With the release of the much anticipated Dodge Challenger, Chrysler has made a shocking announcement.  The production numbers will now be more limited, and fewer will be exported to the overseas market.  More importantly, the United Kingdom will no longer be getting a production model Challenger, instead, they will have to import the cars as a US spec car with left hand drive.

This news will surely sadden the overseas crowd, but what is especially odd, is that the Challenger prototypes were going to be built in Australia anyway, so they would be coming overseas just to get to the US anyway.  It seems that Chrysler wants to keep the Challenger limited, which could be a bad thing for the everyday muscle car lover.  We all know what the limited edition Shelby and other Mustangs are bringing thanks to ridiculous dealer markups, one can only imagine what they will do now that the Challenger is set to be limited.  

We imagine that eventually muscle car lovers will not be able to drive sports cars any longer, but will merely have to travel to a museum, or wealthy friend's garage where they are being stored as collectibles.  It's sad really--these cars are coming out with more and more power, better handling, and amazing brakes, all the things that the 70's lacked in safety and comfort, but with the same great power numbers.  These cars should be out and about, tearing up the streets, the strips, and cruising in to the local burger joint.  The muscle car era is getting killed before it can even get started again properly.  We can only hope that people will realize these cars aren't meant to be museum pieces.  Stay tuned to Planet Challenger and RPM Planets for more info on the Challenger as its 2008 release gets closer.