Original Dodge Charger with Big Block Power is a Subtle Beast

Dodge Charger was among the most powerful cars on the street with 375 horsepower.

Today’s Dodge Charger is one of the most powerful production cars on the street, with the Hellcat Redeye model delivering 797 horsepower. Dodge promotes the supercharged sedan as one of the ultimate high performance machines, so they aren’t exactly sleepers. However, when the first Dodge Charger came to market in 1966, it was a far more subtle performance car.

These first generation Chargers aren’t as popular as the second generation models that were offered from 1968 through 1970, but they still offer impressive performance in a premium package. One of these first generation Chargers available for purchase on ClassicCars.com and it is a stunning example of the early Dodge muscle car.

Classic Dodge Charger Look

This 1967 Dodge Charger sports the factory appearance, with the exception of the era-correct Cragar chrome mag wheels wrapped in BFGoodrich Radial T/A rubber. It is painted original Dark Green Metallic and all of the chrome look flawless from front to rear, top to bottom. It seems as though this car has not been restored, but it is hard to tell from the posting. There is no mention of an exterior restoration, only an engine rebuild, but it also doesn’t state that it is original paint. The odometer reads 5,744 and the information seems to suggest that it has less than 6,000 miles on it since new.

The underside of this Charger is clean, but it looks more like a driver than a car that would have mirrors under it at a show.

On the inside, this 1967 Charger features gold vinyl seats with low-back front buckets with an arm rest that flips up to create another (very narrow) seat and two more buckets in the rear. The original four-gauge cluster looks perfect, with a speedometer that goes to 150 and a tachometer that revs to 6,000 rpm. As is the case on the outside, the interior chrome looks great, as do the radio and heater controls.

In terms of appearance, this 1967 Dodge Charger appears to be ready for the car show with an all-original look. For those who don’t like the Cragar wheels, the original wheels are included, as is a collection of extra parts.

Big Block Power

This Dodge Charger is powered by the original 440-cubic inch V8, delivering 375 horsepower and 480 lb-ft of torque per the official company ratings. The engine was rebuilt and repainted two years ago, with an Edelbrock intake manifold and an Edelbrock four-barrel carburetor. This was the second-highest powered engine offered for the 1967 Charger, trailing only the 426 Hemi. Even today, the 440 is still one of the most respected engines of the classic American muscle car era.

This 440 is mated to an A727 TorqueFlite automatic transmission and a set of 3.23 gears, providing a nice mix of cruising comfort and acceleration. The shocks appear to be modern replacements.

Performance options on this 1967 Dodge Charger include a larger radiator and power brakes with front disc assemblies, so back when this car was new, it was one of the highest performance cars on the market.

Today, this Charger is listed on the website for $49,900. While that is no small chunk of change, it is a great price for such a clean machine. If you want an original, numbers-matching Dodge Charger with big block power, this car looks just about perfect.

Photos: Classic Cars

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Patrick Rall

"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.

"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.

"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.

"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.

"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.

"Being based on Detroit," says Rall, "I never miss the North American International Auto Show, the Woodward Dream Cruise and Roadkill Nights, along with spending plenty of time raising hell on Detroit's Woodward Avenue with the best muscle car crowd in the world.

Rall can be contacted at QuickMirada@Yahoo.com

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