► 6.2 V8 from Charger/Challenger Hellcat
► On sale without the rest of the car
► Honda also offering a Type R ‘crate’
Here’s a welcome addition to our list of most inappropriate lawnmower upgrades – the catchily titled Dodge Hellcrate; a 697bhp, plug-and-play V8 that is on sale now for the same price as a Ford Fiesta.
It’s essentially the 6.2-litre supercharged lump from the Charger and Challenger Hellcat models, but has been configured to slot under the bonnet of your project car and work right off the bat.
![Hellcrate engine](https://car-images.bauersecure.com/wp-images/2477/480x0/hellcrate2.jpg?scale=down)
The Hellcrate costs $19,530 (about £15,000) while you’ll pay an additional $2,195 for the engine kit, which adds the powertrain control and fuel pump modules, wiring harness, accelerator pedal and some sensors. Buy the crate and kit together and you get a three-year/unlimited mileage warranty.
Sounds fantastic but what on earth is it for?
Anything you own that could do with nearly 700bhp really – but Dodge says the Hellcrate is aimed at pre-1976 street and off-road vehicles and is optimised for use with a manual gearbox.
It’s available worldwide with big sales expected in the Middle East and also parts of Europe including Germany, although 90% will inevitably end up in American cars.
![SEMA](https://car-images.bauersecure.com/wp-images/2477/480x0/sema-2017-22.jpg?scale=down)
The Hellcrate debuted at the 2017 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show in Las Vegas, shoehorned under the bonnet of a 1970 Superbird Tribute build (pictured above).
Can I put it in my race car?
Technically yes but Dodge didn’t suggest that would be its main use – Honda, however, is catering for the motorsport market with its own crate engine.
The Japanese manufacturer is now selling the 2.0-litre turbo unit from the Civic Type R as a standalone product, at a more reasonable £5,000.
You do get less bang for your buck than the Hellcrate, with a still-decent 302bhp and 295lb ft, and Honda is a bit more picky about who it sells its engine to, preferring customers with proper racing intentions.
That’s a shame really because it would be a terrifying yet exhilarating powerplant for a Caterham (Craterham?) kit car built.
Still, you could always get the Hellcrate instead…
Gallery: the best of SEMA 2017