Being one of the original muscle cars, the Dodge Charger is an iconic vehicle in American history. First introduced as a concept back in 1946, the public didn’t show much interest in the revolutionary new vehicle, so Dodge decided to wait to release it. 20 years later, in 1966, the first Dodge Charger was released, and the rest is history.
The first-generation Dodge Charger was designed to be a high-speed street racer with a fastback roof design and full-width tail lamps. Although based off of the Coronet, early Dodge Chargers could easily be mistaken for a Dodge Challenger given that Dodge Chargers also came with a two-door setup.
The original Dodge Charger was big, having a total length of 203.6 inches. Giving the Charger its unique look was its full-width convex grills and hidden headlights up front and full-width tail lights in the back. The first generation Charger was not a major hit, but it gained enough popularity to survive to a second generation, which was when the Charger began to garner fans and attention.
Capturing the attention of car fanatics back in the 70s, the second generation of Chargers impressed. The styling was unlike anyone had ever seen, and was one of the best looking cars of its time. The new and attractive styling wasn’t the only thing that made the second gen Charger so popular though. Dodge gave this model an impressive 375-horsepower V8 engine, which tore up the track and made heads turn.
Soon after though, the Charger was discontinued. It wasn’t brought back till the 1980s, and it had changed a significant amount. The 1980s version of the Charger was a hatchback three-door coupe that was paired with front-wheel drive. This era of the Charger brought us the iconic Shelby model, which offered more power and better handling.
The Charger was again discontinued, but made its second come back in 2006, and has remained in production ever since. The 2006 model of the Charger had four doors, but its styling paid tribute to the models from the ’60s and ’70s. Dodge’s dedication to honoring the original style of their first and second generation Chargers, as well as continuing to revolutionize the performance and speed capabilities, makes for an impressive modern Charger. The newest Charger, the 2022 model, can get up to an incredible 797 horsepower.
If you’re interested in a Dodge Charger, come on down to Briggs Dodge Ram of Topeka. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff would love to answer any questions you have, and get you set up in the ride of your choice.