A custom-built Dodge Charger Hellcat with a manual transmission and 850 horsepower breaks boundaries, thanks to movie car builder Dennis McCarthy.
Dodge may have never built a manual transmission Charger SRT Hellcat, but that didn’t stop one dedicated enthusiast from making it happen. Hollywood car guru Dennis McCarthy, known for crafting iconic movie vehicles in franchises like Fast & Furious and Transformers, has transformed a Charger Hellcat into the only manual version in existence—and it’s an absolute beast.
McCarthy and his Vehicle Effects team took on the challenge of creating what Dodge never did, installing a fully functional manual transmission into the Hellcat while ensuring it looked and operated as if it came straight from the factory. The attention to detail is impeccable, making the manual swap appear completely natural inside the supercharged muscle sedan.
But McCarthy didn’t stop at just adding a stick shift. The supercharged 6.2-liter V8 was upgraded with larger fuel injectors, a pulley kit, and a custom tune, boosting the Hellcat’s output to a staggering 850 horsepower—far beyond the factory-rated 717 hp. The result? A brutally fast yet smooth driving experience that retains stability even under aggressive acceleration.
The build recently hit the road, with Shawn Davis of Autopia LA taking it for a test drive. According to Davis, the car delivers ferocious low-end torque but isn’t as violent as expected. With just 4,500 RPM in first gear, the car was already sprinting, showcasing the efficiency of the manual transmission in harnessing the Hellcat’s power.
For enthusiasts who have long dreamed of a stick-shift Hellcat, this build proves that with enough skill and dedication, anything is possible. While Dodge never made it happen, Dennis McCarthy’s manual Hellcat is now a legend in its own right—and the envy of muscle car purists everywhere.
