Will we ever see the sunken rear window again?

[Charger440RDN]

Since we have thread about hideaway headlights, it's only appropriate to ask if the sunken rear window will ever return on any new car? This was an excellent design feature and made the 2nd gen one of the best looking from the rear. Has any manufacturer even done this since the 60's???

[Ghoste]

I would have to think the aerodynamic costs are too high.  Modern CAFE standards don't permit much in the way of wind drag.

[PocketThunder]

No, Jellybean cars are all we get.   

[miller]

The 2006 to 2010 Charger had a sunken rear window....

[Mike DC]

 
Put a small enough engine in it and just about any aero design becomes CAFE feasible. 


Maybe that's what we need.  A 4-banger Charger that looks like the real thing and is factory equipped with the wiring harness & engine mounts needed for a V8 swap.

[bull]

If they need to keep aerodynamics and yet want to build a retro Charger they could simply base it on the C500.

[doctor4766]

Since we have thread about hideaway headlights, it's only appropriate to ask if the sunken rear window will ever return on any new car? This was an excellent design feature and made the 2nd gen one of the best looking from the rear. Has any manufacturer even done this since the 60's???

Sorry for using the F word but this is Ford Australia's effort in the early 70's.
In fact the rear glass is shaped similarly to the Dart ie almost concave



There have also been Ferrari's and Toyota MR2's that have had "sunken" rear screens over the years.

[chargd72]

Aftermarket companies are making them.

[daytonalo]

GOD I HOPE NOT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Aero426]

Nissan has done it on the Maxima, I believe.

[Charger440RDN]

Aftermarket companies are making them.

Call me crazy but I think I kind of like it  That sunken rear window instantly makes the new Charger look better

[bull]

Aftermarket companies are making them.

Call me crazy but I think I kind of like it   That sunken rear window instantly makes the new Charger look better

Amazing isn't it how much time, money and effort has been spent on trying to make the new "Charger" look like a Charger? Even Chrysler is finally trying to get in on it; albeit too little, too late.

[Charger440RDN]

Aftermarket companies are making them.

Call me crazy but I think I kind of like it   That sunken rear window instantly makes the new Charger look better

Amazing isn't it how much time, money and effort has been spent on trying to make the new "Charger" look like a Charger? Even Chrysler is finally trying to get in on it; albeit too little, too late.

Yeah they could have saved themselves a lot of trouble and controversy if they had designed the damn thing right to begin with. Especially putting the Charger name on it. The new design is better but it still sucks.....that front end...................

[daytonalo]

It still has too many doors !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! what a mess ..............................................

[aussiemuscle]

It still has too many doors !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! .............................................

but if you were buying a two door, wouldn't you get a challenger or a Corvette? i mean, if you are going to spend that much on a new car...?

[daytonalo]

That is a no-brainer

[hemi68charger]

Aftermarket companies are making them.

That looks like the Mexican Darts......... An after-thought............

[Chargerrtforme]

Since we have thread about hideaway headlights, it's only appropriate to ask if the sunken rear window will ever return on any new car? This was an excellent design feature and made the 2nd gen one of the best looking from the rear. Has any manufacturer even done this since the 60's???

Not to upset you Mopar guys but someone told me the 2nd gen sail panel design is a copy of the popular 66 67 GTO roofline. They do look very similar.  Nothing wrong with that, any truth to it?

[Ghoste]

Obviously the idea came from there but the Charger crew made it attractive.  The half hearted attempt on those bent looking GM cars was, well, not so much.

[Brock Samson]

  I read it was to give the Charger a more "fastback" roof line, the term is "Tunnel Back" and first came into play on Italian sports cars so that in profile they would have a "Fast Back", in the original design sketchs for the second Gen. it did not have the tunnel and sure looked a lot like a convertable '68 Sting Ray with the roof on... see the pics below...

[Ghoste]

A cheaper way of keeping the fastback profile of the 1st gens.

[Brock Samson]

admit it though, if the '68 Charger had a Coronet roof line it wouldn't look nearly as sweet. 

[Ghoste]

If the Charger had the Coronet roofline, then it may as well have been a Coronet.

[Charger440RDN]

Did the designer on the Charger come to Chrysler from GM? I thought I read that somewhere, that would explain the similar body lines to the 67 Pontiac GTO and 67 Chevelle. Before 68 all of mopar designs were extremely boxy looking

[Ghoste]

I think at that time everyone was likely trying to look over GM's shoulder.