Cool Car

AVON PARK - Stanley Wells was tempted - very tempted - to take the offer, but it was one he could and did refuse.

Wells, the president of Wells Dodge Chrysler, said a woman from Idaho called the Avon Park dealership Monday about a limited edition 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 on display in the showroom. She had heard about the car and was willing to pay $100,000 - more than twice the list price. She wanted it that day.

Wells declined, saying that the dealership planned to auction the car and it was going to stick with the plan.

"Most dealers would take that $100,000 and be done with it," Wells said, noting that a woman from Georgia called about the car Wednesday. "Believe me we could use it this year. Very tempting this year.

"We feel like this is the right thing to do," he added. "It gives people an opportunity that want a car like this."

The auction will be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, July 24. Only registered bidders will be allowed to participate, and the deadline to register is July 18.

Registration forms will be available at the dealership, 1600 U.S. 27 S., between 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. Saturday. Registration information will be available online at www.WellsDodgeChrysler.com

"We have got an opportunity here that you don't get very often, so we came up with the idea of - not knowing how to determine what person got to buy this car - that we would auction it off," Wells said.

It was decided that all the money over the sticker price will be split between Highlands County Habitat for Humanity and Ridge Area Arc, described by Wells as "two local, strong nonprofit organizations where the money stays here in the county and benefits people here in the county."

"It has created such excitement" said Tim Osterlund, sales manager at Wells. "I've never seen a vehicle that has stimulated the emotion that this car has. It has been a great draw for us."

Osterlund said the car, which boasts a 426 horsepower V-8 engine, looks "very, very close" to the original Challenger model in 1970.

He said the car will likely end up in somebody's garage as a collector item.

The Hemi Orange Challenger is a limited run of 6,400 vehicles. It is the only SRT8 the Avon Park dealership will receive.

The list price and starting bid for the car is $42,779. It is equipped with the optional power sunroof, MyGIG Multimedia System with GPS Navigation and 245/45ZR20-25545ZR20 performance tires, Mopar wheel locks and appearance package.

The car is No. 92 and has a "First Edition" plaque on the dashboard commemorating that fact.