Charger dimensions / garage size

[Homerr]

How much width is added to a 2nd gen with the driver's door all the way open?

Looking to buy a house and some of the garages are just not going to work.  I'm trying to figure out minimal dimensions for the inside of a garage (I'll be looking for more of a driver than show car later this year).  Ideally I'll find a 2-car garage (hard to do in the city in my price range), but a larger 1-car is more likely.  There are lots of garages with an 8' wide door and are a 10' outside dimension, about 9'-4" inside, which just isn't going to work.

2nd gen Chargers are 208" 77", or 17'-4" x 6'5".  I'm thinking with 3' on either side a 12'-6" inside dimension is realistic.

If you have a smaller garage what are the dimensions and how well does it work for you?

[Dino]

The nice thing about a 2nd gen is the amount of room you have getting in and out.  I park mine in a 2 1/2 car garage so it's the Charger + the Trans Am on a 20' wide span and it works absolutely fine.  If I get the passenger side real close to the wall I can easily swing the door open but there's really no need for it.  12' wide is more than plenty.  I think the storage unit I now rent for it is only 10 wide.  I did park it close to one wll but still have plenbty room to get in and out.

Why don't you drive a few stakes in the ground around the car and tie a string around it, see how much room you really need.

[Old Moparz]

Why don't you drive a few stakes in the ground around the car and tie a string around it, see how much room you really need.

That's a good idea for an accurate visual & feel.  


As for dimensions, here is a sketch I made of my garage layout showing the size. The overall width is 36 feet so one half of the garage interior is less than 18 feet wide because of wall thickness. (It's probably 17'-6") Two B-Body cars fit, my Road Runner & my Charger, but for storage only. There is just enough room to partially open the door to get in & out but you have to be very careful. I could shift the lifts & cars over for more room but that would cut into the amount of work space I have on the half of the garage. The work side is also 18 feet, but I get an overlap of useable space because I can work right up to the Charger on the storage side. The work bench takes up about 30 inches & not an issue with the door of my Satellite open. Ideally the better size would have been 40 feet, but I only had room for 36 feet due to the septic system & the property lines.

If you have a choice, try not to go any less than 24 feet wide for 2 cars or you'll be sorry.  



This photo is before I got the Road Runner & installed the second lift. It's an A-Body that's really only a few inches less in width, but it shows that it'll fit.

[69 OUR/TEA]

30x40 or bigger makes a nice garage!!!!!

[Homerr]

Thanks for the input guys!  Yeah, I'm currently Charger-less so I can't measure this myself.

[41husk]

 I think the Daytona is 19.4' nose to butt?

[Aero426]

I am going to put up a 24X 36 soon, I think the Daytona is 19.4' nose to butt?

24' will work good for length on the Daytona.   I have 22 x 36 and can get by.   I wish I had 24' x 38' but it would have needed a variance.  

This is an old pic when the garage was new.  I can get a small car on each side with the two full size cars in the center.   I back the one in as there is more space to open doors on the wing cars that way.    I wish that I had one more foot on each of the two side outside walls.  That would give me 38' and would really help.  

[41husk]

How long is your daytona nose to bumper?  I think it is 19' 4 "

[Aero426]

How long is your daytona nose to bumper?  I think it is 19' 4 "

I can't measure it.  It has left the nest. 

[rarefish]

I am going to put up a 24X 36 soon, I think the Daytona is 19.4' nose to butt?

24' will work good for length on the Daytona.   I have 22 x 36 and can get by.   I wish I had 24' x 38' but it would have needed a variance.  

This is an old pic when the garage was new.  I can get a small car on each side with the two full size cars in the center.   I back the one in as there is more space to open doors on the wing cars that way.    I wish that I had one more foot on each of the two side outside walls.  That would give me 38' and would really help.  

My garage is 24x38 but it sure does not feel adequate because it is end loaded with one 16' door.   I wish it was side loaded with two 16' doors like yours is. I have to park the cars end to end which is a pain when you need to move one that is parked in the back.

[6pkrtse]

My garage is only 24' wide x 25' deep & I have plenty of room to open the doors on both of my cars. Maybe not all the way open, but enough to get in & out comfortably. 

[khodne]

26' is nice for depth.  The extra 2' doesn't add much to the cost of the building and opens the building up so it doesn't seem like your always up against a wall.  I had 30' deep and 40' wide it was like a lot of empty space in front of the cars. 

My current garage is 26'x46'  with a 16' door at on end and a 9'x7' door and a walk-in at the other end on the side wall.  Basically it's two, two car garages together.  Lots of room for working and storage.  I used add-a-room trusses and put a 4'x8' trap door in the ceiling, 12-6' x 46' of parts storage upstairs.

[Homerr]

Does anyone have an 8' wide door where their Charger lives?  Some garages here have a single or double 8' wide doors.  (I'd still like to find a place with a 16' door or two 9' doors, of course.)

[XH29N0G]

What do you do with a small garage?

I push mine into the garage.  Small door, small garage.  If I want to get in and out of the car while it is in the garage, it is through a window.  If I try to drive it in, I have to keep about 6" on the driver' side or I hit the other side.  About 9" between the back of the car and the rear door with the front bumper kissing the back wall.

Older house, 1 car garage, for a skinny car at that.

[mikeydf14]

Just another suggestion from someone who made a few fatal errors in my workshop/garage size when I had it built.  Mine is 45' x 30' x 10'.

I figured working width and length based on my Charger and Warlock dimensions plus several other items, work bench, potty room, working space, etc. Shortly after it was built I realized two things:  (1)  When you have your dimensions set make them 15% bigger, (2) make sure you have extra height for a lift. The 10' ceiling is not optimal for a lift without extensive modifications to the ceiling above the lift area!

[XS29L9Bxxxxxx]

Does anyone have an 8' wide door where their Charger lives?  Some garages here have a single or double 8' wide doors.  (I'd still like to find a place with a 16' door or two 9' doors, of course.)

Yes, I do. It's fine, and plenty of room on each side, esp. with the side mirror on top of the door. 

[Homerr]

Just had an offer accepted on a house with a separate garage/shop on a paved alley.

It's 780 s.f.:  the main part is 20' wide x 30' deep with a 16' door on the 20' side.  There is a 12'x15' side area as well.  It's perfect Charger restoration size!  I'm gonna be house poor for a while, but at least this is one huge step closer.   

[ws23rt]

I feel fortunate to have good space in my old house. Built in the late 40s. My drive in basement is 20ft wide which I think is good for one car with misc. stuff on the sides and room to work on the car. I took out a wall and it is three cars deep with room to walk between. Eight ft head room is good but not for any practical lift arrangement.