, Meguiars 5th Wheel, Electric Queen, Shock & Awe, and Dan Chuck ‘56 Vet. With this kind of resume, we are anxious to see what he does with the Challenger. And yes, this does seem like a shameless plug for both Mopar and Evans, but who doesn’t want to see a suped up Challenger? I absolutely do. We’ll make sure and bring you pics of the finished product as soon as they become available.

Press Release

Mopar® is joining forces on two projects with renowned custom-car builder Rich Evans at the 5th Annual Chrysler Spring Festival in Irvine, Calif.

Evans will utilize Mopar parts and bring to life a customized Dodge Challenger for the 2010 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show in Las Vegas, Nev., Nov. 3–6, 2010. Evans will also serve as a judge in a newly-formed tuner category of Mopar's "Top Eliminator" enthusiast recognition program.

Owner of Huntington Beach Bodyworks and Rich Evans Designs, Evans is a master automotive fabricator, welder and painter. His custom-made rides have appeared in numerous movies and television programs, including Pimp My Ride, Monster Garage, Man Cave and Chop, Cut & Rebuild. The Southern California native also recently debuted a new iPhone App, "The Rides of Rich Evans."

His one-of-a-kind Mopar-flavored ride for the 2010 SEMA Show will begin with a base 2010 Dodge Challenger. Evans will employ an array of Mopar parts, some modified with his own fabricated spin, in order to create a new automotive work of art. Rich Evans Exclusive Parts as well as products from numerous aftermarket suppliers will be utilized during the build, which will be documented in a series of podcast videos posted to Mopar's YouTube channel. Evans will also pen exclusive blogs for posting on http://www.mopar.com as well as his own Web site, http://www.huntingtonbeachbodyworks.com.

Evans will also act as a judge for the new tuner category of the Mopar "Top Eliminator" program. Now in its fourth year, the program highlights restyled or customized Chrysler, Jeep®, Dodge or Ram vehicles of Mopar enthusiasts. The new tuner category winner will be selected from enthusiast nominations based on creatively applying technology to a current-model vehicle while maintaining brand integrity and values. All "Top Eliminator" winners, from the various categories, will be displayed in the Mopar Alley at the 2010 SEMA Show.