'66-'67 Charger values

[66FBCharger]

Why does it seem like the '66-'67 values seem to be low? Of course, that doesn't include Hemi cars.
Are they overshadowed by the beauty of the '68-'70 cars. Is their styling too different? Is it a love it or hate it thing with these cars?
What's your opinion?
I have a '66. I LOVE the '69s. The more I drive the '66 the more I like it.

[Ghoste]

I've had one now for a little over ten years and prior to that I was always a 2nd gen fan (still my first best love  ) and I have found that people tend to fall in the love it or hate it category that you mention.  They really and truly have a cult like following and once you start driving one it's easy to understand why.  They are a great road car with all that room for your stuff.  I think the fact they were produced in lower numbers than other Chargers and haven't really had a big role in any tv or film productions (the Big Fish one was a minor part IMO) has kept them off the general public radar.  I've also found that long time members of the cult are extremely generous about helping people with parts and advice to restore them and this has kept a lot of the parts whores and car flippers out of the fastbacks and that has also kept the prices down.
Like you I want another 69 badly but it is going to be hard to get rid of the 67 when the time comes.  It's really grown on me.

[stripedelete]

Don't know, 'cause there are some beauties on this site.  Part of it maybe that the guys who ran them in 66 and 67 may be more concerned about, or are on, retirement incomes.

[68X426]

Don't no one kill me on this ..... it would seem to be due to the overflow of high visability of the General Lee. That's where the fault lies. I'm just sayin'....

The whole GL thing takes away from really cool Mopars in the public's mind set. The first gen Charger got lots of respect and style points back in the day (pre GL).

[stripedelete]

Don't no one kill me on this ..... it would seem to be due to the overflow of high visability of the General Lee. That's why the fault lies. I'm just sayin'....

The whole GL thing takes away from really cool Mopars in the public's mind set. The first gen Charger got lots of respect and style points back in the day (pre GL).

In 1984, when I bought my 69, 1st Gens were hot!!

[Topher]

I first met my car in 1988 and to be quite honest, my first impression was "that's one ugly car, I wouldn't park that thing in my driveway". It was the first 67 Charger I'd ever seen. A year and a half or so later it was for sale for a VERY reasonable price. So I bought it in January of 1990 and I've been learning to drive it ever since. Of course it had some good things going for it: 383, 4 speed, BLACK paint, bucket seats, and dang gone it registers 150 on the speedo!

It is definately a Love/Hate thing with these cars.

[ODZKing]

  with Toph ... I think it's a love hate thing because many don't realize how unique these cars were.  Many believe they were a revised Coronet.  But the 4 bucket seats, the EL dash and the amount of room make it VERY unique.
It was ALWAYS my first love, all though I will say I did love my 3rd gen when I had it.

[Ghoste]

Nothing will dispel the "Coronet with a fastback" myth faster than buying a Coronet for a parts car and discovering how very little interchanges.  (and a not insignificant amount of the parts that do, need to be modified in order to adapt them)

[ITSA426]

What's to hate?  Lots of unique features.  Definitely not a flattened back Coronet.  EL dash lighting alone is worth the price on a dark road.  Full width tail light, full width grille with hideaway headlights, and functional, though slightly uncomfortable, fold down rear seat - all the way into the trunk.  Four bucket seats if you want them all up.  Most first gen owners have had more than one.  Low manufactured numbers makes them rare almost anyplace but my driveway.  And you could get a hemi in it.  I like all the Chargers but first gens are the ones I seriously look at.

Although a 69 500 or Daytona might be nice too.

[ChgrSteve67]

Get yours today while the price is cheep.

[FastbackJon]

I've noticed low prices lately as well. Here's an example:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1967-DODGE-CHARGER-NO-RESERVE_W0QQitemZ170407842639QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_Cars_Trucks?hash=item27ad19534f#vi-content

This car was at $10,000 buy it now for a few days and no bids so the guy dropped the price $5,000 and put it in a no reserve auction.

You can't fix one up for $10,000 and have it look that nice, that's for sure. A restorable '68 R/T on the other hand might be $10,000 in itself.

Like others have said, unique love/hate body style, lower production numbers, less public visibility, the skinny stock no other option 14" wheels don't help the muscle car image either. I was '68-'69 fan until I got my first '66 and then they really grew on me, as happens. So much cool unique stuff on these cars, and you just don't see them very often.

[Nacho-RT74]

WOW

I'm sure will try to bid on that 67!!! Vinyl top on them is what makes me love 67s more than 66s

and I'm agree, 1st gens are not that "GREAT MUSCLE LOOK" than the rest, but the uniques features on them makes me wish one, complete tail light, cluster lights and gauges ( but not the rest of dash design ), buckets setup, complete turn around headlights, hidden parking lights, the fastback deal...

68/69 torinos being allmost same design ( fastback and everything ) are better looking, but maybe because curves helps on them, thing that 1st gen chargers doesn't have, extremelly sharp edges and squared lines, specially from door to rear corners. Is the same reason I'm not a Coronet lover, from those years

[Mike DC]

   

The GL's overexposure was responsible for making Mopars uncool enough that 1st gen Chargers aren't as sought after today? 


I've heard the GL get blamed for a lot of weird stuff, but that's a new one.


   

[Ghoste]

I don't think that's exactly what he's saying Mike.  I read it to mean that the general public whenever they think of a Dodge Charger, they immediately think of the Dukes car.  Many of them won't even know it's a 69 they just know the Dukes drove a Charger.  Anyone who does take the time to investigate further will then typically stop at the 69 GL.  I can't even count the number of times I've been talking cars with someone, even people who are into cars and as soon as I tell them I have a 67 Charger they reply, "Oh like the Dukes car".

[ODZKing]

I can't even count the number of times I've been talking cars with someone, even people who are into cars and as soon as I tell them I have a 67 Charger they reply, "Oh like the Dukes car".

At least one at every car show.

[Ghoste]

Yep, come to think of it, I've had nearly as many people say that to me as had tell me I should have painted my 69 orange and put a flag and numbers on it.

[68X426]

I don't think that's exactly what he's saying Mike.  I read it to mean that the general public whenever they think of a Dodge Charger, they immediately think of the Dukes car.  Many of them won't even know it's a 69 they just know the Dukes drove a Charger.  Anyone who does take the time to investigate further will then typically stop at the 69 GL.  I can't even count the number of times I've been talking cars with someone, even people who are into cars and as soon as I tell them I have a 67 Charger they reply, "Oh like the Dukes car".

Yeah that's what I was saying.

The first born just moved down the "list" when GL came along. 

I'll take Steve's red one over any GL that ever existed.

[Big Sugar]

Don't no one kill me on this ..... it would seem to be due to the overflow of high visability of the General Lee. That's where the fault lies. I'm just sayin'....

The whole GL thing takes away from really cool Mopars in the public's mind set. The first gen Charger got lots of respect and style points back in the day (pre GL).

I think that statement is  "OUT TOO LUNCH"  ?? I personaly can't see any correlation with the GL affecting all the 68-70 Chargers much less a GL having a ripple effect on the 66-67 Chargers.
Maybe if you compare the effect the GL has had on other Movie cars like the Starsky and Hutch Torino or Kitt for that matter, but in reality there are enough Chargers out there to go around and If you like the GL
It means you like the GL !! I don't think you'll skip a ride in a  1st gen because the GL has taken the front seat.

Just Thinin
Ron

[71_deputy]

my 67 was the first car I had my wildest ride in a mopar in my home town- then got the chance to buy it!!!!

always loved the look and tricks to it- but- the skinny tires on it really doesn't do it any justice!!!!! sorry- it then looks like a grampa's car- gotta have a little more meat under it to get rid of the look- and another thing- get that rear end up a wee bit- these weren't low riders in there day!!!!   lol

[mauve66]

we now have more parts available for restoration also, 15 years ago we just barely had a repo taillight lens, now you can get the WHOLE taillight assembly, dash gauge bezels, glove box door, head light surround "C"'s, and more, if only legendary would do the damn door panels we would be set.

and that's not even considering the people who do things like headlight motor repair and dash gauge rebuilding and EL driver rebuilding and such

the only things that work from the Coronet to the Charger are forward of the windshield up to the radiator yoke, top of the hood to the  bottom of the oil pan, not much on a 4000# car

[Ghoste]

And of that forward of the windshield portion, the fenders aren't going on without some changes.

[ChgrSteve67]

Whats a few more holes here and there.   

[Musicman]

You know it's funny, but I can't tell you how many times I've had 2nd & 3rd Gen Charger owners come up to me at car shows and ask me what kind of car I have... what does that tell you?

Where appearances are concerned... Lets face the facts... The general public is not comprised of artists or other highly imaginative individuals. They like what they see in front of them right now. As one individual here already said... a stock 1st Gen looks like Grandpa's car... and it does. Then again, so does a car like a 3 window coupe. Give that coupe to a guy with some imagination however, and now you have one truly unique and cool looking ride. Cars from this era require imagination if you want that look... They did not roll off the assembly line purposely styled, built and advertised like the cars from the late 60's and early 70's. Then there is the Boxy factor... 2nd and 3rd Gen Chargers have sleek fast looking body lines & curves that appeal to the public eye. A 1st Gen will never look sleek... a well done 1st Gen is a large intimidatingly brutish beast at best, and that is as it should be.... after all, the name of the car was conceived with the image of a brutish beast in mind... a CHARGER... not a sleek stylish race horse, but a powerful thunderous beast.

[Ghoste]

True enough, Chargers were war horses at one time.  I've chided more than a couple of Mustang owners that you should never ride a pony into battle.  Dodge had a similar tagline in one of their 66 Charger ads.

[Nacho-RT74]

I'm agree some body mods aplied on 1st gens makes look them A LOT better.

stuff like:
-2 tones job, yes, 2 tones on THESE make them look MEAN. Body lines on 1st gens helps on the 2 tones job definition althought I like 67s cause the vinyl top option.
-Fat tires
-Low ride

I remember some orange winged 1st gen what IT WAS GREAT, with white wing/stripe.... think that Daytonas/Superbirds are not my taste, but a 1st gen winged car looks great really

Here is me back in July 2008, at a side of a member's 1st gen in Bakersfield, Cali, couple of days before my road trip up to Carlisle