1966 Dodge Charger
During the early-1960s, automakers were exploring new ideas in the personal luxury and specialty car segments. Chrysler, fast to enter the specialty car market, selected their Dodge Division to enter the marketplace with a mid-size B-bodied sporty car to fit between the "pony car" Ford Mustang and "personal luxury" Ford Thunderbird. The intention was to create a fastback look while sharing as much existing company hardware as possible.
For consignment a first-year edition of the first-generation Dodge Charger. This car was lovingly maintained by a single family until our consignor took ownership and it sports the correct big block powered drivetrain. It has had the headlight motors rebuilt along with new relays and limit switches, has been upgraded to front power disc brakes along with a Mopar Performance electronic ignition upgrade and is not only a looker but a cooker. This red cavalry horse is definitely ready to do battle...blow the bugle!
Exterior
If you thought the Barracuda fastback was cool, get a load of this fastback. It is truly the next level looking much like the concept car of 1965 Dodge rolled out to wet future appetites for the upcoming muscle race. A well hidden trunk lid here, although the gap suggests otherwise, but the long sloping line hides it. Outside shows the Charger badge on the long triangulated B pillar along with the correct white roofline pinstripe. The sides showing the beginnings of the Coke bottle shape design have well minded gaps and plenty of trimmings on the rockers and the wheel wells, belt line toppers, as well as around the windows. All this steel is bathed in correct Bright Red and it shows in excellent condition with no rust to be found. Tucked in bumpers, in mirror-like finish, gleam along with the chrome trimmings. Up front hidden headlights give the electric shaver grille the appearance that it runs the entire way across the front of the car. The rear picks up on this and has the taillight strip run entirely across the car as well. Fratzog badges are seen on the grille and a large circular badge on the trunk lid. 14-inch steel wheels with faux spinner caps are on all 4 corners wearing red stripe radials from the 42nd week of 2020.
Interior
A swing of the doors and white vinyl mixes with aluminum panels and black carpet to create a sporty looking panel. Turning our attention to the seats, pristine white tuck and roll pattern seats in the form of low back buckets in front and a duo of more buckets in the rear that have fold down capabilities, and center armrest that folds allowing the user to store many a cargo item under that large fastback. A center console upfront as well not to be outdone by the snazzy rear setup, a fold up and down armrest that could double as a 3rd front seat. Looking up front at the dash and it is factory gorgeous. Very clean with its lineup of circular instruments for the cluster, and a row of buttons, ignition and knobs just below, all within perfect reach of the driver. Just below the dash is the original "knee knocker" AC unit hovering above the console. The remainder of the dash uses a rectangular pattern to add texture and house the radio and airflow levers, and a glovebox. Black carpet for the floors remains mostly unmarred save for some light fading on the driver's threshold. A clean tight headliner in black is above.
Drivetrain
A nicely maintained and detailed bay grabs our attention when we open the hood and it is just fab in body matching Bright Red. An aqua block and intake, water pump are showing off their stuff, then topped with more aqua valve covers and I'm nearly ready to eat this engine as it presents as a piece of eye candy. It is the correct and original 361ci V8, and is topped with a correct 2-barrel carburetor. A shout out to the black painted single snout air cleaner cover which can feed plenty of air for the fossils to mix with and turn this V8. An A727 Torqueflite 3-speed automatic transmission, and an 8.75 inch 3.23 rear axle complete this nice package.
Undercarriage
Underneath, a nearly new single exhaust system with a muffler delete guides us through a very clean rust free structurally sound undercarriage. Independent torsion bar suspension upfront, and leaf springs on the rear are in fab condition. A conversion to power disc brakes for the front, and power drums for the rear can be seen and now it's time to take a drive.
Drive-Ability
This horsepower embellished horse fired right up and ran very nicely through all aspects of our test track. A good accelerator, strong flow through the gears power and smooth ride left us with a smile on our track test dummies face, (Wait! not dummies!). All is looking good on the functionality front.
There are nice examples of many cars in Classic Auto Mall, then there are really nice examples and this Charger is certainly in the latter category. Well done, a fancy futuristic design line, and that solid looking front grille, and you will be turned into a sucker for a 66 muscle car. Da Da Da Dit Da Dee...Charge...r!
XP29F61209442
X-Dodge Charger
P-Premium Price Class
29-2 Door Sports Hardtop
F-361ci 2bbl V8
6-1966
1-Lynch Rd, MI Assy Plant
209442-Sequential Unit Number
FENDER TAG
a6-Console
b4-Bucket Seats
p6-Remote Outside Driver's Mirror
AB51-361ci 2bbl V8
C5-Automatic
R1-2 Watt AM Radio
SO NUMBER 20109131-February 1st
BODY XP29-Charger 2 Door Sports Hardtop
TRIM P4W-White Vinyl
PAINT PP1WW-Bright Red, White Roof Stripe, White Upper Door Frame Paint
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 850 vehicles for sale with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle barn find collection is on display. This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.
