In traditional English pubs, the landlord would call out "last call!" to encourage stragglers to get their final drinks and head home. Customers knew the landlord was serious and would not reconsider, and there was an air of finality for those late-night revelers. So, you could forgive performance car buyers if they believed the same kind of message coming out of Dodge HQ. The company would produce some special versions of its vaunted muscle cars to bring an end to that chapter. Dodge would frame the 2023 Challenger and Charger as the final Hemi-powered versions, and it would also build seven Last Call special edition models to punctuate the message. But as it turns out, that specific call may not have been the “last” one, and the story looks more nuanced. With Dodge apparently reversing its muscle car retirement story and bringing a new Charger Hellcat back, what does that mean for the Last Call used car marketplace? The Last Call Message Was Powerful Because It Sounded Final Stellantis!!!MODEL TAG!!! Listing Carousel 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170https://carbuzz.com/cars/dodge/challenger-srt-demon-170/2023/When Dodge decided to bring the curtain down on its previous-generation Challenger and Charger, it wanted to do so with style. It recognized those cars had survived long after others in the muscle car segment had disappeared, so its Last Call campaign would represent a clear emotional proposition. For brand enthusiasts, it was time to move on from this particular type of Dodge muscle car, with all its big-displacement attitude, rear-wheel-drive theater, and Hemi aggression.All 2023 Challenger and Charger models would now get a commemorative Last Call under-hood plaque, and Dodge would create seven special-edition models so enthusiasts could really go to town. The seven special-edition models included Challenger Shakedown, Charger Super Bee, Challenger Scat Pack Swinger, Charger King Daytona, Charger Scat Pack Swinger, Challenger Black Ghost, and Challenger SRT Demon 170. The Demon 170 probably sits above the rest as the craziest and most technically significant vehicle. The others are heritage-themed Scat Pack models, and a few are Hellcat Redeye-based collector pieces. Dodge Had Already Changed The Meaning Of "One Time" Before Stellantis Seasoned enthusiasts may have thought twice about Last Call and the meaning of finality. After all, Dodge had already proposed a Demon special edition before, in the shape of the 2018 Challenger SRT Demon. Dodge said that this would be limited production and a one-model-year drag car, and it would only produce 3,300 units across the US and Canada. The Demon would have an 808-hp engine, a lot of track-focused equipment, and there was clearly an air of finality about it.However, another Demon in the shape of the SRT Demon 170 appeared in 2023. This would be a newer and more extreme final-year model with the company reframing its Demon idea, further expanding the mythology rather than shrinking away from it. Dodge was now offering a car with 1,025 hp and 945 lb-ft of torque when running on high-ethanol fuel, and while the original Demon was still special, it certainly wasn't the last word in that particular chapter.Perhaps the Demon story gives an insight into a manufacturer's thinking and how it’s tough to step away entirely from an emotional performance theme. An OEM may keep its original production promise from a big-picture point of view but still resurrect the formula in another form. And that can make a final edition claim somewhat weaker unless it refers to a very specific configuration, platform, or documented production run. The Hellcat's Return Hurts Speculators More Than The Cars Dodge As the Last Call frenzy reached its peak, many enthusiasts snapped up what they considered to be the really special final-year Hellcats, Redeyes, and Jailbreaks. You could forgive them for thinking that no new factory Hellcat-powered vehicle would emerge again, but time told a different story. The 2026 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat has survived, with its 710-horsepower supercharged 6.2-liter Hemi V8. And Stellantis has revived the SRT structure to provide a new performance identity for Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram.The 2027 Ram 1500 TRX SRT will now have supercharged Hemi power, reviving that story with 777 hp and 680 lb-ft of torque under the hood. Rumors suggest that a new Charger Hellcat is also on the cards, with more than 700 hp on tap for enthusiasts.For many enthusiasts, the reappearance of the Hellcat is something to behold, unless, that is, they'd bought one of the supposed final-edition versions with appreciation in mind. In this case, some Hellcat and Scat Pack models may be exposed. Those that don’t have special color or option combinations or that may now have accumulated mileage may be in trouble. A Last Call plaque may not suggest that each 2023 Challenger or Charger is a blue-chip collectible either, and while the market may not entirely collapse for these vehicles, prices may start to soften. After all, the return of the Hellcat now gives buyers more options to think about. The Strongest Last Call Values Still Have Their Own Stories Collecting Cars Some Last Call models can rely on more than just the engine to make their case. For example, the Demon 170 was the final Challenger halo car and the seventh and final Last Call special edition. It was also the first factory muscle car to run a quarter mile in under nine seconds, certified by the NHRA as 8.91 seconds at 151.17 mph. This vehicle went on sale for $96,666 before destination and fees, and, according to current market data, it may still be trading well above its original MSRP. For example, one vehicle sold at auction in the late summer of 2025 for $138,500.Other models may also be standing their ground, such as the Challenger Black Ghost. Dodge only made 300 examples of this car, with a story tied to one of the most famous Detroit street racing legends. But while the Charger King Daytona also carries a drag racing heritage story, it may be starting to soften. One car, with only 2,900 miles on the clock, recently sold for $78,700 at auction against a window sticker north of $102,000. The Real Question Is What Buyers Thought They Were Buying Mecum The return of the Hellcat starts to ask a sharp question for buyers. Did they expect their vehicle to be the actual last chapter of a specific muscle car generation? Or were they spending good cash to get a last supercharged Dodge V8? Dodge was certainly bringing an end to the old Challenger and Charger on the Brampton-built platform, and it has not exactly reneged on its promise not to offer the most extreme factory drag packages to consumers. But if the value case for a buyer centered around the idea that no new Hellcat-powered vehicle would come along again, that case is now weaker.In the near future, the Last Call market may well become more tiered, with the low-mileage Black Ghosts, King Daytonas, or Demon 170s at the top. Below that, Hellcats and Redeyes should still remain strong in the enthusiast market, but they may not be automatically collectible. Here, a lot may depend on the example’s condition, mileage, color, options, or price.The old Challenger and Charger story can still represent the final expression of the true analog Dodge muscle formula, but the returning Hellcat now gives drivers some fresh high-horsepower options. And while the rarest Last Call cars will still have a story to tell, the weaker listings may have to fight for ground. Some of the speculation may be fading when it comes to certain Last Call models, but the most significant additions should still have real collector appeal.Today, the King Daytona, Black Ghost, and Demon 170 have their own special stories, and the return of the Hellcat doesn't do much to erase that. Instead, it probably makes buyers more selective and gives them even more options, which could actually result in a healthier marketplace.