I wish this was a choice for the new charger.

[Ghoste]

Was he in charge of Dodge when they did the Charger?  I'm not sure of the years but he was styling director for trucks around the time the new Charger came out wasn't he?

[Gary42]

... Shame on Chrysler for destroying the Charger name like that,

They destroyed the Charger name long before the 2006 MY. (cordoba and omni chargers come to mind).

I am in "total" agreement with this statement and most all the others that have been posted here . Lose the divider and the "third/fourth" doors along with it. Renaming it something different would have been the "PERFECT" idea . I bought my new Challenger because they actually followed the "old" school lines of the car, but built it on the new #%*&@## Charger platform. It was a hit, sure, and soon coming to an end  , but I don't believe that putting the Cuda concept on the Fiat platform will do it justice. Remember, it was difficult (even today) for guys like myself (6' 4", 225lbs) to get into and out of these "old" school cars, esp after 20 plus years in the Army. The "older" you get, the less likely it is to just hop out/in them and have a great time. My knees hit the dash board, even with the seat all the way back. Maybe I should just remove the front seat and sit in the back to drive them, lol. Just a thought!

[Ghoste]

Yes, let the Cuda rest in peace.  It died honorably and shouldn't be trotted out like pretty much every other muscle name Chrysler had used.

[Gary42]

Yes, let the Cuda rest in peace.  It died honorably and shouldn't be trotted out like pretty much every other muscle name Chrysler had used.

[Iron Chef]

Something that I (and many of you) may not be aware of is that the car that is the Charger was not named until the last minute.  I watched an interview with some of the designers of the new Charger not too long ago (I believe it was on YouTube) and the designers interviewed all agreed that if they had known the car was to be named Charger, they would have designed it a lot differently.  This decision came from the upper levels of management.

The government does not mandate how cars are designed.  What they do mandate is emissions and safety features, and it's up to the auto manufacturers to create a design that falls within those guidelines.  They don't even mandate fuel economy.  You can have a car that only makes 8MPG IF you're willing to pay a gas-guzzler tax.  Chrysler knows that it would not be cost-effective to produce such a car because only a VERY small segment of the population would be willing to do pay such a tax.

Something else that I read in here before (and agree with) is that most people these days have grown up with four-door cars and they don't see them as a bad design.  Hell...I like some of the four door cars out there including the Charger.  If I was looking for a four-door car, the Charger would be right near or at the top of my list.  It's fast, good looking and comfortable and a whole lot safer and better riding than anything produced in 1970.  It is NOT an old Charger, and it's not supposed to be.  I own a '71 Charger and I love it...and I don't look at the new Chargers and get all knotted up because Chrysler didn't do it the way I wanted them to.

My 

[Cooter]

Musclecar= any 2dr medium/low priced bodies with the biggest damn engine offered installed....


Today's Musclecar= Basically, anything that is offered that will make you a hit at the local car cruise with a bunch of like minded people that haven't/didn't/wouldn't research the meaning of true musclecar.



I don't buy that a VERY small segment of the population would be lining up to buy. Only the ones that can afford the $60K (Like when the Challengers first became available) price tag. Therefore, by default, only a small segment of the population can afford to "outbid" the jerkoff with money that just has to have the first one on his/her block.

If the Charger actually looked like say a 1969 Charger, only updated like the Challenger, I bet a bushel of apples you couldn't keep 'em on the damn lot. Gas guzzler tax or not. People want what has been deemed as cool and anything that's "Retro" is "Cool"...Otherwise, we wouldn't keep getting the thumbs up, or "I wish I could afford one of these!! I have hunted hgih and low for a '68-'69-'70 Charger and can't find one!" Comments.

I say keep making the "Uncool" Chargers..All that does is make mine(A True Charger, not a jacked up Intrepid with a few side scoops) all that much cooler and sought after.

[bill440rt]

So, then by definition, this is NOT a musclecar? Coronet Hemi 4-DOOR.

I "think" I read also that a handful of Max Wedge 4-doors were built as well? 

[UH60L]

raplhes gilles wont do it because he said the charger is meant for 'FAMILY' so sedan it was.  'We dont need two muscles coupe in the lineup'

You mean the one where they made it so hard to tell it was a foor door that most people didn't notice at first.... and that I have no doubt would have had a two door variant available?

Sorry, it wasn't a production car, thus, though you disagree, his comment was accurate, that no charger had ever been a four door....

[Cooter]

So, then by definition, this is NOT a musclecar? Coronet Hemi 4-DOOR.

I "think" I read also that a handful of Max Wedge 4-doors were built as well? 

Occasional, oddball, "one got through", bullsh*t doesn't count by definition.

[Ghoste]

That Charger began as a two door concept and it was Lutz or Eaton that instructed them to add two more doors to it because thats what people want.  That even predates the Germans mandate.  Say, who was it that sold Chrysler out to Mercedes anyway?

[UH60L]

Something that I (and many of you) may not be aware of is that the car that is the Charger was not named until the last minute.  I watched an interview with some of the designers of the new Charger not too long ago (I believe it was on YouTube) and the designers interviewed all agreed that if they had known the car was to be named Charger, they would have designed it a lot differently.  This decision came from the upper levels of management.

Yep, this is true, I have the video, it was on Autoline with Jonh McElroy.  The management folks knew what the name would be, but the designers didn't know until the car was almost finished, and at least a few of them regret using that name on the car.

[bill440rt]

Okayyyyyyy...
How about these then? 4-door police cars with the Police Pursuit package with a 440. Probably thousands made.
Somehow the "definition" morphs to what you want it to be.  

[Ghoste]

I don't think I personally consider the four door Coronet with a Hemi to be a musclecar.  Nor the police cruisers.  They are just some that may have coincidentally had high powered engines but the engine alone does not a musclecar make.

[bill440rt]

Oddball cars for sure.

[Ghoste]

Yeah.  Were there not a couple of Maxie station wagons too?  I know there were a few run that way but were there any factory built ones?

[Kern Dog]

The "Interceptor" is not related to any Mopar Police car. It is a FORD term.
The Dodge and Plymouth terminolgy is/was : Police Pursuit. Calling it by a FORD name is as bad as saying that your Dana 60 has a 4.10 posi.

[bill440rt]

Thx for the clarification! 
Post modified.

[Ghoste]

The car that Hank drove and Steve built in Dirty Mary Crazy Larry notwithstanding. 

[chargerjy9]

I don't Gilles had anything to do with it.  He may be holding up the torch now but it was Mercedes whop made the decision to give the Americans a four door touring sedan and marketing that decided Charger was a good recognizable name from the past to whore out.  The Challenger came along a biit later and was likely somewhat a response to the bad press they got over the Charger.
No doubt Gilles has stated that there isn't room for a pair of two door performance cars in the lineup and he is likely right.
Does Gilles have anything to do with Dodge even?  I thought he was the SRT honcho?

you are absolutely correct on all counts
actually, if you old time forum members recall, Gilles had nothing to do with the 06 Charger. remember the name Trevor? He was in charge back then, and really, he was being dictated to by Daimler. I know, I was there. I worked on both projects

[chargerjy9]

OK, time to stir the pot....

I am a charger fanatic from way back, I drove and worked on that icon back in the 60's. I worked in the B Body styling studio at Chrysler as a clay sculptor. I hated the 4 door idea that came with the 06 as much as any one. That being said, I have an 11 R/T as well as a 73 SE survivor. My 11 fits what the definition of Charger is as well as any previous B Body model. EXCEPT FOR THE 4 DOORS... However, I tell my pals who constantly harp about that issue, that, "if your Charger had 4 doors, My  Charger would blow all 4 of your doors off. "(tongue-in-cheek )

IMO, The current Charger on the road is an exceptional vehicle, fast, tenacious on the road, roomy, comfortable, way more fuel efficient (My 73 Big block gets 13 MPG hi way, the 11 gets high 20's all day long ) As Ralph Gilles said to me "It is a steal for the money"

[Gary42]

I guess what it all comes down to is this, Chrysler makes the 200 and 300 series "touring" sedan/s that are fuel efficient, look good, great handling, and very fast with the Hemi engines, why the heck would they have wanted to place the Charger namesake on a car with "four" doors? Makes no sense to me. I guess people just wanted to say they "own" a Charger, even if they cannot afford the "old" school styling of the "real" Chargers. The preposed pic would have been as much a hit as the new Challengers have been had Chrysler made the decision to "poll" sites like this one "before" the decision was made to "stick" a name on it. As for the "I" beam partition in the grill, they attempted to use the same design as the 69/70 Chargers. Remember, not all the "old" school Chargers had the full wrap around bumpers. The plastic grill pieces came to that "I" beam look on some 69/70 base model Chargers, so I guess I can live with that decision. This subject will never die until the day comes where either people accept what has been done or not. Yes I agree having a 68 thru 72 "old" school muscle car is "unique" at best, but like the decussions on here as well as in the "garage/s," the new muscle cars of today will sail but every gas station in the five county area, out ride and "old" school muscle car, and out preform any "old" school muscle car on the road today. Think about it this way, why spend the 40-60 thousand dollars on something you will "not" be driving every day, and looking "cool" as someone said on here, (remember, parts are getting much harder to replace or come by with "old" school cars) if they cannot possibly "out preform" today's muscle cars! Point well taken and I agree. Then the reliability becomes an issue. Keep in mind this: you will not be taking that "old" school muscle car to the nearest Dodge dealer for repair/oil change because we don't want someome making a "mistake" by scratching it, getting dirty hands on it, or taking it for a "test" drive to make sure everything is running properly. We have no problem taking these new performance cars to the dealer because that's what the extended warrenty is for, and just think, if they scew it up, "THEY FIX IT" with new OEM parts that readily available. I guess its just my 

[Cooter]

Think about it this way, why spend the 40-60 thousand dollars on something you will "not" be driving every day, and looking "cool" as someone said on here, (remember, parts are getting much harder to replace or come by with "old" school cars) if they cannot possibly "out preform" today's muscle cars! Point well taken and I agree. Then the reliability becomes an issue.  I guess its just my 

Simple.....It's gotta SUCK when you roll up in your 2010 Charger and Someone rolls up in a 1969 Charger and the old one is WAY cooler even getting 10 MPG, 2 Drs, unreliable, hard to find parts for, can't take it to your local Mechanic, won't/can't drive everyday New Charger is....

[1974dodgecharger]

Think about it this way, why spend the 40-60 thousand dollars on something you will "not" be driving every day, and looking "cool" as someone said on here, (remember, parts are getting much harder to replace or come by with "old" school cars) if they cannot possibly "out preform" today's muscle cars! Point well taken and I agree. Then the reliability becomes an issue.  I guess its just my 

Simple.....It's gotta SUCK when you roll up in your 2010 Charger and Someone rolls up in a 1969 Charger and the old one is WAY cooler even getting 10 MPG, 2 Drs, unreliable, hard to find parts for, can't take it to your local Mechanic, won't/can't drive everyday New Charger is....

WELL PUT.........dont know what else to say.

The new so called, 'charger' owners even say it best, 'if I could plump down 20k on a old charger I would, but I had to finance for a new charger'

[Ghoste]

As far as naming the new version, what is the real story.  I've heard one version that the Dodge dealer group lobbied for it to be named that.  I've heard another version that the dealer group lobbied for A Charger and the decision was made to stick it there and I've heard yet another one that marketing went out and randomly asked people which car name from a prepared list they most associated with Dodge.  Charger won and marketing pushed for the new sedan to be that.
Anyone know the truth?

[Cooter]

Also, you'd be surprized at what a 318, 1968-70 Charger can "out perform" when you dump $60K in it.