After all the predictions, A170, CF wheels, 1000+HP, endless names, E85, 8.899s and leaks, and hints of ALL kinds, Dodge has still given us next to nothing on:
1. How many 7 Cars will be made. The YouTube "influencers" have guessed but honestly, those guesses have not been backed with even the smallest bit of corporate backing with any of the teasers.
2. Ditto for HOW the car will be distributed.
Unfortunately, these two unknowns are THEE biggest issues out there and mum has been the universal word.
So how could this go from here?
Option 1:
If they make 300 and give them to the top sales dealerships (ala the Sticker Ghost and other cosmetic cars) the ADM will be ASTRONOMICAL in almost all cases. And that's assuming the dealership owners simply don't buy the cars and lock them under glass. Out of those 300, I'd bet 200 never get sold, 75 have adms ranging from 75K to 250K, 20 have ADMS between 5-70K and (maybe) 5 get sold at MSRP (at the rare as hen tooth MSRP-only dealerships with ownership that also resist buying the car outright for themselves).
The backlash from true Dodge fans and real-world customers would be swift and violent is my guess here.
Option #2:
Build 1000-1500 and direct allocate to customers (ala Viper days of yore). Possible and with precedent. ADMS would be eliminated. However, a ton of resentment will still be out there is my guess. How would Dodge decide who is "worthy"? See Ford GT for pissed-off customers. Perhaps this is better than Option 1, but still problematic.
Option #3
Make as many as the market will absorb. Probably can't avoid the dealer network if they choose this option to build 3, 5, 10K+ units. The good news would be that most dealerships could order one for you so better pricing could be had by shopping around. The problem I see here is Dodge likely couldn't deliver (literally) with the ironclad Hellcat end date of 12/31/23 repeated by Tim and others. It will soon be April and this car won't be a simple or quick model to produce given the likely complications (enclosed shipping, upfitters, crates, etc). See Demon (at a mere 3,312 units took 10+ months to roll out).
If pressed, my best guess is that a finite/fixed number will be built (1000-1500) with minimal customization allowed (ala the 1-6 sticker cars). I'm also thinking the top sales dealerships will get the cars (largely to keep them engaged for the ominous EV transition that's coming whether anyone likes it or not).
Perhaps the top 500 will get a shot, with variable allocations ranging between 1 and 5 (ala the Demon MO). As part of this announcement though I think Dodge will also do their best to appease the masses by promising a Direct Connection option (with all the Car 7 goodies available ala carte/dim sum) to all the customers they can't or won't be able to promise a car to.
None of this will make everyone happy. And I bet the brass at Dodge have different ideas on how to best move forward. Either way, in less than 24h we will all find out exactly how they plan to proceed.