Simon Cars - Dodge Charger 1971-74

Dodge Charger 1971-74

Chrysler gave its B-body cars a new body for 1971 for the Dodge Coronet, Plymouth Belvedere, Plymouth GTX, Plymouth Road Runner, and Plymouth Satellite, and the Dodge Charger was demoted to being a 2-door Coronet Coupe. This was largely a result of increasing Federal regulations for safety and emissions and rising insurance premiums for 'Muscle Cars'. Wheelbase dropped from 117-inches to 115-inches. New metal was given for 1973 but the cars didn't look too different. The R/T model had been replaced by the Rallye which was mainly a styling package, and a new SE model gave higher trim. In 1975 a new Charger was introduced.

aa Dodge Charger 1971 440 badge

Dodge Charger 1971 440 - rear lamps

aa Dodge Charger 1972 Rallye badge

Dodge Charger 1972 Rallye - badge on c-pillar

ac Dodge Charger 1972 Rallye head

Dodge Charger 1972 Rallye. Engine choices started with an inline six, and included the 5,210cc (318) fitted in this example.

ac Dodge Charger SE 1973 400 head

Dodge Charger SE 1973 400. The 400 had a 6,551cc 4-barrel 260 bhp V8 engine. There were other options for inline sixes, but a 318 (5,210cc) V8 was common.

Dodge Charger 1971 440 front

Dodge Charger 1971 440. The Charger now returned to its Coronet roots, becoming essentially a 2-door coupe Coronet. the 440 (7.2-litre) V8 option was still available. Hidden headlamps were an option.

Dodge Charger 1971 440 rear

Dodge Charger 1971 440. The third generation Charger was now a 2-door coupe version of the Dodge Coronet and therefore the Plymouth Satellite

Dodge Charger 1972 Rallye front

Dodge Charger 1972 Rallye. For 1972 the R/T package was dropped and replaced with the tamer Rallye package.

Dodge Charger SE 1973 400 front

Dodge Charger SE 1973 400. Chrysler introduced new panel work for 1973. But whereas the 'Charger' had been a muscle car previously, now it was downgraded to the level of lowly Plymouths with which it shared a body.

Dodge Charger SE 1973 400 rear

Dodge Charger SE 1973 400. New panels for 1973, with revised grilles and lamps, but the Charger was by 1973 just a 2-door Coronet Coupe.

Dodge Charger SE 1973 400 side

Dodge Charger SE 1973 400. Chrysler introduced new bodies for 1971 on a shorter 115-inch wheelbase, and new panels for 1973. The triple Opera window was only given to the SE model.

l Dodge Charger SE 1973 400 lamps

Dodge Charger SE 1973 400 - rear lamps

American Cars Dodge Index Simon Cars