He evaded the police because he was the police.
His name was Godfrey Qualls.
He was an army veteran and Detroit police officer.
He was also a Detroit Metro street racer behind the wheel of a 426-powered 1970 Hemi Challenger RT/SE.
It was one of only 23 produced in 1970 with a four-speed manual transmission.
The car became an urban legend in the Detroit street racing scene by taking the upper hand over its competition and disappearing into thin air after a race, becoming known as the ‘Black Ghost’ for its behaviour.
Being a cop and all, Qualls wasn’t hanging around to be identified by the street racing community or caught out by his peers.
He would lay low for weeks or months at a time, only to re-emerge to repeat the winning cycle, maintaining his anonymity among his contenders.
Qualls died in 2015 leaving the completely unrestored car to his son, who sold it original at auction last year for $1,072,500.
In the same year — 2023 — Dodge built 300 tribute models.
One of those currently shines on the showroom floor at the Museum of Vehicle Evolution.
The 2023 Dodge Challenger Black Ghost is a 6.2-litre supercharged V8 with 807 horsepower and 707 lb/ft of torque.
This one has less than 400km on the clock.
Some things that set this Challenger apart include the distinctive ‘gator grain’ roof vinyl that mimics an alligator’s skin pattern, a bright Dodge fascia badge and white rear fender graphics.
It has Challenger script badges on the grille, fender and spoiler, with a Midnight Metallic SRT grille badge as well.
To add to its appeal, it has a black six-piston Brembo brake system and 20 x 11-inch satin carbon warp speed wheels.
Inside are luxurious leather seats and door bolsters, an Alcantara steering wheel adorned with a red SRT logo and a plush Dinamica suede headliner.
The dash has stunning genuine carbon fibre bezels surrounding its instruments.
It’s a mix of class, power and rebellion with a juicy story behind its inception.
And it’s only on display at MOVE for a limited time.