From 1964 until 1999, this one-of-a-kind concept car changed hands a number of times.

As the end of the millennium neared, renowned collector-car enthusiast Joe Bortz acquired the Hemi Charger. He set about restoring the car not to its original show condition but to the form intended by the designers.

Bortz located one of the original 15 426 Hemi racing engines with a vintage Holley four-barrel carb to power the Hemi Charger. In 600-horsepower form, the engine is mated to a Torqueflite three-speed automatic, just as originally intended.

Bortz completed a rotisserie restoration on the car, repairing the vehicle or finding such period-correct NOS parts as the rare Halibrand alloy wheels. The Hemi Charger was now a real driver with real performance and durability not originally built into the early 426 Hemi engines.

In 2007, Bortz' Hemi Charger crossed the block at Monterey Sports and Classic Car Auction. With an expected price in the $1.5-$2.0-million range, it was a bit of a disappointment when the car finally sold for a "mere" $1.1 million.

Only two and a half years later, the same car emerges at another RM Auction. This time, it goes on the block at the Automobiles of Arizona auction in Phoenix in January.

Has the market now warmed up enough for the $2-million potential to be realized?

Color photos used here are courtesy of shooterz.biz via RM Auctions. The historic black-and-white images are courtesy of the National Automotive Historic Center of the Detroit Public Library. For additional photographs, visit the Automotive Traveler Image Gallery.