Age demographic between Charger generations?

[Ghoste]

I have no intention of trying to conduct any sort of actual research into this, but does anyone else think there is generalized age demographic between the first 3 generations of Charger styling?  Do you notice more of one age group into the fastbacks and another into the 68-70's and so on?

[G-man]

I dont even understand the question... are you talking about age of people that drive say 66-67 vs 68-70 and 71-74 (like a generalization of what age group/generation drive which generation vehicle) which in turn is like , 66-67 is an old mans car cause only old people drive it while crazy people drive 68-70s  (this kind of gist of thinking)?

No Idea.

Im 26 - QQ1 68 Charger 383ci colum shift auto. Hopefully when Im 27 a 528ci all alloy (including block like the 540's) goes in its place with the new Alloy Ultra Dominator Holley DP carb.

I never knew a 66-67 charger existed. When I was little I remember dukes of hazard, I remember TV adds, I remember movies.... far as my feelings go... 68-70 is the only charger I know of. 66-67 and 71-74 arent charges in my mentality cause I grew up watching that, so if someone says Charger (general population of the world also I believe would agree) they think B-body 68-70 and nothing else.

[Ghoste]

You're halfway there.  Not what the general population envisions when they hear the word Charger.  When you attend a car show and see groups of Chargers, do you notice a certain age bracket tend to more commonly own the different generations?  In your case, couldn't you almost say they are all older?

[motorcitydak]

Im 23 with a '68. I think that most people with a muscle car would most likely be 30-45 tho. Especially those with a completely finsihed car. Many of us young guys can drop a few G's on a car that we want, but is a basket case. The real question has to do with how many of us kids can actually finish one. I bought mine from a 20 year old guy BTW. He bought it for 3 grand 2 years or so before as a complete car. He then tore it completely down and decided to unload it.

[G-man]

You're halfway there.  Not what the general population envisions when they hear the word Charger.  When you attend a car show and see groups of Chargers, do you notice a certain age bracket tend to more commonly own the different generations?  In your case, couldn't you almost say they are all older?

In my case they all are, never seen someone younger at a show  

I see 35-50 (maybe 55) age group with B-body style. Never seen a 66-67 in australia but I see that car by its design as a more 'classic' car rather than a beefy looking muscle car.... making it in my mind a car someone retired would be happy to drive (like those old jaguars usualy driven by the older people cause they have that classic yet prestigeness to it)

68-70 I see in my head as either young or old just wanting a car to roam streets (bullit style) and drag race light-light (sorta like the dumb teenagers driving ricers for that reason, we just do it carefully and have a car that just looks like u dont mess with it) - Dukes of hazard type of running around having fun also. A car that just looks bad and yet used to drag and yet used to just all the above.

and 71-74 I see by its designed something people would own to still have a muscle car but something that would be seen more on the racetrack (its got racey lines to it) which would be owned by the race car drivers that are in there white suits and helmets with all the castrol etc stickers 30+ age group.

[AKcharger]

I say 7

[ChgrSteve67]

Certain people are drawn to certain cars, don't know why. If age has much to do with it then it comes down to a product of ones environment. For me these were the cars my friends drove in high school and were cheep to aquire.  Much like the imports today are so popular with high school kids, cheep and easy.

For some, now that you are older you can afford the car you wish you could have had when you were younger.

Its funny but when I go to car shows the car that seems to get the most attention from all ages is the VW Bug.  I think because there were so many of them, so many people use to own one or crusie around with thier friends in one (and don't forget Herbie) it stirs memories in more people than any other car.

[Steelshanks]

I'm 28 and I own the same type of car as the old guy who posted above me. I had seen the Dukes of Hazard car when I was a kid and never liked it. 1st Gen for me, thx bye

[bull]

Nah, it's just a matter of taste IMO.

[greenpigs]

37 here and I think there is a healthy range of ages. 

[elacruze]

I'm 48, and I've owned my '68 since I was 18.

I just realized I missed my 30th Anniversary. 

Now what?

[tan top]

owned my  69 charger since i was 17 , now i'm 38 .......................

[Musicman]

I think affordability may play a part in this as well... especially with the younger guys who are busy spending most of their hard earned cash on beer & woman, in a futile effort to satisfy their primal urges

[ITSA426]

1966 Charger came out when I was in high school.  I still remember the first one I ever saw.  Liked them then, and they are still my favorite.

[Ghoste]

I think affordability may play a part in this as well... especially with the younger guys who are busy spending most of their hard earned cash on beer & woman, in a futile effort to satisfy their primal urges

So is the fact that I still do that proof that I'm not as old as I think, that I have a youthful outlook, or that I just haven't grown up? 

[RECHRGD]

I'm 61 with a '68.  But, I had a new '68 back in the day.  Just kind of reliving my youth while I still can.  Around here most of the classic Charger owners that I know are older regardless whether your talking 1st, 2nd or 3rd generation cars.  We had these cars before anyone had heard of a General Lee.  FastbackJon has both 1st and 2nd generation cars and is still a puppy, but his passion for these cars was fueled by his late father.  SilverRT is another young guy with a '68, but I don't know what or who got him into these cars.  As others have touched on, it takes money to restore and maintain these cars and most of the young guys are lacking in that department.    Bob

[Musicman]

So is the fact that I still do that proof that I'm not as old as I think, that I have a youthful outlook, or that I just haven't grown up?  

Obviously you just haven't got the hang of it yet... keep trying... or then again, maybe your just hopeless... in which case you should just give up

[Brock Samson]

 I remember when the '66 came out and the hubbub bucket seats and a fastback made, of course i was 9 but as a now 52 yr old I suspect few cars hold the iconic status a second Gen. have. if for no other reason first because they are such damn fine looking automobiles.
Don't get me wrong I love the first Gens. Almost had a couple over the years - but the difficulty in finding parts and their limited avail. especially compared to the Third Gens. hold them back, so there I think is a good reason the third Gens. are more popular, they tend to be more of them around and being more years and choices to wench on.
Much easier and affordable to find a 3rd. then a 1st.
2nds are problematic for being so popular.

 

[twodko]

The military, school, career and family made acquiring a classic car "back burner" stuff for me. All those things going on including little or no discretionary cash make it very difficult for younger folks to buy even a near finished "dream car". I bought my first Chevelle at 50, restored it and then saw the mopar light. 1969 has always been the only year for me. The Chevelle was great for a small block but I thirsted for big block brute force, window rattling, old lady scaring mopar Nirvana! At 50 I still couldn't afford a finished BB Chevelle SS so we restored the one we had and sold it to buy our Charger at 55. Very pricey but its our dream car and worth every penny plus its truly an investment car.

Tom

[Ghoste]

Obviously you just haven't got the hang of it yet... keep trying... or then again, maybe your just hopeless... in which case you should just give up

Give up which, trying to satisfy my primal urges or growing up?  (and there is no doubt that I'm hopeless btw )

[moparstuart]

I have two 69's now and am  41 , but the first mopar I owned was  a 70 R/T
at age 16 .  I have owned some kinda mopar muscle car ever since .   My son who is 17 has a 66 charger but that was mostly determined by the price , it the best he could afford on his budget .

[Khyron]

Nah, it's just a matter of taste IMO.

I think grouchy old men own the '68 383/2bbl/4spd series of Chargers

[slamooo]

 I'm 46. I have had a 73 since I was 16 . But the 1st gen are my favorite so when I could afford a 66 I bought one, then kids came. 4 of them and only 4 seats in the 66 it went away  :(and the 73 stayed. Now I'm into 69 Newport  drop tops  :vert:but the charger is still here.

[Mr.Woolery]

I think the age demographics of ownership are going to be greatly influenced by income.  Because of that, I think you'll find more older, fiscally established folks owning the 2nd gens simply because of the price they command.

I think if you added up the people based on age, you'll find a lot more younger folks with 3rd gen Chargers simply because of the cost factor (myself included).  Though I'd like to have a 2nd gen Charger, I'm more more able to afford a 3rd gen.

As for first gens, I think you'll find a good mix between young and old--they're still affordable and accessible to the younger generations, but they appeal to old codgers (just kidding).   

[jaak]

I'm 32 and have a 2nd and 3rd gen....best of both worlds!

Wouldn't mind having a 1st gen to go with them, though.

Jason

[69bronzeT5]

I'm 17 and I have my '69. My favorite years go.....1969, 1968, 1971, 1970 and so on....

[41husk]

I am 48 I own a 69 Daytona clone, and a 73 superBee clone.  I guess I would be classified as a clone guy, but wait I also own a 70 challenger convertible, just sold a bone stock 68 to purchase the Daytona clone.  I have owned a stock 72 and 67 charger I guess I am just confused.  In short I am a Mopar guy!

[Cooter]

37 here with a 1970 BASKET case that I converted to '69 and painted orange, because of the "DOH" show. Owned it for the last 7 years. I also own a 1958 Plymouth that I never even liked till the movie "Christine"...I look at it like dis, if it weren't for the movies/TV shows, how many Chargers/Plymouth musclecars wouldn't be restored? I thought the '58 was the ugliest car I'd ever seen when I first saw the movie now, I wouldn't change one damn thing...I wasn't old enough unfortunately to own one of these cars when they were "Before DOH", but I am now, I do, and I got it the HARD way....I remember MANY a buddy seeing the Charger in the shed and saying things like "He's a glutten for punishment", or "It'll never hit the road"...My satisfaction is THEY were the FIRST ones to ask for a ride when it was done....(They didn't get it )

[Khyron]

37 here with a 1970 BASKET case that I converted to '69 and painted orange, because of the "DOH" show. Owned it for the last 7 years. I also own a 1958 Plymouth that I never even liked till the movie "Christine"...I look at it like dis, if it weren't for the movies/TV shows, how many Chargers/Plymouth musclecars wouldn't be restored? I thought the '58 was the ugliest car I'd ever seen when I first saw the movie now, I wouldn't change one damn thing...I wasn't old enough unfortunately to own one of these cars when they were "Before DOH", but I am now, I do, and I got it the HARD way....I remember MANY a buddy seeing the Charger in the shed and saying things like "He's a glutten for punishment", or "It'll never hit the road"...My satisfaction is THEY were the FIRST ones to ask for a ride when it was done....(They didn't get it )

I want your 58 :drool:

[c00nhunterjoe]

I'm 26 but bought my 69 when i was 15,  however if i had the extra money i would buy a 66. got to drive one once and it was a lot of fun.

[OldGuy]

I'm with RECHRGD on this one.  I'm 62 and had a 68 Charger back in 1968.  MOPARs were not really a sought out car back when I was in high school - most guys wanted Chevy's; 1955-1957; Corvair Spider's, Volkswagons.  We all probably wanted Corvettes - especially the split window fastbacks; but no one could afford one, so we drove whatever we could get our hands on; I had a 1949 Mercury.  I had one buddy that had a 1964 Belvedere with a worked 383.  He could kick butt with it cause the Chevy's had stock 265's in them.  Some had upgraded their Chevy's with 327's but still couldn't keep up with him.  
In 1966, now out of high school, one of my buddies bought a brand new 1966 Hemi Charger, silver, black interior-beautiful car!!  The 1966 fastback was a totally new and different look to what was driving around.  The problem in my mind with the 1st generation Chargers back then was in 1965, AMC had already built the Marlin along the same body lines as the 1966 Charger -and most guys weren't excited about AMC products. Also, the common guy into muscle cars couldn't afford a new one, so they beefed up the car they had.  Meanwhile, my buddy with the Hemi Charger was kickin' everbody's butt.  That went on until he was racing another car out west of Ogden, Utah when he went off the road and killed himself and another guy riding with him.
When the 2nd generation Chargers, Road Runner's and Super Bee's came along, my generation were in their early 20's.  We were either coming back from Viet Nam or had jobs and some money that we could now buy a new car with.  Plus, the 2nd generation Charger was such a radical new design that personally, I couldn't keep my eyes off of it. It didn't hurt that the movie Bullit came out then, either (to be continued)

[OldGuy]

Late 60's and early 70's was when MOPARs started ruling the world back then.  Guy's were buying Road Runners because they were cheaper than the Chargers.  If you owned a Charger R/T, you were on top of the heap!!  When the muscle car era ended - most of us ended up buying Ford's or Chevy's to haul our families around.  Our kids were first exposed to the 2nd generation Chargers on Dukes of Hazzard.  So, that brought a younger crowd into the fold.  After the DOH died out, so did the desire for 60's 70's muscle cars.  Now that my age group is older and can again afford a few toys, we are going after that era car.  To me there are about three (3) age groups that want the 2nd generation Charger's - those who either had an original or wanted one, those who saw them on DOH and our kids who we convinced them that the 2nd generation Chargers was the car to have.  I can't speak for someone who owns a 1st generation and why he likes it more that the later ones - maybe because that is what they had back in the day or their parents owned one - but my youngest son, since he was a senior in high school wouldn't have anything but a 2nd generation Charger - I guess because that's all I talked about.  
So there you have it for what it is worth

[Brock Samson]

 

[FLG]

Im 21 with a 73.

Granted im partial to 3rd gens, i would like to have a few others to go with it. But because of my income this was the first car i could afford and it was close by. Its grown on me quite a bit and id never trade it, but id love to have a 2nd gen among other things.

[FastbackJon]

I'm past born but not yet dead.