Yup - a narrative, with all the contemporary buttons: Black guy, Veteran, sneaky-fun late-night activity, deathbed vow, and for Stellantis, a Hemi Mopar they can milk to move some new cars.
Throw in some internal-combustion nostalgia when we're having EVs rammed up our backsides, for the icing on the cake.
I'm thinking the whole story is cloaked in vague secrecy because it's a story that got expanded & hyped based on a couple of minor activities.
Of course Mecum's gonna milk it for max effect: it's butts in the seats, hype for their business, and a % of the proceeds.