Why the big change in design?

[Bob]

As popular as the 70 Charger was/is, why did they make such a drastic change in body style for 1971?

[6pkrunner]

A lot of money was poured into the E body project. To say it overran costs is putting it mildly. The B body was getting too long in the tooth (1966-1970) and needed a redesign. Actually the B body was supposed to get redesigned in 1968 or 1969, but all resources were put into the E body to capture some of the pony car market. After the E body was to the point of no return, the money that was to go to the B body redesign was swallowed by the E body project. To save coins, the new B body was identical from the A pillar forward to the E body. So it was in for a redesign back in '68 or '69, but due to the huge overrun of the E body the B got to use its front 1/2 to try to save costs.

[41husk]

I thought I had read, the poor airodynamics of the 2nd gen needed to be improved for nascar and that was the primary reason for the changes to the 3rd gen body.

[Bob]

I sorta figured the pony war's had something to do with.
Thanks 41husk

[41husk]

I am sure the E body development put them behind on the budget, but it would be much cheeper to just leave it as it was rather than redesign and re tool for changes.