The stunning Stryker Red VIN 001 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat made quite an impression when it arrived on the scene for the 2014 Las Vegas Auction.

To mark Barrett-Jackson’s half-century in business, in this special series we’re taking a look back at some of our favorite moments from the past 50 years – as well as some little-known facts about The World’s Greatest Collector Car Auctions.

One of the stars of the 2014 Las Vegas Auction: the very first Dodge Hellcat.

These days the supercharged fury of a Hellcat V8 isn’t too uncommon. After all, “Hellcat all the things” became a byline for top-tier Mopar performance, and we couldn’t be more thankful. But jump back five years and the idea of a 707hp Dodge Challenger was unheard of. The era of Beelzebub’s feline powertrain had arrived, and Barrett-Jackson was the first to let slip the “cats” of war.

Dodge donated VIN 001 of the 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat to be sold at the 2014 Las Vegas Auction. The beautiful Challenger was met with a roar from the crowd as Las Vegas icons Wayne Newton and Penn Gillette amped up the already palpable excitement in the auction arena.

There was much excitement in the auction arena as the bidding escalated.

When the hammer fell, the very first Hellcat met a final price of $865,000, with a matching donation from longtime Barrett-Jackson friend The Engelstad Family Foundation, to total $1.73 million for the Las Vegas-based charity Opportunity Village.

“We’re honored that Dodge chose our 2014 Las Vegas auction to sell Hellcat VIN 001 to support Opportunity Village,” said Barrett-Jackson CEO Craig Jackson at the time. “Not only will the wonderful people at this organization benefit from the sale of this muscle car, but the winning bidder will own a truly amazing piece of American automotive history.”

The VIN 001 Hellcat is a truly unique one-of-one collectible, the only Dodge Challenger to ever have a Viper-exclusive Stryker Red exterior – hand-painted at the Dodge Viper paint facility.

Las Vegas icons Penn Gillette and Wayne Newton were among those celebrating the spectacular sale onstage.

“The 2015 Challenger Hellcat is already guaranteed to be one of the hottest cars that will roll through the Barrett-Jackson auction lanes in decades to come,” said Tim Kuniskis, then President and CEO of Dodge and SRT Brands and now Head of Passenger Cars, FCA – North America. “This is likely the rarest Mopar muscle car ever.”

The one-of-a-kind special edition 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat is powered by a 6.2-liter supercharged HEMI V8 engine and has an NHRA-certified quarter-mile time of 10.8 seconds at 126 mph, 707 horsepower and 650 ft/lbs of torque on tap right from the assembly line.

Barrett-Jackson is proud to have made history with Dodge and play a role in the story of the Hellcat. We’re also honored to use our platform to support and raise money for great causes like Opportunity Village and many more.