Why Are 70's Considered Lesser Than 68/69's ?

[JB400]

Could it be that the 70 still suffers from Chrysler's sales promotions?  They did sort of kick it to the curb when introducing the Challenger.

Personally, I'd rather prefer the 69. It has all the good attributes of the 68, and improves on them.

[DAY CLONA]

Although I like the 68-70 Chargers, 1st and 3rd gens just don't cut it in the looks department compared to the 2nd gen styling....the 68 while nice never appealed to me, the grille was to barren, the taillights too Camaroish, the side markers didn't "fit" the car's lines,... the 69 started to get it right, but the grill spliter is too distracting, now the 70 has it all goin on!, colors, 6 pak, the best looking interior, esp the seats, door scoops, the tail light fascia panel, rear go wing, awesome grill treatment, pistol grip shifters, rallye wheels, combine that with a sunroof....the other years pale in comparison...sorry, it is, what it is!
Mike

[bull]

IMO there's very little wrong with the 70 Charger and there are many features that make it superior to its older brothers. I like the plastic lower dash pieces, better seats, more interesting options and color choices, etc. I once owned one and would again. Fewer of them were built which makes them harder to find today. My best guess is that the styling trends at the time went a different direction so sales dropped and Dodge ended that 2nd gen design. The grille is not my favorite of the three but the body colored wrap around bumpers I have seen are really growing on me lately. Not to piss.anyone off but I'd probably sooner own a 70 than a 69.

[Patronus]

I have a '69, but I will only ever buy another Charger thats from 1970.

[Mike DC]

  
IMHO the styling is the only factor still causing significant value differences between '68-70 now.  



All 3 years came with great drivetrains from the factory.  

All 3 years are miles away from being cheap available cars today regardless of the original production numbers.  

Most of the hobby was not buying cars in 1968-70.  Many are not even old enough to have driven these cars before they needed restorations.  I don't see any of the original advertising/prices/etc having much effect now. 

There are minor mechanical improvements from 68-70 but it's all absolutely prehistoric by today's standards.    

[dual fours]

Well now, I would like to also own a 68 or 69 Charger, but I had to settle for a 70. It was the only Charger on the car wash lot for sale at the time, April 1977.
Had it been a 68 or a 69 I still would have bought it. A 68/69 still would have put the same fear in the eyes of others cruising the notorious Circuit in the days. Hell, coming towards you from a block away you could tell it was a 70, can that be said about the 68/69's, that big chrome bumper was going to swallow you up, if you were behind it (FoMoCo's, Gee-M's), as most challengers (not the car) were, all's they saw was it's ass. If 70's are considered lesser then 68/69's, well then I guess that's because there may be more 68/69's owners out there, guess that gives the 68/69 people about 2/3rds. of the votes, compared to about 1/3rd. from the 70's people. I don't consider 68/69's greater then 70's or vice versa.
Third time's a charm .
Yeah yeah, I know my 70 Charger has some issue's me.
That is one hell of a grill though .

[bull]

I always thought one of the biggest reason's for lower # was due to the new Challenger coming out & the all new body style for the Barracuda?

Could it be that the 70 still suffers from Chrysler's sales promotions?  They did sort of kick it to the curb when introducing the Challenger.

I've never thought of this but now that you guys mention it it sounds pretty logical.

[Beep Beep Dave]

I only consider what I like - and I like them all....all for similar and different reasons.

Well said.
They are also my favorite Mopar to wash/wax. All the great lines and you can really appreciate the coke bottle styling.

Dave

[Mike DC]

I've never thought of this but now that you guys mention it it sounds pretty logical.

Yeah, I hadn't thought about the promotion angle of it.  

It's no secret that the Chally took a bite out of Charger sales in those days - Charger went from 85,000 to 50,000.


Maybe that demonstrates something about widespread brand loyalty in those days.  The Chally took a bite out of sales of the closest Mopar.  Shouldn't it have only been biting off sales of GM/Ford ponycars, for the most part?

[polywideblock]

could it be that they took what they could get until mopar came out with a pony car of their own 

[fy469rtse]

I have one of each , 68 has the best rear 68 69 both have good looking fronts , the grill and bumper on the 70 , it looks more like a big c body cruiser than muscle car, but they grow on you, but there are other things that put me off, the steering column out of a c body, the cheapened dash plastics where padded pieces were on previous years , the high back seats just look out of place , the cheapened treatment to rear , mouldings and such, mines an RT and that makes up for it, but give me a 68 any day base model what ever,

[stripedelete]

I've never thought of this but now that you guys mention it it sounds pretty logical.

Yeah, I hadn't thought about the promotion angle of it.  

It's no secret that the Chally took a bite out of Charger sales in those days - Charger went from 85,000 to 50,000.


Maybe that demonstrates something about widespread brand loyalty in those days.  The Chally took a bite out of sales of the closest Mopar.  Shouldn't it have only been biting off sales of GM/Ford ponycars, for the most part?

Now apply that to the prospect of a two door Charger today.

[Dreamcar]

I just can't get over the chrome ring around the 70 grille and the door scoops. I find them distracting, like they were added on the car (please don't hate on me if you own a '70). I think the 70 taillights with a 68 or 69 grille would look good.

It's funny, I just realized that my favorite Mopars are all different depending on the year:

68: Roadrunner (I'd love a 383 4spd in blue or red)
69: Charger (My all-time favorite, any model will do)
70: Challenger T/A (sublime with a 4spd)

[Mytur Binsdirti]

To me, the only things that make the 1970's desirable to me are.....
1. high impact colors (especially plum crazy)
2. better seats 

[Ghoste]

my 68 is a raw cutting edge design, a 70 is smooth and refined.

lets be thankful for both design.

And for the 69 which has the best features of both years plus a couple that are its own. 

[Cooter]

Best thing bout the 1970 Charger....

Buy it and sell the front clip for Daytona parts which makes the conversion back to the popular, 1969 easier..

[The70RT]

I got mine because at the time it was a great deal and wasn't even looking for a Charger. What sucks is when you have to get the bumper re-chromed it is big bucks compared to buying an aftermarket for 300 for a 68-69. At least you don't have to worry about bumping something and spending big bucks for the center I piece for a 69. The wood grain dash looks better IMO but the 600 for the dash panels is ridiculous. You don't see a 70 as much and I think the door scoops stand out and everyone knows it's an R/T....and as far as putting on a 69 clip.....really.....and paint it orange too...right? 

[Dodge Don]

'70's are often downplayed by '68/'69 owners due to an inferiority complex. 
     

Sarcasm aside I think there is some merit to this point.

68 & 69 guys sure spend alot of time pontificating on why they believe they are the best thing since sliced bread. 66-74...they are all nice.

[6pkrtse]

As much as I love my 70's. I wouldn't mind trading it for a 68' or a 69' just to have something a little different. (No, that doesn't mean I like a 68' or 69' better). I like all 3 years of the 2ND Charger.

[Ghoste]

Ron Jeremy never brags.  Oh wait a minute, that isn't true he does it all the time.  So much for theories about inferiority complex.

[bill440rt]

My "inferiority complex" post was entirely tongue in cheek. 
These threads come up time to time, and although highly entertaining there really is no one correct answer. All three 2nd gens are highly desirable in their own unique ways.
It's a moot debate really, on a forum dedicated to Chargers. 

[Ghoste]

I think we're all being tongue in cheek.  Seriously, we all have favorites and who doesn't cheer for the home team but we're all here for the same reasons and thats an automotive appreciation.

[Dans 68]

It is a 2nd gen. I have never considered it to be lesser that a '68 or '69. I'd love to have one if I had the room, time and money. A fellow Charger guy, and board member, out my way has a matched set of '70 R/T 4-speeds, his and hers, sequentially vin numbered. They are very easy on the eye.... 

Dan

[UH60L]

If someone offered me a '68, a '69 or a '70 for free, I wouldn't turn any of them down.

That said, the only real physical difference is the grille.  Back in the day they probably suffered from the marketing of the new challenger etc etc, but these days it probably has more to do with lack of fame (though as other have said, that is slowly changing).

Problem, these days it's real easy for everyone to look on the internet and go "oh man, it wasn't really a '70 charger, and it had a chevy motor and they faked the wheelie seen, bummer....". 

Thus, unlike the '68 (bullet) and the '69 (Dukes of Hazzard), from a purely monetary standpoint, they aren't worth as much. 

(or maybe it's because there still so many idiots out there that rant about how damn near every '68 and '69 charger were "destroyed" by the Dukes of Hazzard (in reality only about 300...)......I mean shoot, thanks to that, there must not be many left, so of course they are all worth more........)   

[Scaregrabber]

Actually the 70 is the best of the 68-70 series for me. I love the grille, R/T door scoops, high back buckets and pistol grip shifter. If I couldn't find a suitable 71 R/T a 70 R/T would be a good second choice.

Sheldon