50 years at the peak of popularity: Dodge Charger

In the distant 1966 on the Rose Bowl Game, the eyes of the audience appeared Dodge Charger - a new car company Dodge. And now for almost fifty years this model remains a cult for all motorists. The reasons for this unquenchable popularity we will now tell.

Idea

The prototype of the Dodge Charger was the Pontiac GTO, released two years earlier, in 1964. It has become so popular that many companies have started to create similar in design models. On this wave, this machine was designed. But unlike its prototype, the Dodge Charger has not lost popularity for many decades.

First generation

Design

The card of the very first model was the "electric shaver" radiator grill (as well as the electric shaver), as well as the headlights completely concealed beneath it that had not been used since the fifties.

Inside view

In the cabin were four separate seats, as well as many exclusive parts, for example, the backlight of the instrument panel.

Characteristics

Each car was delivered complete with one of the four V8 engines to choose from:

• 318 - volume of 5.2 liters, two-chamber carburetor;
• 361 - 5.9 liters, the carburetor is the same;
• 383 - 6.3 liters, four-chamber carburetor, power - 325 horsepower; This engine was ordered most often;
• 426 "Street Hemi" volume of 7 liters, two four-chamber carburetor.

A spoiler on the trunk was also optionally installed. Dodge Charge, by the way, became the first American production car with a spoiler.

The second generation

In 1968, the developers decided to further change the Dodge Charger, but the redesign turned out not very significant. The tachometer was now installed as an option, and a vinyl rug appeared in the trunk.

In 1969 the car was again modified. On it there was a new radiator grille, divided in the middle. Also added designer tail lights.

In 1970, the original grille returned and a chrome bumper was installed on the model.

The third generation

In 1971, the design of the Dodge Charger has undergone drastic changes. The body has become more rounded, and the radiator grill is again separate. In the list of components, a spoiler and a special hood with an air intake over the air filter.

In 1973, the model began to be equipped with new tail lights, and again the design of the radiator grille was changed . A distinctive feature of this version are three small side windows.

In 1974, added a few new paint options, increased the rubber bumpers, and the engine was replaced with a new one with a four-chamber carburetor.

The fourth generation

Since 1975, the car has been produced on the basis of Chrysler Cordoba with engines ranging from 5.2 to 6.6 liters. The most popular engine was Chrysler LA 380 V8 with a volume of 5.9 liters.

Dodge Charger SRT

Since the last modification, the company has produced many models based on the Charger. One of them, quite young, produced since 2012, was the Dodge Charger SRT 8. It is equipped with a powerful engine HEMI volume of 6.4 liters capacity of 465 horsepower. It also installs a five-speed automatic transmission.

Initially, this car was planned as a sports car, but eventually its purpose changed - it became more a luxury item that can be put in the garage and from time to time they admire. But on the road on it is no longer driven.

Dodge Charger has long gone beyond the "means of transportation." Rather, it is the status and expressive lifestyle of its owner.