The Black Ghost is one specific car: Godfrey Qualls’s black 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T Special Edition, equipped with a 426 Hemi and a four-speed manual. Its VIN and configuration are recorded in the National Historic Vehicle Register. Its street-racing legend, by contrast, comes from family and local recollections rather than a verified race-by-race record. The car sold at auction in 2023 for $975,000 before buyer’s fees.
What is the Black Ghost Dodge Challenger?
It is the nickname for a surviving 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T Special Edition associated with Detroit police officer and military veteran Godfrey Qualls. The National Historic Vehicle Register identifies the car by VIN JS29-R0B-193217 and describes it as a black two-door hardtop with a 426-cubic-inch Hemi. The register says the original engine is present and lists 45,847 miles; that is the registry’s figure, not a verified current odometer reading. National Historic Vehicle Register vehicle record.
What made the 1970 car distinctive?
Rare Hemi and four-speed combination
Dodge says the Black Ghost was one of 23 1970 Challenger R/T Special Edition models built with both the 426 Hemi and a four-speed manual transmission. That production figure refers to cars with that combination, not all 1970 Challengers or all R/T SEs. Dodge’s Black Ghost feature.
Black finish and SE details
The registry describes the car’s black finish, white rear “bumble bee” stripe and Gator Grain vinyl roof. Together with the Hemi and manual gearbox, those details distinguish the historic vehicle from modern tributes carrying the Black Ghost name.
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How did the Black Ghost get its name?
According to Dodge’s account, Qualls brought the car to Detroit-area racing spots beginning in 1970, beat challengers, then disappeared for weeks or months. Local racers called it the Black Ghost. The story explains the nickname, but it should be understood as attributed history: the available accounts do not provide a verified ledger of individual races or a named direct witness’s testimony. Dodge’s account of the car and Qualls.
Hagerty reports that Qualls ordered the car new from Raynal Brothers Dodge and took delivery on December 5, 1969; Dodge gives the same delivery date. Those sources document the purchase story, while the racing episodes are conveyed through recollections. Hagerty’s 2023 provenance and auction-preview article.
Rank #2
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Why did the car disappear from Detroit’s street-racing scene?
Dodge’s feature uses 1975 as the turning point in its account, but the sources do not establish a fully documented, first-person explanation from Qualls. Dodge says Qualls never discussed his racing years with his son Gregory, so Gregory’s understanding of the car’s history came from family and family friends: “Godfrey never talked to his son about his years of racing, so everything that Gregory knows of The Black Ghost’s history comes from family and friends of the family.” Dodge’s feature.
Gregory eventually brought the car out of storage and shared its story. That family connection helps explain how the car re-emerged, but it does not turn every detail of the street-racing legend into independently verified fact.
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Rank #3
- 24049/4D Showcasts - 2013 Dodge Challenger SRT Hard Top
- 1:24 scale diecast collectible model car
- This Dodge Challenger is a 7.5"L x 3"W x 2.25"H diecast metal car
- Free wheeling, openable doors & hood
- 1 car, no box
What recognition did the car receive?
Dodge lists three honors: the Muscle Car & Corvette Nationals Celebrity Pick Award in 2017, the National Automotive Heritage Award at Carlisle in 2018, and the Spirit of Detroit Award in 2021. These recognitions helped bring attention to the car before its high-profile auction. Dodge’s awards list.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What happened to the Black Ghost at auction?
The car sold at Mecum’s Indianapolis auction in May 2023. Car and Driver reported a hammer price of $975,000, or $1,072,500 including buyer’s fees. Those are historical sale figures, not a present-day appraisal or estimate. The sources cited here do not establish the buyer’s identity or the car’s current location and display status. Car and Driver’s 2023 auction report.
Rank #4
- Recommended for 14+ years and up, not recommended for play
- Replica of 2016 Dodge Challenger R-T Hemi Car with free rolling wheel and display case
- Part of Greenlight's Black Bandit Collection Series #30
- Diecast body with rubber wheels, some plastic parts
- Approximate dimensions: 3in L x 1in W x 1in H
How is the 2023 Black Ghost different from the original?
Dodge produced 300 2023 Challenger Black Ghost Last Call editions as a tribute. They are modern cars, separate from Qualls’s identifiable 1970 vehicle and its documented history. The original is the VIN-recorded classic; the Last Call cars are commemorative editions. Dodge’s Black Ghost feature.
There is also a separate collectible: GreenLight’s catalog lists item 13614, a 1:18 die-cast 1970 Dodge Challenger RT 426 HEMI “The Black Ghost.” A catalog entry does not confirm present availability. GreenLight catalog.
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