Soldier’s Challenger Demon 170 From Mac Haik Dodge Sold For Less Than Expected

After a debacle that had Dodge and Jay Leno step in to save the day, this 2023 Challenger SRT Demon 170 went up to the highest bidder

Update: With so many greedy dealers and sellers out there, it’s a challenge to keep tabs on all the Challenger SRT Demon 170s changing hands these days. However, one that caught our attention was the notorious green Challenger from Mac Haik Dodge dealership, which finally went under the hammer at Mecum auctions this past weekend.

Despite the Dodge dealer’s attempt to compensate for their questionable practices with charitable gestures, bidders didn’t seem inclined to push the bidding beyond $167,750. That’s $43,009 over the Demon 170’s original MSRP of $124,741, which includes a $3,700 gas guzzler tax and $1,595 destination charge. Keep in mind, this figure doesn’t include Mecum’s consignment entry fees, which range from $350 to $1000, plus a 6% seller fee for no-reserve auctions .

Original story follows below.

You may recall the story about the Mississippi Dodge dealer who sold a deployed soldier’s Challenger SRT Demon 170 right out from underneath him. The incident was such a stain on the dealership’s reputation that it led to the termination of multiple employees, and Dodge itself had to step in to rectify the situation.

More: Dodge Sellers Still High On Demon Fumes: 20 Challengers Listed From $300K To $400K

Now, that same Challenger SRT Demon 170 is going up for auction, and the dealer has announced that it will be donating the proceeds to three charities.

Mac Haik Chrysler Dodge, Jeep, and Ram dealership in Flowood, Mississippi, touched a nerve when they reportedly engaged in a sort of musical chairs involving two Demon 170s and three customers. Unfortunately, the customer who was left without a seat when the music stopped happened to be a deployed soldier stationed in Iraq.

When the public found out, the story went viral and Dodge stepped in to make the soldier whole. It even went as far as to set up a future delivery event for him at Jay Leno’s garage where the comedian, car nut, and celebrity will hand over the keys personally.

For its part, Mac Haik retrieved the car from the buyer it had initially sold it to and promised to auction it off for charity. Now, it’s doing exactly that and says that the proceeds will go to three different charities in even amounts. Those foundations are the Special Forces Association Chapter 79, the 5th Squad in Pearl, Mississippi, and Jared Allen’s Homes for Wounded Warriors in Scottsdale, AZ.

Read: Dodge Dealer Mac Haik Fires 3 After Selling Soldier’s Dream Demon 170

As we’ve mentioned previously, Mac Haik appears to be benefiting more from this deal than it may initially appear. They’re receiving good press from some for donating to charity, but keep in mind that they’re only donating the proceeds, not the full payment for the car. In essence, someone else is making the charitable donation on their behalf. On top of that, there’s a good chance that the dealer can also claim part of the auction as a tax write-off.

The car will cross the block at Mecum’s Houston, Texas event between April 4th and April 6th. It’ll be interesting to see whether the charity association influences the bidding, potentially propelling this Demon 170 past the $200,000 mark, or if it will follow the trend of others that have sold for a lot less than in recent months.

You can check out the listing for yourself over here.

Image Credit: Mecum