Dodge Charger (Muscle Car)

Dodge Charger
Production period:	1966-1988
Class :	Sports car
Body versions :	Coupe
Successor:	Dodge Magnum

The Dodge Charger from 1966 to 1978 was an American mid-range sports coupé belonging to the Dodge division belonging to the Chrysler concern . At first it belonged to the class of muscle cars , but after 1971 the engine performance was reduced due to stricter emissions regulations, which led to a change in the character of this car. Later years belonged to the Personal Luxury Cars .

history

prehistory

In 1964, Dodge presented the study of a sporty coupé , which, in keeping with the fashion of the time, with a hatchback ("Fastback") and large radiator grille was intended to appeal to young customers in particular. In 1965 there was a small series called Dodge Charger 273 of 180 copies of the Dodge Dart with 235 SAE gross hp 4.5-liter V8 (273 cui according to American standards). Furthermore, around 300 conversion kits were sent to the authorized dealers so that they could convert their existing “Dart” new vehicles to “Charger 273” versions. At the same time, a Charger series model was developed at Dodge, but not based on the Dart, but on the Coronet .

Generation I.

I.
Dodge Charger (1966)
Production period:	1966-1967
Body versions :	Coupe
Engines:	Gasoline engines : 5.2–7.2 liters
Length:	5171 mm
Width:	1925 mm
Height:
Wheelbase :	2972 mm
Empty weight :	1,585 kg (1966), 1,576 kg (1967) kg

In the autumn of 1966 the first “real” charger celebrated its premiere. The platform and some parts of the body corresponded to that of the Dodge Coronet, with which the Charger shared the bonnet, the A-pillar, the doors and other things. Due to the specifications of Byron Nichols, both vehicles are similar, especially in the area of ​​the vehicle front. The rear, with its vertical end and the gently sloping roof line (fastback), was typical of a coupé. The sideline was straight, and the rear fender tips were emphasized, which stylistically indicated at least small tail fins, which in 1966 was no longer considered contemporary. The radiator grille extended over the entire width of the vehicle, the pop-up headlights were mounted in the central axis and were electrically turned forwards if required. The grill side of the assembly was switched off. The sight lights were also behind the grilles on the outer sides. The four individual seats were atypical for this time; the rear two were foldable, which resulted in a considerable trunk volume for a coupé, with a loading length of almost 230 cm.

The standard engine was the 318 cui-V8 with a manual three-speed gearbox, and the customer could also choose between 361 cui-2 bbl and 383 cui-4 bbl-V8, which optionally transmitted the power with a four-speed gearbox or the "Torqueflite" automatic . From mid-1966, Dodge also offered the Charger with the 426 cui Hemi V8 engine .

Of the NASCAR racing series of that time , the Charger won the Manufacturer's Championship and the Grand National Championship. Nevertheless, the sales figures for the Charger, model year 1966, were disappointing: only 37,344 vehicles were sold. Many of the total of 468 Hemi models were even “squandered” for a third of the base price.

Dodge Charger (1967)

Some technical changes were made for the 1967 model year, the body remained largely unchanged. Only the radiator grille was chrome-plated and some details such as moldings and logos were changed. The rear individual seats gave way to a continuous bench. The 361 cui-V8 was replaced by the 383-2 bbl-V8 and the 440 cui-Magnum-V8 was offered for the first time, with matching “Magnum” rims. Cars with the 440 accelerated from 0-100 faster than those with the 426 Hemi, but the Hemi was better suited for racing.

As an additional sales argument, the Charger was offered in all versions with extensive equipment. However, sales continued to decline in 1967: 15,788 Chargers found a buyer, 118 of them with the 426 Hemi. At Dodge, the development of new Charger and Coronet bodies was advanced.

Generation II

II
Dodge Charger R / T (1968)
Production period:	1968-1970
Body versions :	Coupe
Engines:	Petrol engines : 3.7–7.2 liters (86-260 kW)
Length:	5283 mm
Width:	1948 mm
Height:	1351 mm
Wheelbase :	2972 mm
Empty weight :	1586-1654 kg

1968

The new model year was presented in autumn 1967. The new Charger, with a completely new body, remained largely unchanged from a technical point of view, in terms of engines and transmissions. The continuously wide grille was supposed to remain a trademark, but was not chrome-plated. The grill was lower in the front, reminiscent of air intakes on aircraft engines. The sidelines featured the “ Coke Bottle Line ”, popular in the USA , which was reminiscent of the bodies of racing cars and the classic Coca-Cola bottle (in German usage this optical element is also often referred to as the “hip swing”). The interior was completely redesigned: the instrument panel was redesigned, the rear seats could no longer be folded down, and the equipment was more adapted to the taste of the time. The Charger also had some new security features. In addition, customers could optionally order a vinyl roof , which was very popular at the time and was also chosen for around three quarters of the 1968 models. An "R / T" version ( Road & Track , i.e. suitable for "street and racetrack") was also offered. This variant was equipped with the 440 cui-V8 as standard, had two exhaust pipes , a stiffer chassis , stronger brakes and a colored stripe that encircled the rear transverse to the direction of travel (bumblebee stripe, "bumblebee stripe", available in red, white or black, but can also be canceled free of charge).

The 1968 model looked even sleeker than its predecessor and was built with this body up to and including 1970. These three model years were the most successful, and the sales figures of that time could not be achieved later. The "R / T" models with the Hemi-V8 in particular were considered to be the sure winners of every acceleration race, although the Chrysler company with the Charger and the similar Plymouth Road Runner models in NASCAR eternally second behind the Ford until 1970 Vehicles stayed.

1968 Dodge Charger R / T blue

The new Charger was a success: 96,100 vehicles were sold, but only 467 with the 426 Hemi. However, the Charger once again showed that success in racing does not necessarily have to be related to sales figures: The highly regarded NASCAR races were now dominated by the Ford Group with the Ford Torino and Mercury Cyclone models . The new Charger also became famous through the world-famous chase in the movie "Bullit", where Steve McQueen chased it through San Francisco.

In 1968 a design study entitled “Charger III” was presented, a futuristic-looking sports car. However, the design was never incorporated into series production.

1969

Dodge Charger (1969)

The 1969 Charger showed only marginal visual changes: The radiator grille was split in the middle, the four round taillights of the 1968 model were replaced by two large angular ones. The previously exclusively black vinyl roof could now be selected in several colors, but the proportion of vehicles without vinyl covering increased in sales. The Charger was now with a SE equipment ( S pecial E be ordered dition), which should attract with imitation wood interior, leather seats and drop center rims and buyers of luxury automobiles.

The engine range was expanded to include a six-cylinder for the first time: The 225 cui Slant Six in-line engine (3.7 liters) now represented the economy model of the charger engines on offer. In 1969, around 69,000 chargers were sold, around 500 of them with Slant Six.

Dodge developed the Charger 500 for racing. Essentially based on the production model, it had the Dodge Coronet's grille that was flush with the bonnet, fixed headlights and, instead of the retracted ones, a flush-mounted rear window. This should improve the aerodynamics and thus increase the top speed. The NASCAR regulations at the time stipulated that at least 500 units of a vehicle had to be produced and offered for sale in order to be approved for the racing series. Dodge offered the Charger 500 on the open market, optionally with a 426 Hemi or a 440 Magnum engine. However, only 459 vehicles were sold, 67 of them with Hemi. The racing successes were also poor, so Dodge took the next step in the same year. After a short development period and some wind tunnel tests, which were not necessarily common in the 1960s, the Charger Daytona was presented. The front was approx. 50 cm longer and had an aerodynamic wedge shape with recessed pop-up headlights ("sleeping eyes"). On the front fenders there were air scoops that were open to the rear, but they did not serve any aerodynamic purpose, but were only covers for the inner fenders of the racing versions. On the stern there was a rear spoiler approx. 60 cm high, which was supposed to ensure the necessary downforce at high speeds. A hidden front spoiler and stabilizers under the body ensure greater safety. With a drag coefficient (c _w value) of 0.28, the Charger Daytona would still be comparable to today's vehicles; the VW Golf V, for example, has a c _w value of 0.325.

The Daytona was also offered with the two most powerful engines. 505 copies were built, 433 of them with 440 Magnum and 70 with 426 Hemi. The customers found the Daytona ugly and with a starting price of US $ 4000 it was affordable, but still expensive. Another blatant disadvantage for road use was that the engine overheated at the top speed of 55 mph (almost 90 km / h ) required in American traffic . The airflow was not enough because the front section had no grille or other air intakes. This showed that the Daytona was primarily designed for racing.

With the Charger Daytona some races could be won, but the championship title was won by the Ford group.

1970

Dodge Charger (1970)

In 1970 the grille and taillights were changed again. The grill was now continuous again, with a chrome-plated decorative strip in the middle across the entire width. The classic bumper ("bumper") was replaced by a chrome-plated frame that protruded a little and encompassed the radiator grille (also called "bumper"). The taillights were only changed in the course of the model year (early models still received the 69 taillights): they now had built-in reflectors. The equipment variants were also changed, the "R / T" version was now the top model again (VIN code starting with XS), and there was still the "SE" package. Only the top model from the previous year, the Charger 500 (VIN code beginning with XP), was downgraded to the “slightly better basic model”, which led to confusion among customers. Anyone who ordered a standard 500 did not get the 440 Magnum as an engine, but only the 318 cui-V8. The "R / T" version had air scoops indicated on the doors, and a horizontal color stripe ("longitudinal tape stripe") was available next to the "bumblebee stripe". Furthermore, the "R / T" and the 500 models can be distinguished from the basic models by a cover around the rear lights. The engine range was expanded upwards with the 440 cui-6 bbl “Six-Pack” V8, which delivered 390 SAE-PS, and the so-called high-impact colors were added to the range of paintwork. In addition to the popular green and brown tones, in the spirit of the 70s, the customer could now tick colors such as purple (plum crazy), lime green (sublime), pink (panther pink), bright yellow (top banana), and hemi orange on the option list . In order to reduce production costs, the basic model was slimmed down. While the 500 and "R / T" models initially received seats with integrated headrests (high-back bucket seats), in the basic model (VIN code beginning with XH) you had to sit on a bench. The 1970 model year differs from its predecessors in many other details and at least technically gave an outlook on the next generation of Chargers. 49,768 chargers were sold, 10,337 of them as "R / T" versions. The sales figures stagnated despite the slightly lower entry-level prices (base model: $ 3001, 500: $ 3139, R / T: $ 3711), as competition within the Chrysler group was made in-house: the redesigned Coronet and the completely new one The Dodge Challenger as well as the Plymouth ' Barracuda and the Road Runner all covered almost the same vehicle segment.

The Daytona's racing successes continued. NASCAR driver Buddy Baker set a speed record of 200.447 mph (322.588 km / h) on the Talladega Superspeedway on March 24, 1970 , which was only broken by a NASCAR vehicle in 1983. But here, too, there was competition from in-house: the Plymouth Road Runner Superbird was designed similarly with a striking front and a large rear spoiler, but by no means (as is often wrongly assumed) identical to the Charger Daytona.

Motor data

All engines are naturally aspirated gasoline engines.

Note: The factory performance specifications of the engines are given in gross horsepower. Due to imprecise measurement methods at the end of the 1960s, the actual performance data sometimes deviate considerably from the factory specification and cannot be converted into kilowatts.

	Displacement (cm³)	Engine power factory specification ( bhp )	Torque (Nm)	Mixture preparation
6-170	2786	115	210	Single carburetor
6-225	3687	145	292	Single carburetor
8-273	4474	190	353	Double carburetor
8-318	5211	230	461	Double carburetor
8-340	5572	275	461	Quadruple carburetor
8-383	6276	290	529	Double carburetor
8-383	6276	330	556	Quadruple carburetor
8-383	6276	335	576	Quadruple carburetor
8-426	6981	425	664	Quadruple carburetor
8-440	7210	350	651	Quadruple carburetor
8-440	7210	375	651	Quadruple carburetor

Generation III

III
Dodge Charger Super Bee (1971)
Production period:	1971-1974
Body versions :	Coupe
Engines:	Gasoline engines : 3.7–7.2 liters
Length:	5207 mm
Width:
Height:	1346 mm
Wheelbase :	2921 mm
Empty weight :

1971

From 1971 there were restructuring and rationalization measures in the production area of ​​the Chrysler group. From now on, the vehicles of the Dodge and Plymouth brands no longer only shared the platforms; the brands' models were often largely identical. The Dodge Super Bee , the top two-door version of the Coronet from 1968 to 1970, was now part of the Charger series. Thus, all four-door Dodge mid-range models (the so-called B platform) were now Coronet and the two-door Charger models. The 1971 Charger had a completely new body that was retained until 1974 with the usual slight changes. The front section was strongly reminiscent of earlier GTO models from the Pontiac brand , the entire design appeared rounder - inside and out. With the exception of the Super Bee, the equipment variants and their scope remained the same as in the previous year. Pop-up headlights, which had marked the Dodge Charger since its introduction in 1966, were no longer standard from model year 1971 and were only available as options.

1971 marked the beginning of the end of muscle cars. Forced by stricter environmental laws and high insurance premiums, other manufacturers had already started to discontinue their more powerful engines as well as entire vehicle series. The Chrysler Group largely stuck to the previous model and engine range. Only the 426 Hemi was taken out of the program - to the disappointment of all racing fans. Since this happened during the current model year, there are definitely 1971 Hemi-Chargers. A total of 63 units were sold in the USA, plus 2659 Charger R / T with a different engine.

1972

Dodge Charger (1972)

In 1972 Dodge had to downgrade its engines to comply with new emissions laws. In addition, the power rating ( bhp ) that was previously common in the USA has been replaced by the more realistic SAE net measurement (in contrast to previously measured with ancillary units installed). The unit remained bhp, but the values ​​were significantly lower. In this way, the performance of the Charger models decreased slightly this year, although largely the same engines were offered. Only the 383 cui-V8 did not achieve the required emission values ​​and was replaced by a 400 cui-V8. In terms of equipment, the Charger took a step away from the muscle car and towards the luxurious coupé. The “Super Bee” and “R / T” versions no longer existed, instead a rally version was offered. Externally, the 1972 model year charger remained largely unchanged.

1973 and 1974

Charger SE of model year 1973 with half-vinyl roof and Opera Windows

From 1972, the Charger models were primarily geared towards comfort in terms of their driving characteristics and equipment. Only the eye-catching rally equipment available served the wishes of customers who still wanted a muscle car, both visually and technically (although the Dodge Charger had only a few rally characteristics). The 400 cui-V8 was available in two performance variants.

Dodge finally bowed to the will of the buyers and stopped production of the Charger and Challenger models. The model names were to continue to be used, however, and in the following model year a Charger model was already being advertised for the customers' favor.

Successor: Personal Luxury Cars

From the 1975 model year, Chrysler transferred the Charger name to a Personal Luxury Car . The car, known as the Charger S / E, was identical to the Chrysler Cordoba down to the smallest detail . The name “Charger” should have a sales-promoting effect; The Charger S / E had nothing in common with a muscle car. The car sold only 142,000 times in four years; then it was replaced by the Dodge Magnum , which technically continued to correspond to the Cordoba (and thus the Charger S / E), but had some stylistic peculiarities. The Charger S / E was available with eight-cylinder engines from 5.2 liters to 6.6 liters displacement.

In 1976 Dodge also offered a Charger Coupé (without the suffix S / E). This was a two-door version of the Dodge Coronet , which was sold in 1975 as the Coronet Hardtop Coupé and from 1977 as the Monaco Coupé. The car looked completely different from the Charger S / E. It was equipped with the Slant Six in-line six- cylinder engine as standard .

Engines

The different motor variants of the Charger models are shown below. The displacement data in cui (cubic inches, cubic inches ) while not fitting the International System of Units , however, that information is an integral part of the engine designation American vehicles. The specification bbl stands for carburetor mixing chambers (barrels) and is used for further differentiation, whereby “6 bbl” could theoretically stand for three double carburetors or two triple carburetors. The motor type describes the construction. For example, “V8” stands for a V-engine with eight cylinders .

designation	Art	Displacement (cm³)	Use in model years	Others
225 cui Slant Six	R6	3687 (converted)	1969-1988	-
273 cui	V8	4474 (converted)	1965	-
318 cui	V8	5211 (converted)	1966-1974	-
360 cui	V8	5899 (converted)	1966, 1975-1978	2 different engines of the same displacement; the earlier version is often referred to as "361"
383 cui	V8	6276 (converted)	1966-1972	-
400 cui	V8	6555 (converted)	1972-1988	-
426 cui Hemi	V8	6981 (converted)	1966-1971	-
440 cui, 440 cui Magnum and 440 cui 6 bbl Six Pack	V8	7210 (converted)	1967-1974	3 performance variants

Appearances in film and television

1:18 scale model of the General Lee

Like many muscle cars, the Charger can be seen in many films and series. Examples include:

• Bullitt : In the famous car chase, the criminals drive a 1968 R / T model.
• A Duke rarely comes alone : The General Lee , built in 1969, is one of the most famous TV vehicles of all. The vehicle was redesigned by George Barris , who in 1967 converted a charger for the almost forgotten racing driver film Thunder Alley (Eng. "Crash Drivers - Decision in the Death Curve").
• Death Proof : Stuntman Mike drives a 1971 Chevy Nova SS as well as a 1969 Dodge Charger.
• Street Kings : Detective Tom Ludlow drives a new Dodge Charger SRT8
• Burn Notice : The main character drives a black 1973 Charger that belonged to his father
• Dirty Mary Crazy Larry : Peter Fonda drives a 1969 Dodge Charger in lime green.
• Drive Angry 3D : The main character and his companion drive a black 1969 Charger.
• The Fast and the Furious : The 1970 Dodge Charger makes an appearance in several parts of the Fast and the Furious series. The Charger can be seen in parts 1, 4, 5 and 7 and in the 6th as a version designed for Nascarsport called Dodge Daytona Charger.
• Devil Driver  : the female main character drives the 68 Charger
• Big Fish : Actor Ewan McGregor drives a red 1966 Charger.

Web links

Commons : Dodge Charger  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

1. ↑ 1966-1967 Dodge Charger. October 16, 2007, accessed November 26, 2019 . 
2. ↑ The Real Reason the Dodge Charger Daytona's Wing Was So Huge. June 27, 2016, accessed January 6, 2020 . 
3. ^ Severson, Aaron: Understanding Gross Versus Net Horsepower Ratings , April 15, 2008. Retrieved September 20, 2015
4. ↑ Oldride - Dodge Charger