1973 Dodge Charger: Designs On A Mopar Dream That Hits The Musculus Car Oculus Strings
Dodge my heart. When somebody says, “Coke bottle,” they unremarkably hateful a pop bottle of carbonated soda synonymous amongst dining as well as refreshment. They don’t intend to brand me recall of Dodge Chargers, when they nation that, because they didn’t nation the give-and-take “design,” although that is what I listen inwards my head…
”Coke bottle design.”
I am non certain if that was fifty-fifty a Mopar-condoned phrase? However, it was dangerously approximately encroaching on copyright infringement.
 |
| This dark as well as white 1973 go-getter was an oddly optioned 340 engine automobile amongst the bulged hood I dearest so much. |
 |
| The 340 engine, amongst bucket seats as well as a console, was a footstep to a higher house the measure 318 as well as column shift base of operations model. I uncovering it strange that this Charger had the options, only was non an S.E. I genuinely made an offering on this one, so maintain your fingers as well as toes crossed for me! I desire this Dodge Charger car. |
Shaped like a dream
Maybe, it is my ain error for spreading the phrase similar a mantra of sorts? Having purposefully non done whatsoever question on the origin, I wishing to throw this out at that topographic point equally food-for-car-guy-thought. I bet the root fourth dimension anyone stood behind the novel for 1968 Dodge Charger as well as saw the lines as well as curves of that body, the phrase was born. Parenthetically, I practise believe it was to a greater extent than than that. I recall using the Coke’s packaging equally an describing word was a overnice means of putting it. This was downright curvy similar Jeannie’s bottle. Really to a greater extent than similar Jeannie herself. What attracts us to the lines of that car? What makes women envious of Dodge’s design victory of 1968? Put it together, people. Come on.
Okay, I volition nation it. The 1968 Dodge Charger… she’s kinda hot.
In the blood
My grandfather was a Dodge guy. He bought a 1974 Charger S.E off the showroom floor. But, it wasn’t all his idea. My grandmother had to receive got the car. It wasn’t a 4 door. She didn’t care. It didn’t teach dandy fuel mileage. She didn’t care. It did even so receive got a V-8, strikingly scarlet pigment as well as a dark vinyl top. For that, she cared. So, so along came me... and I cared too. That is why I receive got a soft spot for this era Charger – 1971-to-1974. I dearest them. The “Coke bottle” inspiration, from the 1968-1970 models, remains.
|
| This 1973 Charger caught me off guard. If you are thinking 1972 model because of the hidden caput light option. We are both right! It is a 1973 Charger amongst 1972 effect caput lights! |
On a recent photograph shoot nosotros constitute the Mopar stash of a lifetime. I could non assist only dismiss upwardly my photographic television receiver camera as well as role of Jody’s. Why practise nosotros practise this to each other? I knew I wasn’t looking for some other projection to accept residence hither at the Junkyard Life shop, or at our Top Secret Undisclosed Storage Facility. We receive got enough of things to do! Including, uncovering a house for a few Chargers that I wanted:
 |
| This banana-flavored 1974 Charger was in all likelihood an OSHA approved color. You cannot claim to non receive got seen this 1 coming. This one, although soundless non an S.E, was a dandy find. |
 |
| I imagine the Yellow (Y1 or is it lime?) Charger amongst a few subtle apartment dark pivot stripes to intermission upwardly the lime a little. |
 |
| This 1972 Charger was genuinely inwards the weeds. I declared this point. “Boys, I’m going in!” So I did. I Indiana Jonesed my means to what I recall may receive got been a Rallye Charger. |
 |
| I bled a piffling to teach this ’72 interior photo. But, it paid off when I discovered the bucket seats as well as console package. Score! |
 |
Remember that Junkyard Life story where nosotros constitute a yearbook photograph of a Charger S.E from a Birmingham surface area high schoolhouse as well as wondered nearly the availability of the giant sunroof? Well, nosotros constitute one! This 1973 or 1974 Charger answered ringlet telephone band today. Check this out... an S.E (note the slotted side glass) as well as a... hold off for it... |
 |
| Gigantic Sunroof! Thank you, Dodge! I bet this automobile was amazing fun as well as I promise it volition live on a fun ride again, someday soon. |
 |
| A Rallye stripe adorned 1 of the many Dodge Chargers inwards the brush. |
 |
| Climbing over as well as through thick patches of thorns was required to teach a closer expect at most of the Mopars. |
 |
| This 1969 Dodge Charger sports a luggage rack, a manufacturing works life choice I celebrate now. Why? Because the rack was a manufacturing works life equipment as well as people hated them, thus removing them or non paying coin for them, inwards the root place. Luggage racks were a family-car-thing-oriented-option that many felt did non belong on a Charger. So, if it was uncool then, Junkyard Life loves them now. Don’t fifty-fifty teach us started on station wagons. With this “Coke bottle design” (there is that phrase again) it is difficult to imagine anything on a 1969 Charger that is uncool. This pic does non properly bring the lines as well as contours of this body. Wow. |
Dodge dreaming
Thanks for reading along on our Charger fantasy. Hopefully, these consummate examples volition live on dorsum on the route in 1 lawsuit to a greater extent than soon. If I receive got anything to practise amongst it, that dark 1973 Charger volition live on mine. Oh yes. Mine! Did you lot e'er imagine the JYL guys inwards a Mopar? Well, nosotros receive got been fantasizing nearly it all day!
Ron Kidd
— Junkyard Life
 |
- The root Chargers introduced inwards 1966 are rumored to live on an respond to the “pony” automobile craze. The mucho sales dominating Ford Mustang was offered inwards a pop Fastback trunk style. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Mustang is a wild fast horse. What could outrun or at to the lowest degree outclass a Mustang? Another Equus caballus of higher reform as well as pedigree perhaps? Something royal, as well as powerful, unremarkably ridden past times knights? The embodiment of literary equestrian transportation*? The fine Arab Charger – hence, the Dodge Charger was born.
- Chargers were introduced equally “leaders inwards the Dodge rebellion” I nation mainly because the designers were fraught amongst doubting Thomases telling them the fastback blueprint was non going to function amongst the public. Oh, they were so wrong.
- “Look at it from where you lot may, you lot won't uncovering an ungainly or awkward aspect — proof of the Dodge Charger's superiority inwards styling." — Motor Trend, Jan 1966. (One of many Charger facts constitute on chargersourceguide.com)
- Ron’s Grandmother overheard some stuffy, affluent adult woman proverb the cite of her car, as well as from that betoken forward, she would alone nation the words, “Charger,” past times slightly turning her head, half-closing her eyes as well as mocking the woman. “Chaaarjah”
- Dodge continued the Charger nameplate for a few years amongst a trunk trend modify for 1975. They were basically a Chrysler Cordoba amongst Charger emblems. They did, however, receive got a fourth dimension catamenia of weird interiors adorned with shag carpeting as well as plaid upholstery. Things went from bad to worse. Carroll Shelby attempted to wake upwardly the nameplate during the mid 1980’s. He built a means cool Dodge Daytona Shelby version amongst stripes as well as a high winding 2.2 litre 4-cylinder engine. Fun, yes, only many argued it should non receive got been dubbed amongst the sacred Charger nomenclature.
* Editor’s note: Never earlier receive got nosotros used the phrase, “The embodiment of literary equestrian transportation,” as well as nosotros in all likelihood never volition again. At least, I promise nosotros don’t.
Know a junkyard that nosotros necessitate to visit? Tips for our projects?
Send emails to Jody Potter at junkyardbull@gmail.com or Ron Kidd at Kidd403@bellsouth.net.