The luck of being called a Charger....

[ramairthree]

I like a lot of different old cars, not just Mopar.

I have noticed something about old Chargers I would like to hear what others have to think.

It has to do with the base models being called Charger and not something else.

When someone goes to sell a base model 318, he can still call it a Charger.

I have noticed that base cars with the same name tend to sell for closer to the actual muscle car versions price.

Some examples other than Charger are:
Chevelle
Cutlass

When all is said and done, even if they are not selling a big block car, RT, SS, or 442
it IS a Charger, Chevelle, Cutlass.


But for the guy selling a Satellite, he can't call it a Road Runner.
THe guy selling a Lemans or Tempest cant call it a GTO.
THe guy selling a Skylark can't call it a GSX, etc.

So, I for one am glad a Charger is called a Charger, instead of some other name.

[Brock Lee]

Charger was unique really. It was like they designed a brand of cars within a brand. If you pay attention the name "Dodge" does not appear anywhere on the exterior of most old Chargers (I know 2nd gens for sure have no mention). Your only identifiers are a tiny Pentastar on the passenger fender and fratzogs on the turnsignals, and maybe the wheel covers. During the 2nd generation the body exterior was completely unique in the B body line. While you could 'borrow" numerous parts across even Coronet and Plymouth models, the Charger was all its own. They offered cars from slant 6 base cars to hemi equipped super cars all under the Charger banner.

[69bronzeT5]

Some more I can think of where the car is the same but model names are different.....

-Coronet >>>> Superbee
-Belvedere>>>GTX
-Barracuda>>>Cuda
-Firebird>>>>>Trans Am

[Darkman]

When you say Charger in Australia, this is what people think of:

[mauve66]

green one is sweet

1sg gens had dodge across the front of the hood

[Brock Lee]

Not sure about post 91, but the "Trans Am" was a package in the Firebird line through the 80's. It was not its own independent model. Technically you had a "Firebird Trans Am". Even later as they made them more complex, it was all still in the Firebird line of vehicles, Firebird SE, T/A, Formula, GTA.

[375instroke]

Notice that a Coronet R/T only says DODGE on it, and no Coronet badging anywhere?

What about the Dart?  Does a 273 Dart compare in price to a 340 or big block Dart?  Like Carrol Shelby says, it's not the name that makes the car.  The car makes the name.  Chargers are just cool.  Perhaps I wouldn't feel the same if it had a stupid name.  I heard the Japanese were going to call the 240Z the Fairlady.  Who the hell would drive around in a Fairlady?

[Brock Lee]

Notice that a Coronet R/T only says DODGE on it, and no Coronet badging anywhere?

I never noticed that! It looks like the same year 500 are the same way!

[375instroke]

The 500 said Coronet on the quarters in '67 and '68, then on the fenders in '69 and '70.  The '69 Coronet R/T only said Dodge.  Not sure about the other years.

I guess some hub caps said Dodge on them.  Other than that, only Charger name plates on a '68 or '69.  Are there any other Mopars like that?  Do Daytonas say Charger anywhere?

[451-74Charger]

Not sure about post 91, but the "Trans Am" was a package in the Firebird line through the 80's. It was not its own independent model. Technically you had a "Firebird Trans Am". Even later as they made them more complex, it was all still in the Firebird line of vehicles, Firebird SE, T/A, Formula, GTA.

What is more confusing.. the Firebird and use the Formula and Transam as the same option code... one Base, the other Top line

[ramairthree]

I was getting at how the name of the car can add to it's value or desirebility.
If base Chargers had been called something else, the orbit, or whatever,
would they have the same value and desiribility that they do.

I think being called a tempest or lemans makes the GTO base cars less valuable, vs. all Chevelles being called Chevelles.

Similarly, a thirdgen Charger base model or 318  RoadRunner tends to go for more than, say a Satellite.

[b5blue]

Remember CHARGER was the "Flagship" model for Dodge! Just as Vett's were for Chevy.

[Spike]

When you say Charger in Australia, this is what people think of:

And I would happy with anyone of them