The vehicle at the center of the episode is a 1970 Dodge Challenger originally used as a mundane . Unlike the pristine E-bodies often seen at auctions, this car was a rough survivor that had been off the road since at least 1989. Freiburger and Dulcich decided the best way to "save" it was to embrace its ruggedness:
: The episode highlights the show's "wrong thing the right way" mantra, including using an impact wrench to install cylinder heads in a pinch. The Survival Story: The 100-Year Sandstorm roadkill garage s02e04 the off road challenger
: The sand ingestion was fatal for the original 318 engine, effectively "self-boring" the cylinders and leaving the car sidelined for years afterward. Legacy of the ORC The vehicle at the center of the episode