AUBURN HILLS, Michigan - With 2009 Dodge Challenger production finally underway, the Red Letter Dodge blog is reporting that about 500 of the highly anticipated vehicles are being delivered 'across North America.'

'We can say that two SEs have already been delivered to buyers, and both were in Ohio,' wrote Mark Mallie, Dodge Challenger marketing manager, in a recent posting. 'You're the first on the block, the state and the nation.'

However, angry bloggers continue to post comments on Red Letter Dodge, griping about agonizingly slow deliveries of the retro muscle car and steep mark-ups.

'Some of us have been waiting for a Challenger SRT since December of '07,' one wrote. 'Only to have our deals/deposits canceled by the dealerships when the cars arrived on their lots — so they could mark them up by $20K over MSRP. Haven't we all waited long enough?'

In the meantime, Chrysler announced on Tuesday that the Dodge Challenger would have a prominent role in the Woodward Dream Cruise on August 16. The company said its Dream Cruise display in Royal Oak, Michigan, will feature the Challenger, including Mopar's new drag-race version.