» Engine: 5.7-liter V-8 Hemi
» Horsepower: 340
» Wheels: 24-inch Miror mr18 with Lexani 275/25/24 tires
» Paint: Two-tone cool vanilla (bottom) and silver metallic (top) with orange pinstripe
» Performance: AEM Brute Force cold air intake, Airaid throttle body spacer, Corsa x-pipe and cat back exhaust system, Superchips programmer, Eibach lowering kit with sway bars
» Exterior: Window tint, custom taillights with LEDs, SRT8 hood and bumper, Anzo halo projector headlamps with HIDs
» Interior: Dash panels painted to match exterior
Michael Whisman has lived his life behind the steering wheel. In one form or another, from driving to wiring a car with neon lights to installing car stereos or tinting factory glass, Whisman has found himself around high-profile vehicles.
Following in the footsteps of his older brother Glenn, who opened an automotive performance shop, the younger Whisman adopted his brother’s love for the business and soon began specializing in window tinting. While the elder Whisman has moved on to pursue other interests, the younger Whisman continues doing the only job he knows how: turning cars into dream vehicles.
But without his own ride, something to back up the quality of his own work, Whisman would be guilty of not practicing what he preaches. So in August 2006, when he was in the market for a new car, his older brother passed him the keys to a 2006 Dodge Charger for a test drive. Whisman was instantly hooked. He called up the dealership and drove one off the lot and directly to his brother’s performance shop. There at the shop were waiting four 22-inch aftermarket wheels. After the wheel and tire installation, Whisman went right to tinting the windows and finished off that same night with an HID headlight conversion.
After Whisman showed off the car to a friend who specializes in custom car painting, he persuaded him to part with the vehicle. The only stipulation was that if the colors did not meet his standards, the car would need to be repainted. The end result was cool vanilla with silver metallic striped in orange.
With most of the cosmetic work complete, Whisman moved to improve performance and handling. The addition of Eibach lowering springs created better ground control and helped the 24-inch wheels fill out the wheel wells. A sway bar was added to prevent body flexing, while the exhaust system was pieced together with an Airaid throttle spacer, and Corsa x-pipe and cat back. An AEM cold air intake also helped cool the airflow into the engine.
After a few years, Whisman grew tired of the car’s look and decided an update was in order. Further body redesign was made possible by the installation of a new SRT8 front clip and Anzo projector front headlamps. The wheels were also ditched in favor of larger 24-inch Miror mr18 wheels with Lexani tires. If the past is any indication of the future, Whisman will not stay happy with the look for long and will be on to the next project.
What do you drive? A 2006 Dodge Charger R/T.
Why do you drive it? I love the performance and the body style.
What makes this vehicle so special? The paint scheme.
What is your most memorable driving experience? Putting the pedal to the floor doing 155 mph.
What was the first car you owned? A 1986 Ford Escort four-door hatch.
What music are you currently listening to in your vehicle? Lil Wayne — “No Ceilings.”
And your first ticket? What was it for? Speeding 98 mph in a 55 mph zone.
