1972 Bengal Charger????

[72Rallye440]

I need some help. I went to look at a 72 Charger this morning. The car is a badly rusted 318 basic Charger. Its still wearing its original bright orange paint with a 1/2 black vinyl top. I also noticed a metal emblem on the fender that said "Bengal Charger" (2 lines of text with a tiger on top). I asked the owner (the son of the original owner) about the emblems and he said they are original and always been there. I don't claim to know it all but I've never seen a 72  Bengal Charger. Like I said its badly rusted but cheap. Obviously I'm going to buy it but I would like to know more about it.

Any ideas?

  Thanks,
  Dewey

[Nacho-RT74]

as far I know, bengal charger is 68, models and only 50 were made... beside that, I think that's new to everybody.

Maybe now there is one 68 bengal charger without emblems around...

[Goldfinger71]

Sounds interesting Dewey!Did you get any pics?
It sounds like it may have been a dealer option thing,like Natcho' was saying of the 68 Chargers,or like the 70 St.Louis Blues Barracuda(s)that have been written up in magazines a number of years back.

[Troy]

Never heard of a Bengal Charger other than '68. That doesn't mean it couldn't have happened but I've never seen any sort of documentation or or any mention of the possibility. I live in Cincinnati and have been trying to dig up information on these cars for a while. My guess is the same as stated previously - there's a 68 missing it's badges out there somewhere.

Now, if you don't mind - can you get as many closeup pics and/or dimensions of those badges? Thanks.

Troy

[OttawaCharger]

 

[bluesfool]

I'm in agreement with the others...only the 68 model as far as I know.

[THE CHARGER PUNK]

POST PICS OF THIS CAR!!!! and yes pics of the emblems would be great ,maybe sum1 could re-pop em?

[ds440]

To all the fellow Cincinnatians...

Wasn't it Tom Kneer Dodge in Milford that originally sold the Bengal Charger?  Aren't they still in business as "Tom Kneer Chrysler?"  Has anyone considered calling them and asking?  Personally, I've never heard of a '72 Bengal.  Not even a rumor of such an animal.

I would speculate that it's either:
- like previously said, there's a '68 with missing emblems
- or is it possible (?) that this guy asked for one at the dealer in '72 and they had left over badges from '68?  A one off custom deal.  Zero info to support that - just throwing out a BS hypothesis.  Stranger things have happened.

[dodgecharger-fan]

I'm positive I've seen the Bengal emblems repopped in the past.. Maybe they just slapped some on.

[THE CHARGER PUNK]

he says theres a tiger above the emblem, the 68 bengal emblems just said ''BENGAL'' and below it in handwriting it said ''charger''.i heard of  a 72 bengal car , ill try n find soem dirt on it-MATT

[THE CHARGER PUNK]

heres a quote from chargervert awhile back

chargervert
Full Member

Offline

Posts: 465


  Re: Anyone hear of the "Bandera" Charger?
« Reply #8 on: November 05, 2005, 12:00:14 PM »   

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I saw a photo,of a 72 Bengal Charger,in the Mopar collectors guide,about a year back.I havent seen any 69-71 Bengal Chargers,just the 68 Bengal Chargers,and the one 72 Bengal Charger.When I saw the artical,I thought maybe someone took the emblems off a 68,and put them on a 72,but the emblem was different,and they thought the car was legit!

[THE CHARGER PUNK]

man i would love to get my hands on that car,if there were at least 2 1972 bengal chargers, there is bound 2 be more-MATT

[THE CHARGER PUNK]

do 2 it being a base car with a 318, i suppose it would look something like this xcept with the stated bengal emblems?-MATT

[72Rallye440]

Hey guys, I'm as confused as well. I'm kicking myself in the a** that I didn't take a camera but I had not idea it would be something weird. The car looks like the posted pic above except it has a 1/2 vinyl top. The gentleman I'm talking to is in his 60's and the car was bought new by his dad. He looked at me kinda weird when I made the comment that someone added those emblems. He said "no, they were on the car when he bought it". The car is wearing the original paint, no doubt. The VIN on the car is WL21G2A******

The problem is, the car may be sold to a guy thats been making payments on it for 6 months for $500.00!!!! He won't commit to selling it until he talks to this guy first. If he can't contact him he will sell it to me for $500.00. Should I go back and offer him more to make sure I get it? Remember its badly rusted.

I've never seen the real Bengal Charger emblems. These are about 4" around and appear to be chrome with orange lettering. Bengal, Charger (stacked letters) and a Bengal tiger on the very top. Does this sound like the originals? I may be taking a drive with my camera tonight.

  Thanks,
   Dewey

[Mikesmopars01]

Drive over there, it doesn't hurt to get some pictures.

That sounds like it would be one rare car.

[THE CHARGER PUNK]

Yes get some pics-MATT

[66ragtop]

To all the fellow Cincinnatians...

Wasn't it Tom Kneer Dodge in Milford that originally sold the Bengal Charger?  Aren't they still in business as "Tom Kneer Chrysler?"  Has anyone considered calling them and asking?  Personally, I've never heard of a '72 Bengal.  Not even a rumor of such an animal.

I would speculate that it's either:
- like previously said, there's a '68 with missing emblems
- or is it possible (?) that this guy asked for one at the dealer in '72 and they had left over badges from '68?  A one off custom deal.  Zero info to support that - just throwing out a BS hypothesis.  Stranger things have happened.

Kneer sold out to Kerry in 2000.  He never was interested in rekindling any Bengal Charger memories.  I worked there for 4 years until they sold and he could care less about them.  My friend had a 3000 mile Bengal Charger with no badging and or tail stripe.  It was a 318 column shift car.  He (still kicking himself) sold it because he didn't want to rack the miles up on it.  It was in Hamilton Ohio (where he bought it) but now he has lost track.  Rumor is Arizona.  Any info would be appreciated!  Now onto the 72, back when I was in high school (79-83) my English teacher had a "72 Bengal Charger".  It sat in front of his house forever and that was way before I had any clue of what it might be.  It was orange with a 1/2 black vinyl roof and had all of the badging.  Real?  I always thought it was!

[Drache]

Certainly starting to sound more and more like they are real!

[ds440]

Kneer sold out to Kerry in 2000.  He never was interested in rekindling any Bengal Charger memories.  I worked there for 4 years until they sold and he could care less about them. 

Ahhh....interesting.  I didn't know he sold out.  Last time I was over that way was 98/99ish...so that's probably why I didn't know that.

I wonder why he's so disinterested in the Bengal Charger.  He's part of mopar history!  Oh well.  His choice I suppose.

[kab69440]

A guy I worked with in Marysville had a "Big Red Machine" Third Gen. I don't remember what year.

[tan top]

intresting thread guys    just a thought ( 72Rallye440)  i wonder if  the paint code on that 3rd generation says 999 for the  special order truck oronge  . or just EV2 HEMI orange

[Nacho-RT74]

With money, a Fan is able to make anything and ask for it at a dealer.

[72Rallye440]

Ok guys, here it is! Per your request I went over today to take these pictures. I will know tonight if I'm able to buy it. Let me know what you think about the pictures.

  Thanks,
      Dewey

[72Rallye440]

Last ones, odd car huh?

[ChargerHound69]

Man, you don't see that everyday.  Is there a fender tag or buildsheet with it?

I wonder just how many of those were made.