The legendary Ringbrothers custom car shop has again created a one-of-a-kind jewel of a restomod. This 1969 Dodge Charger custom looks very similar to the original car, but the details, upgrades, and customization have touched every aspect of the vehicle and elevated it to something all new and genuinely drool-worthy.
Is the Ringbrothers “CAPTIV” the ultimate Charger restomod ever created? Let’s dive into the details and see what this custom muscle car has to offer.
A “CAPTIV” First Look
At first glance, the CAPTIV restomod is deceptively simple. You could be forgiven for mistaking it for a super clean 1969 Dodge Charger if it flashed by you on the highway. But lucky for us, the Ringbrothers take viewers on a closer walk-around where it quickly becomes apparent that every inch of this American muscle car got some serious TLC.
From the custom BASF “Pile up Yellow” paint (based on Porsche‘s signal yellow color) to the subtle design of the supercharger (which was tastefully redesigned and covered so the blower wouldn’t stick out of the hood like an eyesore), the exterior is a symphonic testament to getting all those little details just right.
The Charger was shipped initially to Ringbrothers by its owner, New Zealand-based motorsports legend and TV personality Greg Murphy. It started its restomod life as a rolling chassis — the whole car is almost all original sheet metal except for modifications Ringbrothers made to stretch or move the metal. They did this for the lowered rockers and cut-off front fenders.
The extensive bodywork took around 800-1,000 hours to complete. And while the CAPTIV still screams Charger from a distance, an up-close look reveals that this muscle car got a complete custom makeover.
The Devilish Details
The real magic of a custom build comes down to the fit and finish of each part, and here’s where the Ringbrother’s build really shines.
From the one-off turn indicators to the sleek door handles right down to the hood and trunk hinges, the CAPTIV Charger got retrofitted with some cool hardware that completes its look top to bottom, inside and out.
The interior, which Gary Ragel designed, features beefed-up Recaro seats sporting full custom upholstery by Upholstery Unlimited. The sleek dash flashes to life with a Motec C1212 gauge cluster. And as for the steering wheel, that carbon fiber-accented beauty is a fully custom Ringbrothers creation.
Jim Ring succinctly sums up the philosophy behind the build: “If you can’t find something that works, you just build it.”
Now, that’s next-level customization.
Bring on the Hellcat
Underneath, the CAPTIV Charger has been cleverly designed around the Flowmaster exhaust for a clean underbody that’s nearly as pretty as what’s under the hood (check out that QA1 carbon driveshaft).
We say almost because the Mopar Hellcat V8 steals the show in an engine bay that’s so clean you could eat off of it. The 707 hp crate engine mates to a Tremec six-speed manual transmission for some guaranteed smiles per mile.
Of course, all that power needs acreage of rubber, which the CAPTIV Charger sports in style. The custom Ringbrothers Edition Recoil HRE wheels are wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires with 295x35x19s up front and some monstrous 345x30x20s in the rear. The 6-piston Baer brakes complete the look — and keep the 707-hp monster in check.
4,240 Build Hours Later … CAPTIV Emerges
All-in-all, the Ringbrothers’ CAPTIV restomod took a reported 4,240 work hours to perfect. Or, to put that in more relatable terms, that’d be like working 424 10-hour days straight in your garage to bring this beauty to life.
The CAPTIV Charger is destined for New Zealand, so you won’t see it ripping around in the States. But we don’t doubt that this glorious muscle car restomod will be holding its Southern Hemisphere audience CAPTIV, as it’s sure to be a spellbinding sight as it roars down the road.
