With A War In His Country This Enthusiast Did What Any Of Us Would Do And Built His Dream Car

Ukraine Chally Ts
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Daydreaming is common among car enthusiasts. For all that we do with our vehicles, we’re always thinking far ahead. When we get the time, when we get the money, we’ll go ahead and get that dream car and turn it into the ride we’ve always wanted to build. The problem is that if you dream too long, you’ll watch years go by before you ever turn a wrench. Sometimes, it takes extraordinary circumstances to snap you out of it and remind you that life is for living today.

Enter Yevhen. He’s a gearhead through and through, and he’s spent the better part of this year putting together a Dodge Challenger with a slick retro vibe. It’s been more challenging for him than you might expect. He’s been building the car as his country struggles against foreign invaders inside its own borders.

“War time is not a good time to buy cars,” Yevhen tells me from his home in Ukraine. “On the other hand, you have to do something not to lose the sense of life.”

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A mechanic by trade, Yevhen runs his own shop. “Besides my family, cars are the sense of my life,” he says. ” I service, maintain, repair and wrap cars. I paint them, I write about them, I build them, I raced them and hold the events, I talk about them with my friends and… I love them.” It was that passion that led him to the Challenger. “When I saw this barge with a manual transmission and a Hemi, I couldn’t resist,” he tells me. “War makes our decisions faster, cause you clearly understand that you may not have another chance to make your dream come true.” It’s a dramatic statement, but not an untrue one. “Daily rocket attacks make you realize that every day can be your last day,” he explains.

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His car didn’t come to him brand new. Instead, the 2016 model was auctioned and sold into Ukraine a while ago. “Odesa is a former ‘JDM Culture’ city that transformed to a Copart/IAAI city without any culture this time, unfortunately,” he explains. Yes, that’s right—big US auction companies do business shipping American cars to the continent on the regular.
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Given the completeness of the transformation, you might be surprised to learn how long he’s had the car. “I bought it 6 months ago,” he says, but he’s still demure on his progress. “It’s hard to do everything here now… missile attacks, air alerts, permanent shutdowns, import was literally stopped for a period of time, lack of money, lack of time, lack of mood…” He notes the build is unfinished, though my experience says he’s a quick worker. In the days since I first made contact, he’d already made further upgrades to the vehicle including a new rear wing.
Fundamentally, building a car in Ukraine isn’t like building one in California. “Each part ordered from US is shipped within a month, but sometimes it takes twice as long,” he says.
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Drive around the US, and you’ll see tacky modern muscle cars everywhere you go. Anyone can go to Autozone and buy a bunch of fake chrome trim and badges and ruin a modern Challenger, Camaro, or Mustang. But somehow, Yevhen managed to make his retro tribute work, and work well. You might expect that he’d spent years working on American muscle, growing familiar with the aesthetic and values. And yet!

“I’ve never seen any American classic in person,” he says. “But being a journalist also with a couple of my own historical blogs and groups, I know something about cars.” He paid fine attention to detail on his build, which helped him achieve a factory-like appearance. “I try to represent as many features of a 1971 R/T on my modern boat, while avoiding breaking the borders of common sense,” he explains. If a badge or a detail wasn’t on the real thing, he won’t slap it on his car. “My car should become a tribute to the OG Challenger, and [become] kind of a blast from the past for me personally,” he says.

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Perhaps the classiest mod is in the interior. Yevhen had a gorgeous woodgrain finish applied to all the dash pieces. It’s a beautiful throwback to the 1970s, the era of veneer. He achieved this by having the parts hydrodipped. It’s a process where the plastic pieces are lowered into a liquid bath with woodgrain-patterned pigment floating on top. In this case, the dark woodgrain effect pairs perfectly with the rest of the black interior. It’s custom, and it looks good, which is more than we can say of most modified interiors we see.

Externally, he’s given the Challenger a set of American Racing VN501 wheels, wrapped in Petlas Explero rubber. For the proper vintage look, he shaved the sidewalls and threw on ’71-style tire lettering which looks the business. A set of Eibach Pro-Kit lowering springs helps set the stance. Exhaust-wise, he switched the factory X-pipe for an H-pipe setup, threw on Flowmaster mufflers, and deleted the resonators for a throatier tone. There’s also a lovely Hellcat-style air catcher up front for a properly mean look.

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The rest of it comes down to decals, badging, and detail pieces. It might sound trivial, but getting all this right is why the car looks so well put together. He’s got the ’71 style emblems in the appropriate spots on the body, a chrome fuel door, and Pentastar badges on the fenders. He’s also got amber fog light covers that he modified from Harley Davidson turn signals, headlight bezels, and a high-quality R/T vinyl on the side of the body. Other nice touches include the hood pins, the imitation vinyl top, and the Go-Wing on the rear trunk lid.

Throw a couple of these pieces on wrong, and it’d look like a mess. It doesn’t take much chrome trim or vinyl to turn a stock car into a laughing stock. But Yevhen did the job right, and the results speak for themselves.

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His story is perhaps a lesson for any car fan that is feeling disconnected from their passion. Obviously, feeding and clothing yourself comes first in life, as does shelter and all the rest. Nevertheless, sometimes you have go after something if it’s important to you. None of us know how much time we have left, and we most often regret the things we didn’t do.

Yevhen saw his opportunity and went for it. He’s built himself an American beast on his own terms. The car is a credit to him and his craft, and it stands as a shining example for us all.

Bottom line? Don’t wait to start living. Get after it now.

Image credits: Yevhen Kovalchuk

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100 thoughts on “With A War In His Country This Enthusiast Did What Any Of Us Would Do And Built His Dream Car

  1. This car looks incredible. The details are perfect. I normally don’t go for this type of car but man this is cool. The vinyl roof is SO COOL!! Well done. The wood trim on the interior is a fantastic touch, and I think if Stellantis were to build a “retro” package for this car, this is exactly what the factory would have turned out.

  2. I never understood the 5.7’s with 6 speeds. It was by far the hardest stick I’ve ever had to try and drive…..
    But anyways, that’s definitely badass!

    1. I test drove one and thought it was pretty good from a clutch/shifter/driver ergonomics perspective, but alas- despite a platform lineage dating back to a Mercedes sedan and a 116-inch (caprice/model S tesla sized) wheelbase, the rear seat is essentially unusable.

      Unusable rear seat is a non-starter with 3 elementary age kids in the house.

      1. First time I got into one, after already have driven plenty of stick shift 4-cylinder cars and Wranglers, I stalled a customer’s R/T 3 times in front of them. He wasn’t even mad, thankfully.
        Tried another one and still couldn’t move it, so I’m very anti-stick shift 5.7 Challenger.

        1. The twin plate clutch, shared with the Viper, takes some getting used to. It’s still my only manual I occasionally stall. But the shifter is fine and there’s an aftermarket solution that replaces the shifter and linkages and transforms the shift feel.

          1. I doubt I’ll be given another chance to drive an R/T again, but I’m sure the 392 and Hellcat are far easier to drive as a stick because they make more torque down low. I have no qualms about how the TR6060 drives.

            1. Yeah, peak torque is good but it is just a touch low right off idle. The only time I stall it is backing out of a tight parking space, when I really don’t want to give it much throttle.

        2. The shifts are really tricky. And the 3.92 rear end on manual Challenger makes gears feel very short. And they are. This is my first car I always hit redline while taking off. But when you get use to it, it gives fun. All my previous V8s paired with auto, and I promised myself not to buy another 2 pedal again. HEMI with Tremec is a pure fun, and it has stock LSD, that’s also a mighty argument. Just needs a short shifter and a pistol grip to complete the scenery.

  3. I never understood the 5.7’s with 6 speeds. It was by far the hardest stick I’ve ever had to try and drive…..
    But anyways, that’s definitely badass!

    1. I test drove one and thought it was pretty good from a clutch/shifter/driver ergonomics perspective, but alas- despite a platform lineage dating back to a Mercedes sedan and a 116-inch (caprice/model S tesla sized) wheelbase, the rear seat is essentially unusable.

      Unusable rear seat is a non-starter with 3 elementary age kids in the house.

      1. First time I got into one, after already have driven plenty of stick shift 4-cylinder cars and Wranglers, I stalled a customer’s R/T 3 times in front of them. He wasn’t even mad, thankfully.
        Tried another one and still couldn’t move it, so I’m very anti-stick shift 5.7 Challenger.

        1. The twin plate clutch, shared with the Viper, takes some getting used to. It’s still my only manual I occasionally stall. But the shifter is fine and there’s an aftermarket solution that replaces the shifter and linkages and transforms the shift feel.

          1. I doubt I’ll be given another chance to drive an R/T again, but I’m sure the 392 and Hellcat are far easier to drive as a stick because they make more torque down low. I have no qualms about how the TR6060 drives.

            1. Yeah, peak torque is good but it is just a touch low right off idle. The only time I stall it is backing out of a tight parking space, when I really don’t want to give it much throttle.

        2. The shifts are really tricky. And the 3.92 rear end on manual Challenger makes gears feel very short. And they are. This is my first car I always hit redline while taking off. But when you get use to it, it gives fun. All my previous V8s paired with auto, and I promised myself not to buy another 2 pedal again. HEMI with Tremec is a pure fun, and it has stock LSD, that’s also a mighty argument. Just needs a short shifter and a pistol grip to complete the scenery.

  4. That wood hydrodip really classed up the interior. As the article says there is a fine line when you do retro style on a modern car and he nailed it.

  5. That wood hydrodip really classed up the interior. As the article says there is a fine line when you do retro style on a modern car and he nailed it.

  6. Awesome story. I love this site.
    This guy has a gift for language, “old Jag with all of its wood fragrance and leather softness”, “roaring cheapy iron bucket”, I’d read his stuff

    Also those tires look fuckin’ killer

      1. I can try to translate my historical graphomaniac masterpieces that I write in Ukrainian, but it might be a hard of a task due a pile of raw sarcasm.

    1. “leather softness”
      Yeah, just like the Autopian Rich Corinthian Leather membership plan!
      “Ricardo Montalbán described a car interior that featured thickly-cushioned, luxury seats upholstered in grades of fine, soft, or rich Corinthian leather”

  7. Awesome story. I love this site.
    This guy has a gift for language, “old Jag with all of its wood fragrance and leather softness”, “roaring cheapy iron bucket”, I’d read his stuff

    Also those tires look fuckin’ killer

      1. I can try to translate my historical graphomaniac masterpieces that I write in Ukrainian, but it might be a hard of a task due a pile of raw sarcasm.

    1. “leather softness”
      Yeah, just like the Autopian Rich Corinthian Leather membership plan!
      “Ricardo Montalbán described a car interior that featured thickly-cushioned, luxury seats upholstered in grades of fine, soft, or rich Corinthian leather”

  8. Since no question is dumb…

    How exactly do you “shave” the sidewalls, and is there any benefit to it? So, basically, how and why?
    Thx 🙂

      1. Hmm, I guess I was overthinking it a bit, lol. Still, that doesn’t mess with the structural integrity of the tire?

    1. It’s when you remove those little rubber hairs that new tires come with, so your tires no longer look like they forgot to set their alarm and had to rush to work unshaven.

      There are no stupid questions. Stupid answers on the other hand…

  9. Since no question is dumb…

    How exactly do you “shave” the sidewalls, and is there any benefit to it? So, basically, how and why?
    Thx 🙂

    1. It’s when you remove those little rubber hairs that new tires come with, so your tires no longer look like they forgot to set their alarm and had to rush to work unshaven.

      There are no stupid questions. Stupid answers on the other hand…

  10. Seeing those tires makes me realize Goodyear needs to make a street legal competitor to tires like the BFGoodrich Radial T/A, Cooper Cobra Radial GT, and other tires that commonly find their way on old muscle.

    They’ve got their Billboards, which are cool as fuck, but unfortunately aren’t street legal. Give me that vintage Billboard look in sizes commonly run on old muscle, street legal, with a tiny bit more performance that what is offered out there by the competition.

    1. I have the Coopers on my car and they’re junk. About 50% of them come out of the plant egg-shaped; tire dealers are indifferent about it because they’ve been dealing with it for so long.

      It is reeaally hard to find GOOD 14″ or 15″ tires anymore.

      1. My brother went with Coopers on his C10 and has been pretty happy. I’m also considering Mastercraft Avenger (basically the same as the Coopers), Galaxy Radial GT, Hercules HP 4000, and a few others. They all seem about the same with no real difference.

        You’d think Hoosier or someone would be expanding their 15″ offerings… I realize I want a weird size even within the 15″ range, but going to a more traditional size doesn’t exactly open many doors.

        1. Spend big bucks, get the Avon CR6ZZ, but it’s probably not great to drive on the street. The only other real “performance” tire available in muscle car sizes end up being DOT drag tires, non-DOT tires, or “DOT” tires in name only but you’d probably be dumb to drive on the street.

  11. Seeing those tires makes me realize Goodyear needs to make a street legal competitor to tires like the BFGoodrich Radial T/A, Cooper Cobra Radial GT, and other tires that commonly find their way on old muscle.

    They’ve got their Billboards, which are cool as fuck, but unfortunately aren’t street legal. Give me that vintage Billboard look in sizes commonly run on old muscle, street legal, with a tiny bit more performance that what is offered out there by the competition.

    1. I have the Coopers on my car and they’re junk. About 50% of them come out of the plant egg-shaped; tire dealers are indifferent about it because they’ve been dealing with it for so long.

      It is reeaally hard to find GOOD 14″ or 15″ tires anymore.

      1. My brother went with Coopers on his C10 and has been pretty happy. I’m also considering Mastercraft Avenger (basically the same as the Coopers), Galaxy Radial GT, Hercules HP 4000, and a few others. They all seem about the same with no real difference.

        You’d think Hoosier or someone would be expanding their 15″ offerings… I realize I want a weird size even within the 15″ range, but going to a more traditional size doesn’t exactly open many doors.

        1. Spend big bucks, get the Avon CR6ZZ, but it’s probably not great to drive on the street. The only other real “performance” tire available in muscle car sizes end up being DOT drag tires, non-DOT tires, or “DOT” tires in name only but you’d probably be dumb to drive on the street.

    1. Would you say it is insane in the woodgrain? *Chuckles* I will see myself out with my punny pun, wait I am at work I cannot leave yet damn

    1. Would you say it is insane in the woodgrain? *Chuckles* I will see myself out with my punny pun, wait I am at work I cannot leave yet damn

  12. Yevhen is clearly one of us. Send this man a complimentary membership.

    Edit: In fact, if you do, I’ll upgrade mine to help offset the cost.

  13. Yevhen is clearly one of us. Send this man a complimentary membership.

    Edit: In fact, if you do, I’ll upgrade mine to help offset the cost.

  14. That relatively short shifter looks great recessed in the wood grain console. I especially like the lack of a tower of rubber or leather rising from it

  15. That relatively short shifter looks great recessed in the wood grain console. I especially like the lack of a tower of rubber or leather rising from it

  16. I think this looks tastefully done and I like it. Surprised Chrysler never did anything like this with the challenger. I am a fan of wood styling sucks cars have either gone away from it or have gone with faux wood that doesn’t even look like wood anymore.

    1. they did do a lot of other Charger/Challenger paint/sticker packs and none looked this good and they all had stupid names that were eight words long that made it impossible to write headlines about them

      i’m still bitter

      1. They just make marketing bs of iconic names. Just like Scat Pack that I’ve recently written about. But hopefully Mopar doesn’t torture its own heritage as others do.

        As for special editions, they never did one with proper details, but still the bone stock base car (either prefacelift or the latest) is as close to its predecessor as it can be in our touchscreened and LED out world.

    2. I typically hate vinyl tops, but I think it looks great here too.

      This is a fantastic execution. My only minor quibble is the wing; I don’t like it. But that’s just my personal taste.

      1. Yeah I think if he would have went with a duck tail It would have looked a bit cleaner but the spoiler he has on there is correct looking if he is going for the 70s styling so I don’t mind it but I like duck tails more (actually have a ducktail on my 89 bird since the stock spoiler fell apart from dry rot). Also yeah I normally dislike vinyl tops but for some reason those late 60s and early 70s muscle cars with black vinyl tops I have always liked not your grandma’s 80s/90s buick/caddy with a vinyl haha

      2. The wing by Shinoda belongs here as an ivonic feature of 70s musclecars and ponycars, and 1971 R/T in particular. While ducktail is a feature of 1970 T/A and 72up. I’m precise about details and want it to be period correct (if it can be said about modern tribute I’m building)

    3. I mean, outside of the Longhorn’s, Chrysler will always do faux wood… and they did do a modern Challenger with it: the 2023 Swinger. It’s pretty cool, imo.

      1. Oh I understand most is faux wood as my 92 Cummins has the faux wood but they at least tried and make it look like a real wood pattern. Seem most cars like my fiances Tourx that has the faux wood trim it just looks like plastic with a vague wood pattern look and it is way to glossy.

  17. I think this looks tastefully done and I like it. Surprised Chrysler never did anything like this with the challenger. I am a fan of wood styling sucks cars have either gone away from it or have gone with faux wood that doesn’t even look like wood anymore.

    1. they did do a lot of other Charger/Challenger paint/sticker packs and none looked this good and they all had stupid names that were eight words long that made it impossible to write headlines about them

      i’m still bitter

      1. They just make marketing bs of iconic names. Just like Scat Pack that I’ve recently written about. But hopefully Mopar doesn’t torture its own heritage as others do.

        As for special editions, they never did one with proper details, but still the bone stock base car (either prefacelift or the latest) is as close to its predecessor as it can be in our touchscreened and LED out world.

    2. I typically hate vinyl tops, but I think it looks great here too.

      This is a fantastic execution. My only minor quibble is the wing; I don’t like it. But that’s just my personal taste.

      1. Yeah I think if he would have went with a duck tail It would have looked a bit cleaner but the spoiler he has on there is correct looking if he is going for the 70s styling so I don’t mind it but I like duck tails more (actually have a ducktail on my 89 bird since the stock spoiler fell apart from dry rot). Also yeah I normally dislike vinyl tops but for some reason those late 60s and early 70s muscle cars with black vinyl tops I have always liked not your grandma’s 80s/90s buick/caddy with a vinyl haha

      2. The wing by Shinoda belongs here as an ivonic feature of 70s musclecars and ponycars, and 1971 R/T in particular. While ducktail is a feature of 1970 T/A and 72up. I’m precise about details and want it to be period correct (if it can be said about modern tribute I’m building)

    3. I mean, outside of the Longhorn’s, Chrysler will always do faux wood… and they did do a modern Challenger with it: the 2023 Swinger. It’s pretty cool, imo.

      1. Oh I understand most is faux wood as my 92 Cummins has the faux wood but they at least tried and make it look like a real wood pattern. Seem most cars like my fiances Tourx that has the faux wood trim it just looks like plastic with a vague wood pattern look and it is way to glossy.

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