(Enlarge photo)

Dodge has taken more than
9,000 orders for its new top-line
Challenger in the past 30 days.
(Photo courtesy of Chrysler LLC)

AUBURN HILLS, Michigan — Chrysler told Inside Line on Thursday that it has taken more than 9,000 orders for the 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 in a single month. The order cutoff, which had been anticipated at the end of December, has not yet happened.

"There is still no decision (on an order cutoff)," said Kathy Graham, Dodge Challenger public relations specialist. "We still are working on the total number of units that will be built. We're really happy that people want the car. We'll sell as many as we can build."

Graham describes the new Challenger as a "future collectible."

Chrysler has still not put a firm number on how many Challengers Dodge will build in 2008. In December, Graham told Inside Line that it "will be less than 10,000." The pace of orders for the Challenger has slowed, however. Dodge dealers accepted more than 7,000 orders for the retro muscle car from December 3-10.

Graham also said that Dodge will release more information next week about the No. 1 production 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 that is set to go up for auction on January 19 at the Barrett-Jackson auction. The production version of the 2009 Challenger makes its worldwide debut on February 6 at the 2008 Chicago Auto Show.

Dodge has priced the Challenger SRT8 at $37,995, including a $675 destination fee. However, real-world pricing is said to be double that for some buyers.

What this means to you: If we're reading the tea leaves correctly, time seems to be running out for you to get your hands on the 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent