This Dodge Challenger belonged to a police officer who went street racing

We’ve heard many special car stories, but this one could easily be made into a movie. The Dodge Hemi Challenger R/T SE pictured is a 1970 and will go under the hammer at Mecum Auctions this May. In any case, the story that the Dodge Challenger carries will help to raise the highest bid.

The Dodge Challenger is called the ‘Black Ghost’. The car was in the garage of a man named Godfrey Qualls. He fought in the 82nd Airborne Division of the United States Air Force in the 1960s. For his services he was awarded the Purple Heart, a ribbon for those wounded or killed in the United States military.

Qualls became a soldier, but only during the day

After his time in the military, Qualls joined the Detroit police force, but he had no intention of living under the law entirely. At night, the cop (secretly, of course) took his Dodge Challenger on a street race across the city. And he succeeded too.

After the race, Qualls always seemed to quickly disappear into the darkness – and thus the nickname was born. You understand that as an agent you should not talk for too long. Soon you will be recognized by your partner. Apparently Qualls didn’t tell anyone about his night’s adventures, not even his son.

For example, the officer took part in a race on Woodward Avenue, the main thoroughfare of Detroit. And on Telegraph Road where Dire Straits would make a 14 minute song about. The Black Ghost appeared frequently at first until 1975 when he was no longer seen. Apparently Qualls thought it was cool.

His son eventually learned through others that his father was a street racer. It was until 2014 that Godfrey showed his son Gregory his Challenger and a year later he gave the car to his son. Godfrey would die a few days later. A special story for all sides, then.