Roadkill Garage S02e04 The Off Road Challenger

1. The Aesthetic: There is something undeniably cool about a lifted muscle car. The "Donk" meets "Rally Fighter" look of the Challenger gives it a menacing stance that looks right at home on a dirt trail.

2. The Duo’s Dynamic: This episode highlights the chemistry between Freiburger’s relentless optimism and Dulcich’s dry, technical grounding. Their banter during the breakdowns and successes is the heart of the show.

3. Real-World Tech: Beyond the entertainment value, the episode offers technical insights into suspension geometry, gearing changes, and the importance of traction. It serves as a cautionary tale and a guide for anyone brave enough to attempt a similar build.

In this episode, hosts David Freiburger and Steve Dulcich take a break from their usual budget drag racing builds to tackle the mud and dirt. The objective is to transform a derelict 1970 Dodge Challenger—known as the "Disgustang" due to a previous license plate typo—into a capable off-road wheeler. The episode serves as a testament to the "Roadkill" ethos of building cars on a near-zero budget using only spare parts, sweat, and ingenuity.

The protagonist of this episode is a 1972 Dodge Challenger that is far from concours quality. Sporting the usual Roadkill pedigree of faded paint and body rot, the car is the perfect candidate for a radical, no-holds-barred modification. The goal is simple but ambitious: lift the suspension, fit massive all-terrain tires, and gear the drivetrain to handle the dirt.

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.

“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.

Roadkill Garage Season 2, Episode 4, David Freiburger Steve Dulcich

take "Mad Max" inspiration to the extreme by hacking up a 1970 Dodge Challenger to transform it into a desert-bashing off-roader ‎Apple TV The Build: "The Off-Road Challenger"

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:

To accommodate giant off-road tires, the guys hacked away significant portions of the E-body's sheet metal. The Powerplant:

The car featured a 318ci engine that was estimated to produce only about 140 horsepower due to low compression (6.9:1) and stock components. Off-Road Setup:

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 episode's climax involves testing the car in the desert, where the duo faced extreme environmental challenges: 100-Year Sandstorm: roadkill garage s02e04 the off road challenger

While driving through a lava flow area, they were hit by a severe sandstorm with 70 mph winds. Natural Sandblasting:

The storm was so intense it stripped paint off the car, revealing old circle track lettering hidden underneath. Engine Damage:

The 318 engine suffered an "end-of-life experience" after sand and small rocks were sucked into the carburetor during the storm. Legacy of the Car

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

, the car was purchased for roughly $300 after sitting in a yard for 15 years. Condition: The body was heavily modified before the featuring a 318ci V-8

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" The Off-Road Challenger! (TV Episode 2017)

In Season 2, Episode 4 of Roadkill Garage , titled " The Off-Road Challenger

," David Freiburger and Steve Dulcich take a 1970 Dodge Challenger—a car that was once a mundane dirt-track racer—and transform it into a "Mad Max-style" off-road machine. Episode Highlights

The Transformation: The guys hack away the sheet metal of the classic E-body to clear space for massive off-road tires.

Desert Bashing: They take the modified muscle car to the desert to test its capabilities against lava flows and open terrain. and sandblasted the vehicle.

The 100-Year Sandstorm: During their test, they are hit by a severe sandstorm with 70 mph winds that sandblasts the car, reveals old track lettering, and ultimately causes the 318 engine to suffer an "end-of-life experience" after ingesting sand.

Legacy: This car, later nicknamed "Vanishing Paint," became a recurring project, eventually receiving a 360 engine and further drivetrain upgrades in later seasons. Where to Watch You can find this episode on various streaming platforms: HBO Max Tubi Apple TV Discovery+

Season 2, Episode 4 of Roadkill Garage , titled " The Off-Road Challenger! David Freiburger Steve Dulcich

take a 1970 Dodge Challenger and transform it into a "Mad Max" style desert basher Episode Overview

: The guys take a "mundane" dirt-track race car (previously seen in

episodes 54 and 56) and hack off the sheet metal to fit massive off-road tires. The Mission

: The goal was to turn a desirable E-body muscle car into an unforgettable off-roader for desert bashing. The Disaster

: During their test run, they drove the car into a lava flow right as a "100-year sandstorm" hit. The 70-mph winds were so intense they stripped paint, shredded skin, and sandblasted the vehicle.

: The storm's sand and rocks severely damaged the 318 engine, causing what Freiburger called an "end-of-life experience" for the motor. The car ended up sitting for two years following this episode before being revived in later seasons. Where to Watch You can find this episode on streaming platforms like Amazon Prime Video Amazon.com follow-up episode where they finally revive the Off-Road Challenger's engine?

"Roadkill Garage" The Off-Road Challenger! (TV Episode 2017)

In Roadkill Garage season two, episode four, hosts David Freiburger and Steve Dulcich attempt to transform a beat-up 1970 Dodge Challenger into a desert-bashing machine, ultimately resulting in a chaotic showdown with a 70-mph sandstorm. The build, which featured sheet-metal cutting and a 318 small-block engine, was sidelined by sandstorm damage but solidified its reputation as a fan-favorite "Roadkill" project. Watch the full episode on Tubi.

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. 

Show Report: Roadkill Garage Episode: Season 2, Episode 4 Title: "The Off-Road Challenger" Original Air Date: May 26, 2017