Why? How? the designs of the early 70's mopars...

[70 sublime]

I always thought the second gen Charger felt like a big car
A couple summers ago I started gathering parts to build another car like the 73 I once had
So when I had 2 cars running one day I lined them up beside each other
Made the 73 look wider than the 69
It was just a bit larger all the way around

 

[Photon440]

The '70 Chevelle, 69 Camaro, 64-66 Mustangs used to dominate the street machine shows in the 80s around here but those body styles never appealed to me like a 68-70 Charger.
I stand with bewilderment that people bought more Chevelles than Chargers. I simply see that as a man choosing an average looking, short overweight woman over a taller, prettier, curvy one.
I absolutely understand that the 64 Mustang far outsold the 64 Barracuda because the Barracuda was hideous in comparison.
When people refer to the "Coke bottle styling" that means the accentuated curves immediately visible in the 68-70 Charger. If there is any "Coke Bottle" styling to the 71-74 B bodies, it a 2 liter bottle of Coke.

Kern, you may not be a big fan of the 3rd generation, but you have to be looking in another direction to say you can't see any 'coke bottle' styling in that generation.

Wasp waisted in the middle, bulged in the front and back...what else do you want for a coke bottle?

No real mystery that more Chevelles etc. were sold, basically there were two main reasons; there were more GM fans, and conservatives usually chose GM or Ford while Chryslers appealed to liberals. I'm not saying that's the case for people on this site, but in GENERAL, that's how it showed up in polls of the day, which I read about in the 70s. Don't shoot me, I'm only the piano player.

Plus, don't forget that back then, Dodge was in second place to Chrysler's low price leader Plymouth in sales, Satellites sold a lot more than Chargers, Dodge sales should be compared to higher priced Oldmobiles or Buicks.

 

[Austin Charger]

And then back full circle in '79

View attachment 1567417

Ever since Challenger came out in late 1969 I thought that was a great looking car. Then when the '71 charger and RR's came out I also liked the styling of those lines.
After living with and driving my '71 charger for the last 3 years and couple thousand miles, I see the beauty in the engineering and styling. The car is a real pleasure to drive and display at local type shows. The reaction I get from people commenting about the car is nothing short of amazing. I always look forward to getting the car out and driving it. Car is not a factory original, but my interpretation of perfection.

 

[chargervert]

Kern, you may not be a big fan of the 3rd generation, but you have to be looking in another direction to say you can't see any 'coke bottle' styling in that generation.
View attachment 1568156
Wasp waisted in the middle, bulged in the front and back...what else do you want for a coke bottle?

No real mystery that more Chevelles etc. were sold, basically there were two main reasons; there were more GM fans, and conservatives usually chose GM or Ford while Chryslers appealed to liberals. I'm not saying that's the case for people on this site, but in GENERAL, that's how it showed up in polls of the day, which I read about in the 70s. Don't shoot me, I'm only the piano player.

Plus, don't forget that back then, Dodge was in second place to Chrysler's low price leader Plymouth in sales, Satellites sold a lot more than Chargers, Dodge sales should be compared to higher priced Oldmobiles or Buicks.

Dodge sold 123,000 Chargers in 1973,I doubt the Satellite numbers were higher than that!

 

[terrywalker]

Dodge sold 123,000 Chargers in 1973,I doubt the Satellite numbers were higher than that!

From Classic Industries website.
Terry W.

 

[70 sublime]

But the Satellite numbers would include 4 door and station wagon cars

 

[Photon440]

But the Satellite numbers would include 4 door and station wagon cars

True enough, but if you then include total b bodies to include the Coronet 4 door and wagons, Dodge sold 206,851 compared to Plymouth's 218,204 Satellite and road runner production.

 

[WileERobby]

View attachment 1568156
Wasp waisted in the middle, bulged in the front and back...what else do you want for a coke bottle?

The 3G Charger is actually more coke-bottled styled than the 2G. Who are we to say ? Just ask King Richard who says the 3G car was the best car he's ever driven on the superspeedways.

 

[chargervert]

The 3G Charger is actually more coke-bottled styled than the 2G. Who are we to say ? Just ask King Richard who says the 3G car was the best car he's ever driven on the superspeedways.

Petty didn't race second generation Chargers,he was stuck with an areodynamic brick of a Plymouth when the areo wars happened. He got disgusted when Plymouth refused to let him drive a second generation Charger aerocar and left to drive for Ford. If not for Petty leaving to race for Ford,and Dodge having already done all the aero work already for Plymouth,There would have never been a Superbird built.

 

[WileERobby]

Petty didn't race second generation Chargers,he was stuck with an areodynamic brick of a Plymouth when the areo wars happened. He got disgusted when Plymouth refused to let him drive a second generation Charger aerocar and left to drive for Ford. If not for Petty leaving to race for Ford,and Dodge having already done all the aero work already for Plymouth,There would have never been a Superbird built.

The reason he didn't race them is because they were aerodynamic slugs. Top-rate style with second-rate aerodynamics. Hence flat grille, back plug, and wing to try to correct its faults. Plymouth won many races with their "bricks". A plain non-altered 2G Charger ? How many, you tell me. Mopar corrected these faults with the fuselage Plymouths and swoop-design Chargers. Petty won 2 champs with brick-Plymouths, and 4 with a 3G Plymouth and Chargers.

 

[Runcharger]

I like the more aerodynamic styles and that's what attracts me to 70-71 Challengers and 71-2 B-bodies. I vividly remember sitting in my 69 GTX in the garage parked next to my 71 Charger R/T and thinking how unmodern the 69 felt with it's higher profile, vent windows, exposed wipers sitting on the cowl, low back seats and metal interior door tops. The 71 seemed so much sleeker and modern. Nothing wrong with the different generations and they all have their appeal, perhaps people enjoy whatever style triggers their memories. Memories are what these cars are all about now. I was just in the garage admiring my 08 Viper, that car is dated now as well but I don't want anything modern.

 

[70ChargerRT]

Do you know what’s worse than listening to Chevy and Ford guys whining about Mopars? Mopar guys whining about other Mopars. I’ve never seen a more jealous crowd in my life than the Mopar community, though not every Mopar owner is like that you won’t see them stick together like Chevy and Ford guys do. I’ve never seen feelings get hurt like I have in my life when it comes to the Mopar crowd, especially when they think another Mopar looks better than yours and this is exactly what this thread is about. Just a bunch people whining cause they know the 2nd gen Chargers are getting a lot of attention these days and your poor little car isn’t. Whoopty doo! Go cry me a river!!!

 

[chargervert]

The reason he didn't race them is because they were aerodynamic slugs. Top-rate style with second-rate aerodynamics. Hence flat grille, back plug, and wing to try to correct its faults. Plymouth won many races with their "bricks". A plain non-altered 2G Charger ? How many, you tell me. Mopar corrected these faults with the fuselage Plymouths and swoop-design Chargers. Petty won 2 champs with brick-Plymouths, and 4 with a 3G Plymouth and Chargers.

The Plymouths were worse aerodynamic slugs so much that after Richard drove a 69 Daytona for a few laps,he demanded Plymouth let him drive one,when they refused, he left Plymouth for Ford where he thought that he would atleast have a chance to keep up with the competition. The 68/ 69 Plymouth b body cars were simply uncompetitive in Nascar once the aerodynamics came into play, no matter how much the Pettys cheated the cars. If not for Dodge doing all the aerodynamic leg work for Plymouth, Richard would have been driving Torino's throughout the early seventies instead of third generation Chargers and Road Runners.

 

[WileERobby]

The Plymouths were worse aerodynamic slugs so much that after Richard drove a 69 Daytona for a few laps,he demanded Plymouth let him drive one,when they refused, he left Plymouth for Ford where he thought that he would atleast have a chance to keep up with the competition. The 68/ 69 Plymouth *** AND DODGE*** b body cars were simply uncompetitive in Nascar once the aerodynamics came into play, no matter how much the Pettys cheated the cars. If not for Dodge doing all the aerodynamic leg work for Plymouth, Richard would have been driving Torino's throughout the early seventies instead of third generation Chargers and Road Runners.

You're absolutely correct. Which is why the 68-70 B body style is NOT good aerodynamically, either Plymouth or DODGE ! But... we're talking about 2G Chargers here. You, and I, may think the 2G Charger is the best styled car on the planet ( I had 2 in the 70's ), but the next gen styles were a better car. For many reasons.

 

[chargervert]

At the end of the day in full aerodynamic trim according to the G Series wind tunnel testing report,the third generation Chargers were three MPH slower than the second generation Daytona. Maybe they had to go back to the drawing board twice,but the second gens were faster,that was proven and undisputed by Buddy Bakers 200.499 lap in the number 88 Daytona which held the fastest lap ever recorded on a closed course lap from 1969 until 1984 when Bill Ellioit broke the record. Not a McClaren, Not a Porsche,not a Ferrari,but a 69 Dodge Charger Daytona. The record book has spoken,and there are no third gens to be found!

 

[chargervert]

The second generation Chargers are iconic and legendary for so many reasons that no other muscle car from the era even comes close! I like third gen Chargers,I had nine of them last year,I am down to six currently. But this just doesn't work! How is Daisy gonna fit her fine *** through that tiny quarter window opening! Not gonna happen!

 

[chargervert]

Larry says second gen,Two thumbs up!

 

[chargervert]

The Hit man's number one car is........

 

[chargervert]

Third gen,don't be silly,signed Big Willie!

 

[chargervert]

Dom says your gonna need more NOOOOOS to keep up with his 70!