is saying goodbye to its combustion engine vehicles in a big way, by releasing limited edition runs, or last calls of its beloved muscle cars before the company switches to electric.

These vehicles celebrate the company's history and the history of the people who’ve driven them.

Dodge celebrates Willam Robinson

In 1965 William Robinson returned home to LA from the Vietnam war to find his city bubbling in violence and unrest following the Watts Riots spurred on by the brutal arrest of Marquette Frye as the city erupted into protests against police brutality, mistreatment, and racism.

Nicknamed “Big Willie,” this six-foot-six-inch tall Black man took to the streets of LA with his car to race and to bring everyone, no matter their background or gang affiliation (Crips, Bloods, Mexican Mafia, Asian gangs, Nazis, Skinheads, college, and high school kids) together.

According to

Motortrend,

he had a signature style, wearing his army uniform and beret (he was a green beret in Vietnam) to his races, and after a few races put out a call to bring people together for their love of cars and racing in the hopes of ending the fighting.

He passed away in May of 2012 and was remembered by friends for saying:

“Drop your guns, knives, and fists, and settle with your wheels…All gang members are welcome. The designated area would be where we keep the peace; nobody fights, we stop the violence, and we stop hurting each other.' We just come together for the love of cars."

Opposing gangs did show up and races were held every Sunday with attendance rising, becoming an organization that brought parts of the city together into a community, a time when no fighting could happen because they were too busy racing.

“I think he’d be the first to tell you how many riots he stopped. How many times he knew both sides and said, ‘Guys, let’s go to IHOP instead,’” Los Angeles Police Commission President Steve Soboroff said for a

Los Angeles Times

article.

Eventually, he tried to move them off the streets and onto tracks with fellow racer Tomiko, who he married in the late ‘60s to keep the racers safe. His own car of choice? He drove a 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona in Hemi Orange that he customized and called the “King Daytona.”

Sadly the King Daytona has since been destroyed, and out of all of William Robinson’s Daytonas, the only one that still exists is a 1969 Dodge Charger called the “Duke and Duchess Daytona” which was auctioned for over $200,000.

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Dodge’s King Daytona, honoring the original

William Robinson’s orange 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona ran on a Hemi V-8, and the last call Dodge King Daytona honors the original by being Go Mango with a powerful 807 horsepower Hemi V-8 in the body of a Dodge 2023 Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye Widebody.

This modern twist loses some parts of the original, like a teardrop design, but the upgrades can’t be looked down upon. With black and orange all over, this supercharged muscle car is ready to race safely on a track.

The wheels are 20x11 warp speed wheels with orange 6-piston Brembo breaks you can see behind the satin carbon. Add in the Satin black rear fender decals, hood, roof, and rear spoiler; it looks the part.

The interior is upgraded with the well-loved Alcantara fabric, a synthetic material mix of microfibers, polyester, and polyurethane for a luxurious texture. The seats use this, black Nappa, and pull that orange in for the stitching that matches the steering wheel and doors.

The King Daytona will be available in a limited run of 300 vehicles from Dodge and while exact pricing is unknown.

Sales will open later in the fall and it’s expected, according to

Car and Driver,

to be more than $90,000, which is how much the regular Dodge Charger Hellcat Redeye currently goes for.

MORE: How Are States Trying to Stop Drivers From Street Racing?

Keeping yourself and your vehicle safe

As much good as can be found in the drag racing scene of the ‘60s and ‘70s in LA, a lot of danger arose too. This is why driving safely and sticking to racing on specific tracks with all the proper safety features is a must.

No one wants to get injured while racing and no one wants to see the car they put time, energy, and love into getting totaled. Let alone being unable to afford to replace it. Car insurance doesn’t cover racing, but it will cover your vehicle or the other vehicle in accidents.

As for you and your passenger's medical insurance add-ons, depending on where you live, like MedPay and PIP, can help with any injuries you and your passengers or those in the other car sustain while on the road.

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