The Rodger Dodger is an iconic Hot Wheels model, based on a modified ’73 Dodge Charger SE with a prominent blown V8 engine protruding from the hood. It is one of many variations on the Bye-Focal design and has become one of the most popular Hot Wheels cars ever, alongside the Twin Mill and Bone Shaker.
The early 1974 version featured a metal base, capped redline wheels on the rear only, and was finished in Plum Crazy enamel paint with flame tampos. Interestingly, the Rodger Dodger reused the same base as the 1973 model called "Show-Off," and on some models, you can spot the original "Show-Off" name faintly visible through the deletion plate.
Rare versions of the 1974 Rodger Dodger include a white interior variation and a blue variation. Fans of video games can drive the Rodger Dodger in titles like Hot Wheels World Race, Stunt Track Challenge, Track Attack, and Unleashed.
Mattel first retooled the Rodger Dodger in 1998, producing a model almost identical to the original. In 2015, the car underwent another retooling, which significantly altered the design. This version features an engine, interior, and side pipes made from a single plastic piece, with exhaust pipes now emerging from under the front quarter panels.