View Full Version : What the Charger should have been
For all the gear heads (petrol heads as they say across the pond)- I was digging through some old pictures from a few years back and remember seeing (but now can't find it) a company from Colorado had designed and built a Dodge Charger concept car that was more true to the retro styling of the old favorite...
Here's what the Charger should have looked like when they reintroduced it:
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v04YG0l-aTo/TYyEOKWT0gI/AAAAAAAAALo/RF2-uy8wfn4/s1600/2011_dodge_charger.jpg
Here's what the 2013 Charger looks like:
http://coolestcarever.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/2013-Dodge-Charger-srt8.jpg
I'm not saying I don't like the new look of the charger, I actually think the '12 and later looks pretty cool, I'm not terribly wild about the original reintroduced look but don't hate it. I just think that this concept looks more true to form and awesome... And it featured the hide-away headlights! Talk about sticking with the original design! Ultimate, badass villain car!
Your thoughts? And please, all you Ford and Chevy people refrain as much as possible from dogging Mopar... arguably they built the best muscle cars of the late 60's-70's. Charger and Challenger were among some of the most sought after cars of that time. [Beer]
blacklabel
06-22-2012, 13:55
I don't think they could have gone that route because they'd be competing against the Challenger.
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/dodge-challenger-srt8-392.jpg
No performance car should be four door!
I still remember the first 1968 Charger I saw. Black vinyl top over blue with a Hemi.
blacklabel
06-22-2012, 13:58
Ohh, and being a Chevy guy, I have to bring up some of the Camaro concepts from before the new generation was released.
This is probably my favorite.
http://enjoymotocar.com/download/31046-1/Camaro-Concept.jpg
I don't think they could have gone that route because they'd be competing against the Challenger.
Remember though, the Charger came out a few years before they had the Challenger concept drafted for approval. This concept (with the true to past retro style grille) was released just a year after the Charger was reintroduced.
No performance car should be four door!
I still remember the first 1968 Charger I saw. Black vinyl top over blue with a Hemi.
I agree, sort of... There's a difference between sedans and muscle cars, performance cars can be four door (Look at Cadillac CTS-V, BMW, Audi, Merc, hell even the new Porsche Panamera), muscle cars should not.
Being a "Mopar guy", I was excited when I head they were going to bring the Charger back years ago. When I saw it had four doors, I was greatly disappointed. I was pretty excited to see the Challenger reappear with a close resemblance to it's predecessors.
Now, if someone would just market an affordable, good looking, two door car with a V-8 for around $15K I would be happy.
Tinelement
06-22-2012, 15:26
Being a jack of all trades master of none in the car world. Shoulda left the Charger/Challanger/ Camero where it belonged..... The 60's.
Waiting on some dillhole to redesign the '32 Ford.
Just my 2 cents!
HBARleatherneck
06-22-2012, 15:28
how about a 32 with a 34 grill? is that too much of a redesign?
sellersm
06-22-2012, 15:29
Yeah, I agree. Although I owned a later Charger (73 Charger SE), the '68 looked more like the pic you've got. The only thing about that concept that struck me when I first saw it, was the bloated rear.
Here's a '68:
http://i.imgur.com/4b61n.jpg
I do like the covered headhlights, black grill, that the concept has! I do wish they'd have gone with that concept instead of what they've got. Imnsho, they all look too similar! I don't recall the Charger, Challenger, Cuda (OK, so it's Plymouth) all looking the same...
No performance car should be four door!
I still remember the first 1968 Charger I saw. Black vinyl top over blue with a Hemi.
I agree that no "muscle car" should be four door, but my 2007 STi is one hell of a performance (rally) car. 305hp, turbo charged, AWD fun-ness.... Just watch any rally circuit for a little while and you'll see ;).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uh_eEOhdKFA (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_F0ndd2sG2U)
Being a jack of all trades master of none in the car world. Shoulda left the Charger/Challanger/ Camero where it belonged..... The 60's.
Waiting on some dillhole to redesign the '32 Ford.
Just my 2 cents!
http://www.pavilionboards.com/forum/images/smilies/golfclap.gif
Yep. Sad interpretation of the originals.
Tinelement
06-22-2012, 15:50
how about a 32 with a 34 grill? is that too much of a redesign?
IMO...... might as well just have built a 33/34
http://i1193.photobucket.com/albums/aa351/tinelement/34.jpg
[Puke]
All of these "bringing retro back" cars are a bit hit and miss though...
Remember this:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/71/Dodge-Dart-Swinger.jpg
Yep, that's the Dodge Dart- IIRC none of my friends or friends' parents ever thought of this as a "Must buy" car... hell even among my car-loving friends we don't have the Dart on our top 5 classic cars to own (for the record my list includes the '72 Charger R/T, and the '73 Corvette Stingray- the one with the 3/4mi long hood! [Coffee]).
Well fear not friends, the car you didn't want then, you can have now!
http://image.automobilemag.com/f/auto_shows/detroit/2012/1201_2013_dodge_dart_first_look/35087237+w440/2013-Dodge-Dart-front-view.jpg
[Eek3]
That looks rather not Dart-ish.
HBARleatherneck
06-22-2012, 16:16
IMO...... might as well just have built a 33/34
[Puke]
i agree, I have seen guys that started with 32s and changed them. I guess. since I am no tinelement, i am not for sure.
i do love 34s.
I loved the ’68-’70 Charger. I was disappointed at first with the new Charger; I was a lot less disappointed when the Challenger came out, and now the new Charger has really grown on me.
The Charger and Challenger are probably my two favorite cars available today along with the Corvette. I will eventually get the SRT/8 version of both. I like elements of the new Camaro and Mustang as well, but the Dodge cars fit my taste of driving something distinctively American and I like driving something that sends the message that I don’t give a rats ass about what anybody else thinks.
I completely disagree with the statement that they should have left these cars in the past…otherwise I would be stuck with that Eurasian shit they put on the roads today. I hate that ****ing crap!!!!
This photo helped change my opinion a few years back:
Completely sinister...
onebadfx4
06-22-2012, 18:26
It might be a 4 door but you throw a blower on the new charger SRT8 and you got one helluva grocery getter. I'm a chevy guy but I tried to convince the wife to get the SRT8. That things a beast.
sellersm
06-22-2012, 18:28
Nothing wrong with the SRT8! I still wonder why they make the rear window/trunk profile so huge!?! The old Chargers were slim.
So when will they bring back the riser air scoop?
blacklabel
06-22-2012, 18:33
Remember though, the Charger came out a few years before they had the Challenger concept drafted for approval. This concept (with the true to past retro style grille) was released just a year after the Charger was reintroduced.
Ahh, good point.
I agree with most here about being disappointed with the redesign of the (4 door) charger. Being a ford guy I feel that Chevy and Dodge ripped of Fords idea about "Going back to classic design" from the redesigned ponies. I would however own a Challenger, that's just pure sexy!
http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/c0.0.403.403/p403x403/422018_10151348796350112_559486513_n.jpg
http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/c95.0.403.403/p403x403/249523_147714785299575_6333752_n.jpg
My only Mopar...Back in the early 80's I had 72' Duster with the little 318 CID, "jacked-up ass-end," US Mag 5-slots, custom bucket seats and headers with 4' flex tubes into cherry bombs (couldn't afford a real exhaust system). Wasn't very fast but fast enough for a long-haired punk and loud as a MoFo, really loud. Use to hang-out, fight occasionally and chase ass down on nevada Ave in the Springs, good ride for that.
I don't get too excited about new renditions of old classics, just not the same after you lived it real-time...they're kinda like really nice silicon titties. I do like the new tech and I have to give it the nod overall (for my tastes these days).
But...for me...it's the rare 70' Hemi ‘Cuda Convertibles...there ya' go (PS, I never saw one in-person, few did). Superbirds were fun too, funky as hell but fun and plentiful and man...the ol' Super Bees with the acid dipped fenders...
Fist_gonzo
06-22-2012, 20:15
I agree with most here about being disappointed with the redesign of the (4 door) charger. Being a ford guy I feel that Chevy and Dodge ripped of Fords idea about "Going back to classic design" from the redesigned ponies. I would however own a Challenger, that's just pure sexy!
+1, looks wise I like the challenger, but gm and mopar are killing them with all that weight. Im a ford guy til I die and love that they brought the retro look back. no guessing you know its a mustang when you see it. As far as the charger... Blah, it has hemi..cool, but make it a 2 door and lose that black out front end on the srt models that shit looks like a rip off of the evo's front end.
Being a jack of all trades master of none in the car world. Shoulda left the Charger/Challanger/ Camero where it belonged..... The 60's.
Waiting on some dillhole to redesign the '32 Ford.
Just my 2 cents!
current crop of domestic designers is playing it "safe", not to mention lazy. maybe lazy. now is the next generation camaro going to look like a 71. They looked good. That would be easy.
+1, looks wise I like the challenger, but gm and mopar are killing them with all that weight. Im a ford guy til I die and love that they brought the retro look back. no guessing you know its a mustang when you see it. As far as the charger... Blah, it has hemi..cool, but make it a 2 door and lose that black out front end on the srt models that shit looks like a rip off of the evo's front end.
[Beer] I miss my 02, the Sharpe box style. Yea I have always been a Stang fan just need to win the lotto for the classic gt 500 [Awesom]
Fist_gonzo
06-22-2012, 22:42
current crop of domestic designers is playing it "safe", not to mention lazy. maybe lazy. now is the next generation camaro going to look like a 71. They looked good. That would be easy.
I wouldnt call it lazy, ford hit a bullseye with the retro look, thats a car that appealed to the young and older crowd, I see a bunch of older folk with 05+ mustangs bc it reminded them of the car,they had/wanted back in the day.
[Beer] I miss my 02, the Sharpe box style. Yea I have always been a Stang fan just need to win the lotto for the classic gt 500 [Awesom]
I hear ya, love the 03 cobras, yea a big block gt500 is on my wish list, that and a 2013 gt500 both red with white stripes
Here you go the 2013 GT500
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLZdKnDAMnE&feature=related
RIP Carol Shelby
Of all the retro throwback cars the Dodge Challenger is the best looking. Unfortunately the dealers are a little to proud of them w/ their 6K markup over the ridiculously high MSRP. If the Challenger was priced w/ the Camaro and Mustang GT I can promise you that there would be one sitting in my garage right now.
I was pretty dead set on getting the new Camaro SS but after everything I have been reading about the Coyote motor in the new Mustangs that may be the route I end up going.
I wouldnt call it lazy, ford hit a bullseye with the retro look, thats a car that appealed to the young and older crowd, I see a bunch of older folk with 05+ mustangs bc it reminded them of the car,they had/wanted back in the day.
I hear ya, love the 03 cobras, yea a big block gt500 is on my wish list, that and a 2013 gt500 both red with white stripes
You're right about the 05 and laters, and the New 5.0 is flat awesome. When the kids are out of car seats, I'll be ready
stevelkinevil
06-27-2012, 22:54
Being a Ford guy I must point out that Ford beat both of em to it with the 05 Mustang, Ford 1st, Dodge 2nd Chubby 3rd. Just the way its always been.
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