Produced during the total dominance of the Ford Mustang, the Dodge Charger managed not only to become a proper rival to the latter but also to win its bold place in the popular muscle car market.

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Many consider the greatest muscle car of all time to be the Ford Mustang. The fact is that when in 1964 it transformed into a more compact car, all competing manufacturers made their ultimate goal to defeat the Mustang. In many ways, these attempts failed, and the final result was nothing interesting. However, some forever imprinted their names on the “muscular” cars’ history. One of these, of course, was the Charger.  Interestingly, the most iconic and legendary was the 1969 release.

The origins

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In the late 1960s, the American auto industry was engulfed in a craze for fast, powerful, and affordable vehicles. Such cars began to be used as ordinary vehicles, mainly by youth striving to get a powerful, fast, and stylish vehicle to show off on a road. The story started with the release of the Pontiac GTO in 1964. This vehicle got tremendous popularity among US auto enthusiasts which forced other manufacturers to create similar models. Chrysler Corporation’s response was a redesigned 425 hp Hemi engine, called the Elephant, which was installed on the road versions of the Dodge (Dart and Coronet). But the brand’s masterpiece was the Charger model. 

In 1966, the model was introduced as the company’s new flagship vehicle. The headlights, which were closed by a movable radiator grille made a strong impression on buyers. The first models sold very well. However, the boom in the muscle car market led Dodge to think about restyling its flagship models. Under the direction of designer Richard Sias, a new stylish appearance of the second generation was developed.

The 1969 model year

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The style of the car in those days meant much more to the owner than it does now. That is why it was not possible to find a single plastic part in the car. Exceptionally metallic and chrome surfaces were the perfect solution for the design of that era. Launched for the first time in 1966, the Dodge Charger went through several changes for its fateful 1969 release. First of all, the 1969 model was marked by a new exterior. These changes included a new center split grille and new taillights by designer Harvey J. Winn. A new trim line called Special Edition (SE) was added and could be ordered separately. This Special Edition package also featured leather inserts on the front seats, chrome moldings, and wood inserts on the dashboard. It was the exterior that became the trump card of the 1969 Dodge Charger and lifted it to the top along with other eminent muscle cars. In 1969 alone, almost 90,000 cars were sold. Тechnical characteristics of the 1969 model were impressive. The entire line of this year’s release was equipped with exceptionally powerful engines. Buyers could choose a car with seven engine options. Among them, only one was a six-cylinder, with a volume of 3.7 liters, with a capacity of 225 hp. The rest were entirely V8, with volumes from 5.2 to 7 liters. The power range of the ’69 Dodge Charger ranged from 318 to 390 horsepower. Even with the “weaker” engine, the vehicle accelerated to hundreds in less than 9 seconds, and the maximum speed fluctuated around 200 km / h. Such dynamic characteristics, by the standards of the youth of those times, were more important than life itself. Another interesting fact is the nickname the model got. Due to its distinctive exterior, it was known as the “Coke Bottle”.

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Source: MotorTrend

An important moment in 1969 Dodge Charger’s biography was the release of a special Daytona version, created specially for the American national NASCAR races. Most road adaptations of this racing version received a huge 7.2-liter Chrysler V8 engine (375 hp). For NASCAR races, an engine with over 500 hp was prepared. As the car’s aerodynamic drag was reduced by about 20%, it developed an enormous top speed. At the Talladega Speedway in Alabama, it hit an impressive 320 km/h straight.

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The Charger had become one of the most popular vehicles of the 1960s thanks to its svelte, swoopy sheet metal atop midsize B-body underpinnings, as well as a range of trim levels and appealing engine choices, and Dodge was not ready to let it go until it had to.

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With the 1973 Chargers, Dodge had been on to something excellent for years and continued to keep to a successful formula. The Charger had become one of the most popular vehicles of the 1960s thanks to its svelte, swoopy sheet metal atop midsize B-body underpinnings, as well as a range of trim levels and appealing engine choices, and Dodge was not ready to let it go until it had to.

The highest trim level was the Special Edition “SE.” It had a plastic landau roof with three vertical “louver-like” windows that weren’t ideal for visibility but looked stylish.

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From the 1971 model year, the Chargers received a dramatic facelift, which lasted until 1974. New grilles and vertically slatted tail lamps were added to the 1973s.  The roofline was redesigned around the rear quarter windows to display four headlamps, and the Charger taillights now had 22 distinct bulbs. The SE was the highest trim level, with a landau top and three opera windows in the rear quarter. The basic Charger was available as a two-door coupe or two-door hardtop, and the SE was the top trim level with a landau top and three opera windows in the back quarter.

Despite fewer engine options and lower horsepower estimates, sales of the 1973 Dodge Charger increased by 63 percent over 1972. Even though the muscle car craze had passed, the feeling persisted, even though the basic engines were now the 105 horsepower slant-six and the 150 horsepower 318 V-8.

On its 115-inch wheelbase, the body remained intact, however, the grille was significantly updated with rubber blocks to meet with the first of the federal bumpers, which required cars to be able to sustain a 5-mph frontal hit and a 212-mph rear impact without damage

Refer to our website to view a previously sold 1973 Dodge Charger.

The Engine

For the model year, the Chargers received a new Torsion-Quiet Ride suspension configuration, and the front disc brakes were standard. A three-speed manual gearbox was also standard, but buyers could upgrade to a four-speed Hurst pistol-grip gear changer for a few more dollars.

The standard 225-cid slant six or the 150-hp 318 V-8 were available under the hood of the 1973 Chargers. Both the two-barrel and four-barrel models had the 400 as an option. Above it came the 440, which had 280 horsepower.

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Bucket seats were optional in the Chargers, although they were quite popular. The Charger Rallye package featured front and rear sway bars, a power bulging hood, a complete instrument cluster, body stripes, hood pins, and distinctive emblems, and was available on all versions. The 240 horsepower 340 cid V-8, 175 bhp 400 cid V-8, and 280 bhp 440 cid V-8 were among the larger engine choices.

Power steering, power drum brakes, or power disc brakes, tinted glass, windshield alone, vinyl roof, sunroof, air conditioning, two-tone paint, AM radio, AM/FM 8-track, wire wheel coverings, and Rallye wheels were also popular options.

The car was produced in Dark Silver, Powder Blue, Super Blue, Brite Blue, Dark Blue, Bright Red, Pale Green, Light Green, Dark Green, Bronze, Parchment, Turquoise, Dark Tan, Hemi Orange, Eggshell White, Black, Top Banana, Yellow, Light Gold, Gold, Dark Gold, Bahama Yellow, Orange, and Rally Green.

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The 1967 Dodge Charger is a prominent example of the Chrysler empire, produced in the heyday of the muscle car era – from the mid-60s to the early 70s.

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When the high exterior styling and performance intersect, a truly special vehicle is created. The Dodge Charger was one of those. In 1966, when a brand new design car came out, the motoring world grasped. The new model was a leap forward in the 1960s auto design and boldly did what other cars rarely did and muscle cars didn’t do at all – delivering stunning performance combined with exceptional luxury. Before this particular model, Chrysler’s vehicles were a little boring. They were fast, thanks to an impressive range of engines, but when it came to coolness, there was a lot to be desired. The newest sportscar solved this problem with a wave of a magic wand. Its roofline was the most radical of any mid-size car on the market, trim as chic as a Chrysler. Its name came from an English “warhorse”, which was immediately justified when the gas pedal was pressed. No wonder: it was produced for racing. 

Dodge was a special division built for stock car racing. When the model appeared in 1966, it was the first attempt by a major manufacturer to create a vehicle whose main feature was racing aerodynamics from bumper to bumper. The year was 1966 and the big game was NASCAR. No other race car could match the “24 hours of speedway survival” at Daytona. And the Charger, with its new aerodynamic styling, was a serious threat to the big tracks. Nevertheless, David Pearson won NASCAR in 1966 making this racing monster the winner in its first season. 

Aerodynamic body and luxurious finishes of the 1967 model

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In the 1967 release, the winning combination (1966) was left almost unchanged. It was the most progressive style at that time. From the all-over grille with chrome lettering and hidden headlights to the position lights – the automobile was an eye-catcher. So far, the car’s most attractive design feature had been the roof – fully aerodynamic, from the windshield to the parking lights, and including a small rear window that looked more like a sunroof. The exterior of the vehicle was also impressive. The owners of this model were surrounded by a chic and bright interior: four individual bucket seats, a full-length console, and a control panel with either racing car or spacecraft equipment. Among other innovations were folding rear seats, which allowed to fit a lot of luggage or hide a couple of friends when driving in to watch an open-air movie. The racer was built as a luxury hot rod and it was great. Much of the exclusive equipment, such as the wood-rimmed steering wheel and a floor-mounted automatic or 4-speed transmission was standard. Even though the Charger targeted the luxury market, Dodge did not forget to strengthen the 440 with a Magnum engine. 

Magnum vs Hemi

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Chrysler originally released it for big cars, where it put out 350 hp at low speeds. The Magnum just pushed all the competitors out of the way with their whirring accessories. It squeezed out 375 hp at 4600 rpm and gave 480 pounds per foot of torque at 3200 rpm. The 440 was a really good street engine. Most believed that it was even more suitable for the street than the 426 Hemi (for the 1966 model). Even though the 440 Magnum was very powerful, it also cost $300 less than the Hemi. Therefore, the new 1967 model became a real American street monster. Unfortunately for Dodge, it wasn’t as popular on the streets as it was on the NASCAR tracks. In 1967, battles for the hearts and minds of muscle car enthusiasts were fought. The smaller Firebird and Camaro were considered the most serious rivals. The Charger was already bigger and more expensive than most mid-range muscle cars, and these new road rockets only made it worse. Compared to the previous 1966 year, sales fell by 16,000 units, so in 1968 the model went through restyling.

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As the brightest of its generation, the Dodge Charger has earned itself a reputation as one of the coolest muscle cars on both highways and on the movie screen. No wonder, in addition to a racing career, this car also made an extensive film career. Whether it’s driving on the highway or chasing on-screen, it made a memorable appearance. Different years’ releases can be found in dozens of movies, but the highlight of the 1967 release is the movie Big Fish (2003), which tells about the life events of the protagonist Edward Bloom (Ewan McGregor) and his iron friend – the red  1967 Charger.

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