Looking at a 72 Charger

[Goldfinger71]

Welcome TUFCAT!
.......But your wrong!
All 3rd gens DID NOT have those braces bolted within the engine compartment...

[twilt]

Welcome TUFCAT!
.......But your wrong!
All 3rd gens DID NOT have those braces bolted within the engine compartment...

I tend to agree with that. I`ve owned around 30 71-74 Chargers and not all had those bars. Specifically,  I don`t recall any of the 7-8 71`s that I have owned having them. As far as their purpose....I don`t believe that they are there to minimize side impact damage. I`d tend to believe that they just help prevent body flex. (lots of later model cars have similiar bars to serve that purpose) The last 72 parts car I dismantled did have them which kind of intrigued me as I do not recall any of my other 72`s having them. At that time, I wondered if it was a SB vs. BB issue for 72 as the car I parted was a BB. It should also be noted that there was some question on my part as if they belonged on that car as it had at one point had been a "rebuilt" salvage car and it was obvious that the donor car had been a 73. Opposing that theory was the fact that many of the 73-74 Small block cars I have had did have them. I don`t have a black and white answer as to the bars but I do believe that some of the "answers" posted already are not accurate and should be taken with a grain of salt.

As far as the desirable/ less desirable thing... I don`t find 72 SE`s or Toppers less desirable as they both had some good options, notably hideaway headlights and Rallye gauges which are certainly desirable in my book.   On the flip side I would not make a big deal out of either car  or feel that those options make them  particularly or significantly "more desirable"  Pete, I dont know if it makes you feel better  but I do find your car desirable. Big Block, Hideaways, Rallye Gauges, Front sway bar, minimal rust AZ car.....thats a pretty good start.

[bordin34]

my 74 318 has those bars and also those black square things above the wheel well.

[TUFCAT]

Hmmm, I may be wrong on that  - - since you mentioned it, I'm not totally sure about the 1971's  having them - -    I know 72's, 73's, 74's did.

[AKcharger]

While I'm not a 3rd Gen expert I will say they're one of the 1st things people take off to make it look more open, so it's not suprising if some cars didn't have them..after all it's been 35 years

mine has 'em, '72 400

[Charger1973]

my 74 318 has those bars and also those black square things above the wheel well.

The metal plates?  All 73/74 small blocks will have those.  Big blocks have the plate on the drivers side, but the passenger side has a large cutout and a rubber mat covering it instead. 

[Nacho-RT74]

Those braces were there for frontal side impact. (.....if you got hit broadside in the front fender)  All 3rd gens have them.

No...

Welcome TUFCAT!
.......But your wrong!
All 3rd gens DID NOT have those braces bolted within the engine compartment...

Dunno if is Venezuelan stuff, but down here  71 and 72 didn't have them. Not even the stud in the middle. Casuality or not, all 71/72s down here are small blocks ( 318 4bbls ) however as far has been stated here, it does look is not an engine stuff.

is just what I have experienced.

"72 S.E.s are the least desireable of Chargers in '72.

Hey! Dont say it like that 

I can say that cause I own one and it is sadly true

Dunno if joke or not, but just in case about somebody could think that, I would say, SEs is at least more desireable than regulars or regulars with those "trims" invented for that year, simply just based on hideaways, rallye cluster and stuff like that.

tail lights, I'm agree, 72s are the ugliest of all ( regulars or SEs, no matter ), of course rallies exception, what even I don't like either ( not even 71 R/Ts ), they looks the better for that year.

IMHO 72-74s SEs without vinyl top, look some weird or uncomplete.

[TruckDriver]

IMHO 72-74s SEs without vinyl top, look some weird or uncomplete.