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1978 Dodge Magnum muscle car

The Dodge Magnum model was introduced in 1978 and produced for only a short time, lasting until 1979. It was sold in the United States and in Canada as a rebadged Chrysler Cordoba. It was a replacement for the Charger SE in Dodge’s lineup and available in two bodystyles, the ‘XE’ and the ‘GT’.

One of the driving forces for producing this car, was for the NASCAR series. The Magnum was more aerodynamic than the Charger. The road-going versions featured four rectangular headlights, opera windows, and an optional T-Bar or power sunroof. Power steering, brakes and seats were offered as standard equipment. Mounted under the hood was a 318 cubic-inch V8 engine. Optional engines were available, including the two and four-barrel carbureted 360 and 400 V8s. The 400 was offered for only a single year, being dropped from the option list in 1970 as Chrysler ceased production of the big-block V8s at the close of 1978.

1978 Dodge Magnum Black Hardtop Coupe

The GT version was packed with performance, powered by a ‘E85′ police interceptor engine. The suspension was improved, a special axle adapted, and ‘GT’ badging placed throughout the vehicle.

1978 Dodge Magnum Racing car

The technology of the vehicle was advanced for its era. It had an onboard spark control computer, electronic ignition, and a lockup torque converter.

The Magnum name persisted for only a short time, being replaced by the Mirada after just a few years of production. The Mirada was a smaller car that had also been a rebadge of the Chrysler Cordoba.

The name ‘Magnum‘ would lay dormant for many years, making a re-appearance in 2005 as part of Dodge‘s full-size vehicle in their model lineup.

1983 Dodge Charger sports car

The Dodge Charger was produced from 1966 through 1978, 1983 through 1987, and again beginning in 2006. Since its inception, the impressive performance and stylish bodies made the Charger an instant success. During its introductory year, 37,344 examples were produced.

The Dodge Charger was based on the Dodge Coronet platform, but with a fastback roofline. The headlights were retractable which resulted in a sportier appearance for the vehicle. The interior had four bucket seats with the rear seats able to be folded down that provided ample space for cargo. Under the hood was a 318 cubic-inch eight-cylinder engine that produced 230 horsepower. Optional was the 361 and 426 cubic-inch Hemi, available in various configurations. The 426 Hemi produced 425 horsepower and would set the buyer back $1000, a considerable cost considering the base price was $3122. Only 468 of the Hemi option were purchased.

In 1967 Dodge added the 440 cubic-inch Magnum to the Charger model line. With 375 horsepower, it was a cheaper option than the Hemi, easy to tune, and came standard with the R/T package. The 318 cubic-inch was still the standard option with the 426 Hemi the top-of-the-line producing 45 horsepower and 490 foot-pounds of torque. The production total for the Charger in 1967 was around 15,000 with 118 of those selecting the Hemi engine.

1983 Dodge Charger racing car

The 1968 Charger was redesigned, now with hidden headlights and a curvy body. The design was a success and sales soared to over 92,000 units. The Hemi option was available, with around 470 buyers opting for the option. The R/T package was a popular option with 17,665 buyers. Standard on the R/T performance package was the 440 Magnum engine producing 375 horsepower. Many argue that the 1968 was the most appealing muscle car of all 1960′s era.

For 1969, Dodge decided to make only minor improvements to the Charger. The grille now had a chrome center divider. Two new Charger models were available. The Charger 500 was a performance machine with some styling cues similar to the Dodge Coronet. The big news was the Dodge charger Daytona which is easily identified by its larger vertical tail stabilizer and front nose extension. With just over 500 examples of the Daytona produced, the $4000 vehicle was available with either the Hemi or the 440 engine.

The Charger was redesigned in 1970 and became available in new colors. The SE version added leather seats and an electric sliding sunroof. Dodge introduced the 440 Six Pack which featured three Holley two-barrel carburetors and produced 390 horsepower. In total, there were just over 10,300 Chargers sold in 1970 with 42 of those sales including the 440 Six Pack and 116 opting for the Hemi.

1983 Dodge Charger American Drag Racing Car

The muscle car era was coming to a close. Government safety regulations, emission controls, and insurance premiums were beginning to force manufacturers into detuning their engines. This was the last year for the mighty Hemi engine, which retained it 425 horsepower rating. The 440 cubic-inc engine was now rated at 370, down by 5 horsepower. The 440 Six Pack also lost five horsepower. The Charger was redesigned and lost a few inches at the wheelbase. Available in SE and R/T trim, it now shared a body with the Super Bee. This body-style design lasted until 1974.

The Rallye was the performance model for the Dodge Charger for the years 1972 through 1974. The Rallye was equipped with the detuned 440 cubic-inch engine with four-barrel carburetors, hydraulic lifters, and five main bearings. The result was 280 horsepower for the years 1972 through 1973. In 1974 the horsepower dipped to 275.

For 1973, Dodge offered the base 318 cubic-inch eight-cylinder engine, now rated at 255 horsepower. The 440 was producing 255 horsepower while the 440 Six-Pack produced 330 horsepower. The decrease in horsepower was due to the detuning to comply with government safety and emission regulations and because horsepower was no longer being quoted in terms of gross output but rather in terms of net output. The suspension was reworked resulted in a quieter and more comfortable ride.

The Charger’s appearance became sportier in 1974, with minor aesthetic changes and larger quarter windows. The 318 V8 was rated at 175, the 440 V8 produced 280, and the 440 Six Pack produced 330 horsepower. The engine choices remained the same for 1974 but it would be the final year for its sporty persona. In 1975, Dodge repositioned the Charger as a luxury vehicle. They introduced the Charger SE, a near-clone of the Chrysler Cordoba. The SE came equipped with lots of standard equipment and a 360 cubic-inch engine producing 180 horsepower. The slant-six 318 and 400 were available in various configurations. The 360 fitted with a four-barrel, instead of the standard two-barrel carburetor, would increase the horsepower to 200.

1988 Dodge Diplomat Classic car

Dodge first used the name ‘Diplomat‘ in 1950 to designate their 2-door hardtop bodystyle. The name would endure until 1954. It re-appeared in 1975 as a trim package on the Royal Monaco two-door hardtop. In 1977, it became its own model line and served as a replacement for the Coronet in Dodge‘s mid-sized line-up. It was based on the Dodge Aspen and wore an M-body. Mounted on the bonnet was a 225 cubic-inch six-cylinder engine as the base powerplant. An optional 5.2L and 5.9L V8 were available. After 1984, the Diplomat was only available with the 5.2L V8 unit.

1988 Dodge Diplomat Muscle car

1988 Dodge Diplomat Limousine

The Dodge Diplomat was a mid-size car and it was manufactured from 1977 to 1989 by the Chrysler Corporation’s Dodge brand and practically identical to the Chrysler LeBaron of 1977, the Plymouth Caravelle sold in Canada, and the Plymouth Gran Fury from 1982. It was also sold in Mexico between 1980 and 1981 as the Dodge Dart, and in Colombia as the Dodge Coronet.

1977 saw the return of the Diplomat as a full model line rather than as the name of a particular body style. It replaced the Monaco in Dodge‘s new downsized mid-size lineup. The new Diplomat was based on the Dodge Aspen, designated the M-body. While the Aspen had the F-body, the M-bodies were related to it: the wheelbase and suspension were identical and doors and body panels often interchangeable. Hence, another M-body sedan, such as the 1989 Chrysler Fifth Avenue, had interchangeable doors with the 1976 Aspen. Like the Aspen, the Diplomat had coupe and station wagon variants.

The Diplomat was offered with a base 225 cu in (3.7 L) six-cylinder engine. In 318 cu in (5.2 L) V8 form (and an optional 360 cu in (5.9 L)) it, and its Plymouth Gran Fury/Caravelle twin, were widely favored as a police car both in the US and Canada. After 1984, the only engine offered was the 318 cu in (5.2 L) V8.

Following the demise of the Dodge St. Regis R-body in 1981, the Diplomat remained, becoming the largest sedan in the Dodge lineup, despite technically being a mid-size car. Dodge would not market another truly full-size car (at least based upon U.S. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency? (EPA) passenger volume statistics) until the Monaco debuted as a 1990 model.

In 1982, the coupe and station wagon were discontinued and Canada’s Plymouth version of the Diplomat came south of the border. The Plymouth Caravelle was offered in the US as the Plymouth Gran Fury.

1958 Dodge Coronet Exotic car

This 1958 Dodge Coronet Super D-500 Convertible was offered for sale at the 2007 Sports and Classic Car Auction presented by The Worldwide Group, in Hilton Head Island, SC where it was estimated to sell for $125,000 – $175,000. It was offered without reserve, which was a rather daring move considering the value of the vehicle. This car is outfitted with the Super D-500 V8 engine that displaces 361 cubic-inches and produces 325 horsepower. There is a torque flight automatic transmission and four-wheel power drum brakes.

Virgil Exner’s design influences were prominent in Chrysler Corporation vehicles during the mid-1950s, as evident by the finned cars that took the market by storm. The Chrysler C300 was created to satisfy NASCAR homologation purposes, and variations of this masterpiece would continue for more than ten years.

At the Dodge and DeSoto marques, only slight changes were on the horizon. The Adventurer was given a dual quad setup similar to the C300 and offered superior performance to most other cars on the road. For Dodge, their D-500 was their performance pinnacle that kept its owners smiling a quarter-mile at a time. Above the D-500 was the Super D-500.

The Dodge D-500, Plymouth Fury, and Desoto Adventurer were introduced in 1956 with the D-500 being the most rare. These super performance machines were not ‘add ons’ or dealer options, but a model in all respects. The D-500 was given a heavy duty suspension, larger exhaust system, larger and lighter brakes, limited paint colors and schemes, special high performance engine and more. The result was astonishing, as the 1956 D-500 set or broke a total of 306 race records.

1958 Dodge Coronet retro car

In 1949 Dodge introduced the Coronet which was the top trim level offered by Dodge. It was similar to the Meadowbrook models in many respects, deviating in their interior appointments and minor differences with trim. The base level four-door sedan bodystyle was offered for under $1930. The top of the line version was the two-door station wagon which had seating for six and cost $2865. An L-head six-cylinder engine produced just over 100 horsepower could be found under the hood. A three-speed transmission with Fluid-Drive was standard equipment.

For 1950 the Dodge Coronet continued to be Dodge‘s top-of-the-line vehicle. It still was very similar to the Meadowbrook; it include all of its features plus added addition chrome trim on the wheels, rear fender guards and was adorned with the ‘Coronet‘ name proudly displayed on the exterior of the vehicle. Little changed for the following year. For 1952 the eight-passenger sedan was no longer offered. In 1953 the Dodge Coronetincorporated an air scoop on its hood. Under the Ram hood ornament could be found the word ‘Dodge V-8‘ for the eight-cylinder variants. The Hemi head overhead valve V8 engine was capable of producing 140 horsepower. The six-cylinder unit produced 103 horsepower.

In 1954 the Coronet name was used on the intermediate trim levels. Chrome trim could be found throughout the exterior of the vehicle including a chrome strip that ran along the middle of the body. In script letters, the name ‘Coronet‘ could now be found on the sides of the rear fenders. The base price for the four-door six-passenger sedan was $2110. The top of the line bodystyle was the four-door Sierra with seating for six and would set the buyer back $2695. The Coronet made an appearance at the Indy 500 where the convertible body style was the official pace car.

In 1956 the Dodge Coronet was restyled and grew by six-inches, became wider, and now sat closer to the ground. They were now the base trim level for Dodge. Both the six and eight cylinder engines now produced more horsepower. The eight-cylinder unit was capable of 175 horsepower. Tri-colored paint schemes were not uncommon. In the front was a new grille that was divided intro two separate openings. The parking lights were incorporated into the grille. The windshield was a classy wraparound design. Sales were very positive as the public agreed with the design and the vehicles mechanical abilities. Riding on the wings of success, Dodge made the wise decision to not mess with the design for 1956. The side trim and taillights were slightly modified. Tail fins could now be found protruding from the rear. A push-button transmission was now offered as optional equipment. This technology had been borrowed from Chrysler and proved to be rather popular with many.

1958 American retro car-Dodge Coronet

In 1956 the Dodge Coronet was restyled and grew by six-inches, became wider, and now sat closer to the ground. They were now the base trim level for Dodge. Both the six and eight cylinder engines now produced more horsepower. The eight-cylinder unit was capable of 175 horsepower. Tri-colored paint schemes were not uncommon. In the front was a new grille that was divided intro two separate openings. The parking lights were incorporated into the grille. The windshield was a classy wraparound design. Sales were very positive as the public agreed with the design and the vehicles mechanical abilities. Riding on the wings of success, Dodge made the wise decision to not mess with the design for 1956. The side trim and taillights were slightly modified. Tail fins could now be found protruding from the rear. A push-button transmission was now offered as optional equipment. This technology had been borrowed from Chrysler and proved to be rather popular with many.

In 1956, Dodge created a true ‘sleeper’ car. The Coronet D-500 appeared to be similar to other Coronet‘s but hidden under the hood was a 315 cubic-inch V8 that could pump-out 260 horsepower. It was able to go from zero-to-sixty in under nine seconds. One of the rules to compete in NASCAR was that at least 500 identical models had to be produced. The Coronet D-550 was a purpose-built vehicle intended for the NASCAR circuit. It featured a 315 cubic-inch Hemi V8 that produced 285 horsepower. In addition to a larger engine, the suspension, tires, brakes, and transmission were all modified to create a highly competitive, very effective muscle car / racing machine.

The Coronet was again restyled in 1957. Dodge began incorporating its ‘Forward Look’ design. The wheelbase grew, as did its length. The car was lowered and now sat even closer to the ground. One of the most recognizable features were the large tail fins. The front headlights were placed below headlight ‘brows’. A chrome strip ran the entire length of the vehicle on both sides. Chrome trim could be found throughout the vehicle, encompassing lgihts and grille openings. The base engine was the L-head six-cylinder engine that produced 138 horsepower. Eight-cylinder engines were available.

Picture of 1958 Dodge Coronet classic retro car

In 1957 the D-500 was replaced by the D-501. The ’500′ series was a high-performance option offered on all series. The Coronet D-501 featured a 354 cubic-inch Hemi V8 that produced 340 horsepower. Only 101 examples were produced. The suspension was updated to include torsion bar front suspension and a rear, heavy duty shock absorbers and leaf spring suspension.

The grille and headlights were the most significant changes for the Dodge Coronet for 1958. The headlights were now quad units. Dodge focused on improving the engines, which they did, with all engines of the ‘wedge’ single rocker head design. The top of the line engine was the 361-cubic-inch V8 with fuel-injection which was capable of an astonishing 333 horsepower. The Dodge name could be found in block letters along the front edge of the hood.

In 1959 the Dodge Coronet was given even larger fins. The brows over the headlights became even more exaggerated. They grew in length, width, wheelbase and were lowered, closer to the ground. A 383-cubic-inch V8 engine was available which produced 345 horsepower in its Super D-500 format. The buyers were treated to an extensive list of options, one of them being the Swivel-Seat option. The seat, with the push of a lever, could swing out to meet its occupant. Another option offered by Dodge was the self-leveling rear air suspension called LevelFlite. The name ‘Dodge‘ could be found in block letters on the trunk lid. The ‘Coronet‘ name was in script and appeared on the front fender.

The Coronet name did not appear on a Dodge vehicle in 1960. It re-appeared in 1965 as a mid-sized muscle car featuring a 426 cubic-inch Hemi engine that produced 425 horsepower. It was now an intermediate-sized vehicle. The bodyshell rested on a 117-inch wheelbase. The base trim level for the Coronet was outfitted with a 224-cubic-inch six-cylidner engine. The Dodge name was proudly displayed in block letters across the front of the hood. The Coronet name was in script along the front fender tip.

1957 Dodge Regent Retro car

The Dodge Regent for 1957 was the Canadian version of the Dodge/DeSoto dealers’ version of the Plymouth Savoy. It used the Savoy’s seat upholstery, door panels, instrument panels, and exterior trim. The engine was a 303 cubic-inch V8 unit with a 4-barrel carburetor producing around 240 horsepower. Other engines available include a 318 Cubic-inch V8 with dual four-barrel carburetors.

1957 Dodge Regent Classic American car

1954 Dodge Wayfarer convertible

In February, 1949 Dodge introduced the Wayfarer series. There was a 2-door with a rear seat, a 2 passenger coupe, and a Sports Roadster. These three body-styles sat atop a 115 inch wheelbase. During the initial year of production, 9,342 coupes were produced. Total production of the Sport Roadster was 5,420 examples and 49,054 sedans. The Wayfarer was a low-priced vehicle in the Dodge line-up. The sedan sold for $1,756 and weighed 3,180 pounds, the coupe sold for $1,629 and weighed 3,065 pounds. The roadster could be purchased for $1,745 and weighed 3,145 pounds.

1954 Dodge Wayfarer Roadster

The vehicles featured a 230 cubic-inch Flathead 6 cylinder engine that produced 103 horsepower. It came standard with a 3-speed transmission and was void of a radio or a heater. The lifespan of the clutch was extended by fluid coupling between the engine and the clutch. A ‘semi-automatic’ transmission was available as optional equipment. On the Sports Roadster the windows were side curtains that could be stored behind the passenger seat when not in use. Roll-up windows replace the curtains during the later part of 1949.

1954 Dodge Wayfarer Classic Cabriolet

1954 Dodge Firearrow Classic car

Created by the exquisite American car designer Virgil Exner, the Dodge Firearrow was introduced in 1954 as part of a four part series and built by Ghia of Turin, Italy. The Firearrow II and Firearrow IV; ‘Dreams’ are the only two convertible Firearrows in the world. There were a total of four vehicles built between 1953 and 1954. The bodies of these vehicles were constructed at Ghia using the chassis of stock 1954 Dodge convertibles.

A true roadster, the Firearrow I was painted red and gray with a yellow interior with maroon piping. The first model had dual headlights and the wheels were full wheel covers with body side molding that wrapped all the way around the car. The Firearrow I featured exposed exhaust pipes, two on each side that rode low on the car’s flanks. An additional touch of Italian styling was featured on a wood-rimmed steering wheel.
Today the vehicle is on display at Petersen’s Museum.

1954 Model of classic retro car-Dodge Firearrow Concept

The 1954 Firearrow II was also a true roadster that was painted a subdued yellow color. Very similar in appearance to the Firearrow I, the main difference was that the body side molding didn’t wrap around the car, but ended at the headlamps and taillights. The modified version of the original vehicle, the Firearrow II retained the mockup’s two-place seating and striking frameless windshield. The full hub caps were also replaced by chrome-plated wire wheels and new single headlights replaced the dual. The split bumper was also changed from the Firearrow I and replaced with a more aggressive ‘mouth’ horizontally bisected by an uninterrupted bumper. The toothy look was achieved by five vertical design elements on the bumper.

A 2-seater Sport Coupe was introduced in 1954, the Firearrow III, also called the Firebomb. Much more civilized than the original Firearrow, the III was painted a light metallic blue. With racer/flyer Betty Skelton behind the wheel at the Chrysler proving grounds, the Firebomb clocked at 143.44mph, set a women’s closed-course record. The dual headlights were brought back on this third edition along a concave grille cut with narrow verticals. The Sport Coupe featured a hardcore element with its wraparound backlight. Crash protection both front and rear was supplied by modest bumperettes.

1954 Dodge Firearrow Roadster

Also dubbed the Firebomb, the Firearrow IV was a stunning red convertible 4-seater, that featured black and white diamond interior. Basically a convertible version of the Firebomb, the newest edition is now in the Blackhawk collection as a black vehicle with black and white ‘tuck’n Roll’ interior. Both the yellow Firearrow II and the red Firearrow IV, the last of the collection have received honors at Meadowbrook and Amelia island Concours d’Elegance. These vehicles sold for $1.1 million each.

Chrysler unfortunately made the decision not to proceed into production. These vehicles are but a great moment in automotive history and the only survivors of the early series of Chrysler concept cars.

1972 Dodge Polara American muscle car

The name Dodge Polara first appeared in 1960 and was used on Dodge‘s full-size vehicle. The name would continue to adorned Dodge vehicles in various forms unti 1973.

When introduced, the Dodge Polara‘s design was similar to vehicles of the prior years, continuing the ‘Forward Look’ design of Virgil Exner. In the front was a small grille accompanied by a large front bumper. In the rear were taillights termed ‘jet pods’. The lights were larger than what they needed to be with part of their purpose to aid in the futuristic look of the vehicle. Tail fins were part of the ensemble. There were to tail lights with the lower light built into the rear bumper. Chrome and trim were used extensively on the vehicles exterior. On the interior the vehicle was adorned in plush fabrics, appropriate since this was Dodge’s near top-of-the-line vehicle.

1972 Dodge Polara police car

A few of the changes that occurred on the Dodge Polara in 1961 were enlarging the cars tail fins and reversing their direction, meaning they grew larger as they crept towards the rear window. In the front the larger bumper treatments were replaced in favor of a more simple design. The concave grille from the Dodge Dart could now be found on the Dodge Polara. The result of the work of Exner’s styling department was a unique design and something that was different from anything else on American roads at the time. Unfortunately, the American public did not favor the design and sales were dismal, with only 14,032 units produced. This was one of the lowest figures for the Dodge Marque since the early 1910′s.

1972 Dodge Polara retro car

Change was obviously needed. For 1962 the Polara was moved to a smaller platform, now just 116 inches. The change had come as a last-minute decision in an effort to mirror the moves Chevrolet were making with their designs. Chevrolet was downsizing all of their products. Dodge designers were forced to revise their designs to more compact configurations. When Chevrolet rolled out their new products in 1962, the Chrysler Corporation were surprised to see that what was thought to be a down-size of all their products was merely the inclusion of smaller products to their mid and full-size line-up. Chevrolet had their full-size Biscayne, Bel Air, and Impala. The Chevy II was now their compact vehicle. As a result Dodge and Chrysler offered smaller cars than their competitors in 1962. The public and press were not impressed with the new designs, finding them awkward. Sales remained low.

1971 Dodge Challenger R/T

1968 The first of the Dodge Challenger prototypes is produced.

1969 The Dodge Challenger is officially released to the public as a 1970 model on Friday, August 1, 1969.

1970 The first model year. In coming with Dodge‘s market position of competing with Pontiac and Mercury, the Challenger‘s wheelbase is 2″ longer than its Plymouth cousin, the Barracuda. The Challanger was offered in five different trim lines (Deputy, base, R/T, SE and T/A) 1970 and several engine options were available, ranging from the 225 CID “Slant Six” to the 426 cubic inch Hemi. There were variations of the 340, 383, and 440 CID engines in between. Almost 73,000 units were sold that first year.

1971 Dodge Challenger R/T

1970 In order to race in the Sports Car Club of America‘s Trans American Sedan Championship, Dodge built a street version of its race car called the Dodge Challenger T/A. Although the race carsran a destroked version of the 340, street versions took the 340 and added a trio of two-barrel carbs atop an Edelbrock aluminum intake manifold, creating the 340 Six Pack, rated at 290 hp. The engine breathed air through a suitcase-sized air scoop molded into the pinned down, lift off matte-black fiberglass hood. Dual exhausts ran to the stock muffler location under the trunk, then reversed direction to exit in chrome tipped “megaphone” outlets in front of the rear wheels. The T/A was the first production car to use different size tires front and rear: E60x15 in the front and G60x15 in back. Bold stripes, 340 Six Pak graphics and a ducktail spoiler added to the package. The T/A would only be available for 1970 as Dodge would pull out of Trans Am racing.

1971 Revised grille and taillights differentiate the ’71 from the ’70. The T/A option is dropped, but a base model convertible is offered, as well as 50 “Indianapolis 500 Pace Car” models. The R/T model is now available with the 340. Sales slumped from 1970, with roughly 30,000 units sold.

1971 Dodge Challenger R/T

1971 The Dodge Challenger makes its film debut in the movie “Vanishing Point”. In the film, our man Kowalski works for a car delivery service and bets that he can deliver a white 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T from Denver to San Francisco in 15 hours. After run-ins with motorcycle cops and highway patrol they chase him through Utah, Nevada and California. Along the way, Kowalski is guided by Super Soul – a blind disc jockey monitoring a police radio scanner. Throw in lots of chase scenes, gay hitchhikers, and a naked woman riding a motorbike and you’ve got a great cult hit from the early 70′s.

1972 Big changes in 1972. Gone were the R/T, SE and convertible models and all big block engines, incluidng the Hemi. Another new grille (the third in three years), the “fish mouth” (“sad faced”) grille. The Challenger Rallye was introduced to replace the R/T and it came with the (now 240 hp) 340. Base engine was the “Slant Six” and optional was the 318 2-bbl with 150 hp. Production was down to just over 26,000 units.

1971 Dodge Challenger R/T+

1973 1973 brought large bumper guards and the “Slant Six” was dropped from the lineup. Base engine was now the 318 2-bbl with 150 hp. A gunmetal grey color was added and the 360 4-bbl (245 hp net) was introduced late in the year to replace the 340, which was difficult to certify for emissions. Production rose to nearly 33,000.

1974 By 1974, there were two engine choices: the 318 and the 245 hp 360. Larger bumper guards were installed to meet increasing crash standards. Challenger production ended in April, 1974, with a mere 16,000 units produced. In its short life, the Challenger turned out to be one of the best-looking pony cars and is today highly sought after. Its sales were probably never satisfying for Chrysler, which had invested quite a bit in the Challenger and Barracuda.

1978 The Challenger nameplate was resurrected on a re-badged Mitsubishi Galant Lambda, an “economy sport” car paired with the Plymouth Sapporro in United States. Offered with 1.6L or 2.6L inline four cylinder engines, the car was priced right around $8,000. It was a far cry from the original with its tiny engines and distinctly “import” styling.

1969 Dodge Charger Daytona Retro car

For 1969, Dodge decided to make only minor improvements to the Charger. The grille now had a chrome center divider. Two new Charger models were available. The Charger 500 was a performance machine with some styling cues similar to the Dodge Coronet. The big news was the Dodge charger Daytonawhich is easily identified by its larger vertical tail stabilizer and front nose extension. With just over 500 examples of the Daytona produced, the $4000 vehicle was available with either the Hemi or the 440 engine.

The Charger was redesigned in 1970 and became available in new colors. The SE version added leather seats and an electric sliding sunroof. Dodge introduced the 440 Six Pack which featured three Holley two-barrel carburetors and produced 390 horsepower. In total, there were just over 10,300 Chargers sold in 1970 with 42 of those sales including the 440 Six Pack and 116 opting for the Hemi.

1969 Dodge Charger Daytona Classic car

The Dodge Charger was produced from 1966 through 1978, 1983 through 1987, and again beginning in 2006. Since its inception, the impressive performance and stylish bodies made the Charger an instant success. During its introductory year, 37,344 examples were produced.

TheDodge Charger was based on the Dodge Coronet platform, but with a fastback roofline. The headlights were retractable which resulted in a sportier appearance for the vehicle. The interior had four bucket seats with the rear seats able to be folded down that provided ample space for cargo. Under the hood was a 318 cubic-inch eight-cylinder engine that produced 230 horsepower. Optional was the 361 and 426 cubic-inch Hemi, available in various configurations. The 426 Hemi produced 425 horsepower and would set the buyer back $1000, a considerable cost considering the base price was $3122. Only 468 of the Hemi option were purchased.

1969 Dodge Charger Daytona American muscle car

In 1967 Dodge added the 440 cubic-inch Magnum to the Charger model line. With 375 horsepower, it was a cheaper option than the Hemi and easy to tune. The 318 cubic-inch was still the standard option with the 426 Hemi the top-of-the-line producing 45 horsepower and 490 foot-pounds of torque. The production total for the Charger in 1967 was around 15,000 with 118 of those selecting the Hemi engine.