What defines a Charger as a Charger

[JB400]

After reading this article about the BBT "Charger,":

http://www.hotrod.com/articles/1969-charger-love-or-hate/?wc_mid=4035:9944&wc_rid=4035:1298639&_wcsid=196164CDAB676507899B3AD18DBB13EEB447363C2458438B

I have to ask:  What features on a Charger actually define a Charger as one?  Please note, this question is not limited to just one gen. of Charger.

Fair warning:  Hot Rod website is a wreck with all the ads.

[darbgnik]

I always associated the Gen 2 Charger with the buttress rear window, even as a kid.

Through all 3 original generations, maybe the hidden headlights??

[cdr]

That is not a Charger, looks like a ford Torino   

[Homerr]

Simple - a Charger is the car sold new by Dodge.

Modification is just that, people screwing around with an already great design.

[Lennard]

Another f#×*ed up second generation Charger.

[Fitz73Chrgr]

The VIN defines a Charger.

[VegasCharger]

I stopped reading the Hot Rod article once it said "I wanted to get rid of the overhang up front". Not those exact words but you know what I mean if you read the article.

WTF!!! Why is it that people believe that the 2nd gen Chargers needs improvement?? Quit trying to modernize these poor Chargers to look like the new style shaped cars of today.

[Nacho-RT74]

Talking from Mopar perspective, Charger is an unique car, offered with same name no matter the trim... not like belvs/satties or Polaras/Monacos, etc... and diff from Coronets from the name up to the shell... I think thats a definition

[alfaitalia]

Yeah...that is not a very pretty car...losing the door scallops and gaining all that slabbiness does nothing for it imo . His car and his cash...so I guess it's fine!

[Nacho-RT74]

Car itself is nice. I think is still a Charger... ugly or pretty, at each own.

about the "crisscrossed lines" well... 73/74 got missed that and 1st gens never got them, but those are another story. I preffer continuous lines on 3rd gens over the 71/72 crisscrossed lines, but not really because the line itself, like the height the rear section reachs on quarter panel. I like more the lower line build on 73/74 and the lower cut on the belt line ( yes ACUDANUT, thats my prefference LOL ). Maybe I think the 71/2 looks way fat bottomed due this shape. 73/74 are more "slim" on this area, somehow. I don't like that mod made on the 69 on discussion though ( neither the front wheels move )

HOWEVER, overal I like this car more than one black and bronze around with the front clip modified being cut to get exposed headlights. It is a 68 I think ?

[Baldwinvette77]

honestly i think bullit set the tone for the charger pretty well, first, 2nd or 3rd gen, it should look evil.

the stock designs of each generation were great, each individual part was cool, i remember talking to a guy and mentioning " i think the 2nd gen charger is the only car i can think of where just the parts can look cool"

for example just having a charger door laying around on the ground still looks good, it doesn't necessarily need the rest of the car to compliment it, same goes for the hood, full quarters, bumpers etc. at least thats my opinion.

[tan top]

 all these modern custom second generation chargers like this ,  have some awesome fabrication / interesting  ideas . & loads of time work gone into them  , BUT why are they turning the most beautiful shaped cars ever built , in to  a kid toy cartoon type car , you know the ones that kind of  look what they are meant to be , the shape is not quite right & have a jumble of ideas ,  no offence ,  not taking nothing away from the workman ship ,  in these custom builds ,   perhaps im old & stuck in the past ,  I  still think no bigger than 15" size diameter wheel for a second generation charger   

[Homerr]

all these modern custom second generation chargers like this ,  have some awesome fabrication / interesting  ideas . & loads of time work gone into them  , BUT why are they turning the most beautiful shaped cars ever built , in to  a kid toy cartoon type car , you know the ones that kind of  look what they are meant to be , the shape is not quite right & have a jumble of ideas ,  no offence ,  not taking nothing away from the workman ship ,  in these custom builds ,   perhaps im old & stuck in the past ,  I  still think no bigger than 15" size diameter wheel for a second generation charger   

In a word:  ego

[Fitz73Chrgr]

  not taking nothing away from the workman ship ,  in these custom builds ,   perhaps im old & stuck in the past ,  I  still think no bigger than 15" size diameter wheel for a second generation charger   

I think your sentiment is shared with 99% of Charger enthusiasts.  These guys who build the custom Chargers likely are not Charger enthusiasts. 

As for the 15" max wheel size, I think you are old & stuck in the past.   

[F8-4life]

I think builders are in the industry,  and they want to show off there achievements in a way that relates to the most people. This may mean using a very popular car to gain attention from the lesser knowledgeable audience. People who actually build stuff know how hard it is on -anything- or -any- car, but casual bystanders only look relitivly quickly and say "hey thats cool", for a builder..using a charger is a good eye catcher for that group.

[ws23rt]

To me, the name Charger says 68-70. (70--not so much)
In 68-70 no fresh air hoods were offered to the public. Plymouth had them. The Coronet had them.
Maybe someone can chip in with what the original designers thinking was on this. An old memory that was any change to the hood just messed with a great look.

[XH29N0G]

I usually follow the "Everyone has their vision of perfection.  Let it them do what they want principle."

But in this case,  am just grateful the original designers did what they did and I have what I have.  

[Baldwinvette77]

a bit off topic but i saw this one on facebook today, its a 68 on a chrysler 300 frame, but i just feel like they probably ruined a really nice car, im not liking the 6" they added to the bottom 

[Fitz73Chrgr]

a bit off topic but i saw this one on facebook today, its a 68 on a chrysler 300 frame, but i just feel like they probably ruined a really nice car, im not liking the 6" they added to the bottom 

Aren't you building a '68 on a Chrysler 300 platform as well?  Maybe it started with a car in the same condition as yours.

[Lennard]

a bit off topic but i saw this one on facebook today, its a 68 on a chrysler 300 frame, but i just feel like they probably ruined a really nice car, im not liking the 6" they added to the bottom 

Another example of: just because you can,  doesn't mean you should. 

[Mike DC]

  
They didn't voluntarily add that extra part to the bottom.  That is how the two different bodies fit together.  The modern car's dashboard is just too high above its rocker structure for the '68 body shape to agree with it.  

Everyone who has done the conversion better has fought a big battle with this problem.  


It looks like they also moved the rear wheels back rather than shorten the 300's wheelbase (it is 3 inches longer than a 68-70). 

[Nacho-RT74]

I rather preffer another GL  around, maybe like the KWS Extreme Lee than those experiments

[tan top]

  not taking nothing away from the workman ship ,  in these custom builds ,   perhaps im old & stuck in the past ,  I  still think no bigger than 15" size diameter wheel for a second generation charger   

I think your sentiment is shared with 99% of Charger enthusiasts.  These guys who build the custom Chargers likely are not Charger enthusiasts. 

As for the 15" max wheel size, I think you are old & stuck in the past.   

         

[charger_fan_4ever]

all these modern custom second generation chargers like this ,  have some awesome fabrication / interesting  ideas . & loads of time work gone into them  , BUT why are they turning the most beautiful shaped cars ever built , in to  a kid toy cartoon type car , you know the ones that kind of  look what they are meant to be , the shape is not quite right & have a jumble of ideas ,  no offence ,  not taking nothing away from the workman ship ,  in these custom builds ,   perhaps im old & stuck in the past ,  I  still think no bigger than 15" size diameter wheel for a second generation charger   

im 37 and i agree. fast and furious trend is now ruining these great cars.

[aerolith]

Not 4 me, that scoop is down right AWFUL...

I like white cars but this looks kinda weird, subtle little changes that don't work?

Very much a 'HOT WHEELS' retro bad moulding in 1/64...