LINCOLN CITY — About 30 Dodge muscle cars in bumper-to-bumper formation thundered across the Siletz River bridge like an outlaw army Saturday, headed north on an overnight run to Seaside.

While some came to dodge the heat, these weren’t hoods looking for trouble as they took over the parking lot of Squatchsami, a “comfort food” restaurant at 6042 S. Hwy. 101 (across from the Pelican Brewery and Restaurant).

Exiting the low-slung cars with stretches and grunts of relief, they were mostly middle-aged members of the Oregon-based car club “Toxic Mopar,” a 2,200-strong fraternity of Dodge Charger and Challenger aficionados who raise money for good causes, drive in hometown parades and enjoy the uniquely-American fraternity of gasoline and big engines.

“We’re on our first overnighter of the season,” said the club whip, whose wife scheduled all the room reservations and stops, including this one at the restaurant of a club member’s sister. “People wanted to get out of the valley heat and Highway 101 is about the most beautiful road in America.”

It’s also one of the most prosperous, feeding straight in to the Oregon coast’s $1 billion tourist industry. According to state researchers, the average tourist spends $150 to $200 per day on a trip to the beach, including $50 to $100 for dining out. Toxic Mopar looks more like a Brinks truck to coast businesses that have been on winter rations.

“We spend freely and love to support the local economy,” grinned the club officer as he leaned into a basket of fish and chips.

Following a rendezvous in Waldport, the cavalcade of customized iron headed north in a rainbow of racing colors that turned some drivers green with envy. Every few minutes a would-be hotrodder would spot the caravan and rev his engine defiantly or lay a patch of rubber.

“Guy did that not too long ago and his back-end fell out,” remarked a laconic club member. “They’re jealous.”

What’s this Dodge car craze all about? Simply put, the sleek, beautiful design, powerful engines and boundary-pushing performance of both models. Icons of the muscle car movement, the Charger was introduced in 1966; the Challenger followed in 1970. As club members peered under opened hoods the small talk was of gaskets, superchargers, best mods and history.

“They’re both hot cars, but the Charger is a four-door and sort of a sporty family car with more rear-seat space,” said my guide, who claimed as many as 267 cars have mustered for a club run. “The Challenger is real muscle car performance and speed, and looks the part. Very aggressive.”

Both types are popular on the used-car market, where late vehicles can be easily located at Power Dodge in Newport (powerautogroup.com), which has several examples including a 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T in racing stripe, just 30,000 miles, for $22,990. A sleek and sexy Dodge Charger SXT can be found on the same lot for $16,990. Call Gabe at Power, (541) 283-0973, for details or more inventory.

On a father-daughter outing in their enhanced 2018 Dodge Charger “Scat Pack,” Daniel and Wynter ate lunch together in their domesticated hot rod.

“This is our family,” said Daniel, the hurt from a recent divorce curbed by time with his girl. “We stopped in Beverly Beach and we’ll take a tour of the Tillamook Cheese Factory. It’s great to be with these people and just chill.”