Born: 1966 Died: 1974The car nameplate that was to become the icon of the American 'muscle car' era actually started life as a potential turbine-powered vehicle, using advanced Dodge technology.
But the project was shelved, and the coupé body was given over for a new model, powered by conventional engines. Based on the brand's Coronet model, the Charger had a fastback roofline and retractable headlights. From the rear it was unmistakeable, as the name 'Charger' was detailed in black lettering right across the full-width tail-light complex. The interior featured four bucket seats, the rear two folding down to give a load space seven feet long, so apart from being sporty the car was quite practical.
The driver also felt he was in a sports model, with the instruments in four deep pods, and the shifter for both the 3-speed manual and 3-speed automatic set in a console between the front seats. The base engine was a 318 cu in V8 with around 170hp on tap, and more powerful versions of larger capacity were also available.
Halfway through the first year came the engine option that was to become a legend for Dodge, the 426 'hemi'. During the 1966 season, Chargers had done well in the US NASCAR racing season, and won the manufacturer's championship. But such success didn't translate into sales, and the car sold poorly in 1966, and very poorly in 1967.
So a major restyling was instituted for 1968, using the 'coke-bottle' shape that was to become a muscle car theme. The new version was longer and lower, and had an extended bonnet, while the semi-fastback rear style had an integral small spoiler lip on the rear deck. Up front, the headlights were hidden behind 'doors' in the grille, which slid out of the way when the lights were switched on.
The base engine remained the 318, but an R/T version (for Road and Track) came with the 440 Magnum engine, heavy duty suspension, and what was to become another iconic detail: bumblebee stripes around the rear end. Dodge also got into the safety theme game, and among safety features were soft door openers, foam in the seatbacks to help rear passengers in a crash, and doors that wouldn't fall out in an impact. Seatbelts were an option. Another option was a vinyl roof skin, which took off amazingly, with three-quarters of all cars sold in 1968 being so topped. Sales improved dramatically, to almost three times the company's projections of 35,000 units, though those ordered with the hemi engine were a very small proportion of the total. Nevertheless, the interest in the car - which represented one in every six Dodge cars sold in 1968 - prompted Dodge to a rare thing in US automotive practice. The company made only minuscule style changes for model years 1969 and 1970, mainly to the grilles.
In 1969, though, a special edition Charger 500 was produced, the number representing the total of copies built, to homologate the car for NASCAR racing. It was powered by the 426 hemi engine, and was also more aerodynamically efficient than the standard Charger, thanks to a flush-mounted rear window and other details.
Sales began to slip significantly in 1970, not least because sister brand Plymouth had its own copies of the Charger, and the Road Runner version had been taken to their hearts by the young entranced by speed. In 1971 came another restyle and an extension of model versions. But this was the last year of the really powerful Chargers, and from 1972 until the end of life of this generation in 1974, a much detuned 440 designated the Rallye was the top car, with 275hp available.