After grinding more than 3,000 man-hours in the shop, this 1970 Dodge Charger was shaped into a neck-snapping example of Detroit steel. The hand-crafted custom from Miranda Built in Florida was awarded top honors in its class at its reveal in the 2015 Detroit Autorama before being sold to RK Motors. Once the sales docs were inked, the Charger hopped the Pacific to a new owner in Japan.
Like many American muscle cars of the 1960s and ’70s that land overseas, the Mopar was carefully preserved. It lived a chill life in its new Tokyo home. Years later, it returned stateside through an international eBay sale, arriving in the Port of Los Angeles in pristine condition.
“It came from a businessman who had 50 cars in a Japanese warehouse,” recalled Larry D., the most recent purchaser. “I got lucky and found it. It took about six months to get it back to America with the COVID pandemic.”
Reminiscent of his first ride in high school, Larry took one online look at this Charger and nostalgia hit hard. He immediately knew he had to add the muscle-era icon to his high-horsepower collection.
“My very first car was a 1968 Dodge Charger 440 four-speed,” he shared. “I’ve had about 130 cars — eight right now. I have a ’69 Road Runner with a blown 440, a Tesla Plaid, a Lamborghini Aventador, a 2020 Corvette, and an 1,100-horsepower Jeep Trackhawk built by John Hennessey in Texas.”
Surrounded by that list of street demons — and more — the Charger is now tucked in a five car garage, equipped with double stack lifts in Nevada. With its 572 cubic-inch Gen II Hemi topped with Indy Cylinder heads, it rightfully earns its place among Larry’s speed-based collection.
Power goes through a Rossler 4L80E transmission managed by a Powertrain Control Solutions TCM-2000. Air gulp is through a hand-fabbed air intake system featuring a Hogan’s Racing Manifolds metal intake with twin Dodge Viper throttle bodies and custom-crafted valve covers, exiting through stainless steel headers and three-inch full exhaust. They aren’t called Neighbor Haters, but they probably do.
The engine is dressed with a black-anodized Billet Specialties Tru Trac serpentine system and running a FAST engine management system, ultimately producing 770-horsepower and 730 lb-ft of torque. A closer look at the engine bay unveils straight art beneath the hood.
Once in Larry’s hands, the bespoke beauty — originally the product of Miranda’s four and a half year build — entered its next evolution.
“I did the wheels, added the rear stripe and accent, trunk carpet, tinted the windows, had it PPF’d — Ceramic Pro, and swapped the stereo from its Japanese version,” he shared.
Larry’s audio changeout brought in an Alpine 8-inch in-dash display and PDX amp, an Audison Sound Processor, 6.5-inch mids and 3-inch tweeters mounted in the kick panels with JL Audio subs covertly installed beneath both sides of the dash.
Part of the original interior build, the Charger still boasts an Ididit steering column, Billet Specialties D-shape steering wheel, Auto Meter Cobalt gauges and Clayton Machine Works modified pedal assembly.
Larry’s adds accentuate and preserve much of the original tucked, shaved, smoothed and gap-matched exterior. Complete fabrication of the grill, tail assembly, close out panels and door handles and deleted exterior molding with its flush mount aviation-style fuel filler bump the ’70s-era look into its contemporary aesthetic.
Other Miranda fabs include self-designed exhaust tips, and a custom fuel cell. Extreme Performance created its one-off interior for the original build with custom stitching and upholstery by Tommy Nast.
This one rolls on Schott Performance Wheels with 245/35ZR20 Pirelli P-Zeros in the front and massive 335/25ZR22 Pirelli Scorps in the rear. Suspension consists of an RMS AlterKtion K-member, fabbed four-link with pan hard bar and RideTech Shockwaves.
Braking is handled by Wilwoods all around with 14-inch two-piece rotors. Stainless hardline runs to the Wilwood .875-inch master cylinder. Stance is dialed by way of an AccuAir E-Level air management system.
This drool-worthy Charger retains its OG name — Charged — rumored to have come from the build’s funding source (American Express). Although Larry chooses his Corvette as his preferred vehicle for drivability, comfort and gas mileage, this Dodge old school stands apart. Built as a panty-dropper, not a luxury-commuter, Charged remains Larry’s favorite to show, and is a crowd-stopper wherever it goes.
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