While there have been many vehicles that have had the Charger name, the most well known is the Dodge Charger. The 1966 through 1974 Chargers were high performance B-model vehicles while the 1975 through 1978 models were based on the Chrysler Cordoba. The Charger was created to show that Dodge could compete in the muscle car race despite the fact that the
Pontiac GTO and other cars were already quite popular and running away with sales.
The Dodge Charger was introduced to the public in 1966 as Dodge called the 1966 the "Leader of the Dodge Rebellion." The first model had an electric shaver grille, fully rotating headlights, bucket seats, and plenty of cargo room. The 426 Hemi gave Dodge the ability to get into the muscle car game with the Charger. The Charger was the first U.S. car that was produced with a spoiler after the car was taken to NASCAR. Changes in 1967 were limited because the 1966 model did so well despite the mid year entrance into the market. Dodge did away with the full size console and added an optional vinyl top that attracted many people. The engine received an upgrade in 1967 with a 440 Magnum. Unfortunately, the craze was over and the '67 model didn't sell nearly as well so Dodge went back to the drawing board to reinvent the Charger for 1968.
The 1968 through 1970 Chargers were known to have a coke bottle style that had curves around the front fenders and rear quarter panels that did have the side profile of a Coke bottle. The Charger kept its well-known hidden headlight grille, but a vacuum operated cover replaced the fully rotating headlights. Dodge also restyled the taillights opting for dual Corvette inspired lights. Many of the options changed such as carpeting, the tachometer, and folding seats that added to the overall appeal of the first Charger. To add to the muscle car appeal of the Charger, in 1968 a high performance package was offered that allowed the consumer to power their Charger with a Slant Six but this proved to be a very poor seller.
In 1969 The Dukes of Hazzard made the 1969 Charger more popular than ever. Not much was changed for the 1969 model except a new grill with a center divider and new taillights. Dodge also added a new trim line for the Charger, which was the special edition, or SE. The SE offered leather inserts into the front seats, chrome moldings, and wood grain steering wheel and instrument panels. Replaced were the four stripes, now there was one huge stripe framed by two smaller stripes for the design. It was around this same time that Dodge created the Charger 500 and the Charger Daytona which were desirable for consumers looking for a real muscle car, and Dodge created them to enter into the NASCAR world.
In 1970 the Charger saw a few more changes, as this would be the last year of the second generation. The 1970 charger now features a wraparound chrome bumper. New colors like Top Banana, Panther Pink, and Plum Crazy were added to make the Charger stand out like never before.
In 1971 the third generation of the Charger hit the streets as a completely restyled vehicle. The Charger now had a new grill and a curvier body. Dodge also merged its Charger and Coronet lines during this year. By 1975 the Dodge Charger was no more than a renamed Chrysler Cordoba and the rising costs of gasoline made the muscle car less attractive to more and more people. By 1978 the Dodge Charger was selling only 2,800 units and was replaced by the Dodge Magnum.
Additional resources on the Dodge Charger: History, and Dodge Charger SRT-8
