Stellantis workers carry quick and enjoyable automobiles to indicate at headquarters

• Stellantis hosted its 14th “Wild Wheels at Work” occasion on the automaker’s Auburn Hills headquarters.
• More than 300 automobiles, pushed and owned by Stellantis workers, had been on show.

Shivering your self to sleep within the bed room you share along with your total household and cruising down the freeway in a 650-horsepower C6 Corvette ZO6 may evoke two completely different emotions.

Jackson Simcina is aware of them each.

Simcina’s burnt orange, naturally aspirated speedster was certainly one of greater than 300 automobiles on show on the Chrysler World Headquarters and Technology Center on Tuesday, July 22, for the 14th annual “Wild Wheels at Work.” The occasion is hosted yearly and is a second for the workers at Stellantis’ headquarters to indicate off the automobiles they tinker on — outdoors of labor.

Simcina, who works in Stellantis’ robotics division, introduced his venture automobile to his administrative center for the annual celebration. His Corvette, tuned up by Lingenfelter Performance Engineering, stood out as one of some non-Stellantis choices on show, however Simcina credited his job at Stellantis for affording him the flexibility to purchase and tune up his dream automobile.

“I came from Romeo, and when we grew up, the house had poor heat. We would all sleep in the same bedroom … to keep the heat in,” Simcina mentioned. At Stellantis, the place he has labored for the final eight years, Simcina mentioned he put within the additional time hours at work to afford the car.

“You don’t really realize how fortunate you are sometimes to go, ‘Huh, I can do something like this,’ ” Simcina mentioned, gesturing towards his automobile.

Even although he drives a Chevrolet, Simcina mentioned he is pushed a variety of Stellantis merchandise, too. His grandfather was additionally an worker of Stellantis, again when it was known as Chrysler, and he labored on the engineering staff that helped develop the Dodge Viper.

Not quick, however a traditional

While Simcina’s car tells a household story, Chris Corredera introduced a car that’s actually household oriented.

Corredera’s 1990 Jeep Grand Wagoneer — sure, the one with the wooden panelling — is way slower than Simcina’s Corvette, however simply as cool.

“It was a Southern car down in Atlanta for a dentist,” Corredera mentioned. “I’m the third owner. I picked it up from a guy who would trailer it up North.”

Corredera, who works in provider high quality for Mopar, has touched the automobile up a bit: He’s added a touchscreen info system, a cellphone charger hookup, new audio system and he even redid the motor. But on the surface, the woody has all of the nicks and scratches you’d count on on a dentist’s 35-year-old trip automobile.

To Corredera, the objective is to not impress with excessive horsepower or flashy colours; it is about being completely different.

“I like to see cool and unique stuff,” Corredera mentioned. “I’ll typically be one-of-one at a car show.”

Never an excessive amount of horsepower

At the Stellantis worker automobile present, Giovanni Costa’s Dodge Hellcat was certainly one of many.

But his was a bit completely different.

Costa’s 2023 Hellcat Challenger Jailbreak modded by Hennessy with 1,100 horsepower could appear to be overkill to some individuals, however Costa is a proud Mopar proprietor who likes the problem his automobile offers him. Burning by way of tires at a speedy fee, it takes lots to deal with a muscle automobile of this a lot energy on a weekly foundation.

“I thought it was a Red Eye, but it wasn’t. It was a jailbreak. And I said I’m going to make it even better than a Red Eye, so I brought it down to John Hennessey in Texas,” Costa mentioned.

Hennessey Performance gave the automobile a complete rework beneath the hood, elevating the horsepower from 717 all the way in which to 1,100.

Costa mentioned he makes use of the automobile to honor his spouse who handed away two years in the past, by inserting the license plate from her first car on his Challenger. 

Making her dream automobile a actuality 

One of one of the best emotions of being a automobile fanatic is lastly acquiring your dream automobile. Kelly Slazinski made her dream a actuality when she purchased a 1965 Volkswagen Beetle and has been driving it faithfully.

Slazinski’s bug nonetheless has its authentic paint (which is fading) and a barely up to date engine from a 1968 Beetle. The odometer has rolled over so many instances that she is not sure what number of miles the automobile has, however she simply retains on driving. If there are any points with the car, Slazinski mentioned she is going to do a lot of the upkeep herself in her storage. 

When requested her favourite factor in regards to the automobile, she mentioned, “I’ve always wanted a Volkswagen and it helps that it’s lowered and has the patina and it’s gorgeous.”

A piece truck with the soul of a sports activities automobile

Before the Ram TRX — Ram’s hallmark efficiency truck — there was the SRT-10.

Back in 2004, Dodge was loopy sufficient to place the V10 engine from a Dodge Viper right into a pickup truck. To Charles Smith, it turned an icon.

Smith raved about his truck on the automobile present, and the way the engine and six-speed handbook transmission present the sound and really feel of the Viper within the type of a truck.

Smith mentioned his want is that Stellantis would carry again the Viper in some capability to compete with the Chevrolet Corvette and Ford GT.

“The Corvette and the Ford GT are mid-engine,” Smith mentioned. “I think the next Viper should be mid-engine too.”

Contact Keenan Thompson: kthompson@freepress.com.

Contact Liam Rappleye: LRappleye@freepress.com.