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Topic starter
15/03/2026 10:35 am
When automakers find a design cue that's popular with the consumer, they all want to jump on it. The tail fin era was over by the 1960s and this the advent and popularity of the '63 Corvette coupe, we entered into the "me too" fastback era. The following year, Plymouth turned the Valiant into the fastback Barracuda. My buddy's parents bought him one with the Formula S package and I thought it looked so cool with that big external resonator hanging out the back that made the coolest sound. Anyway, the rear after that AMC released the mid-size Marlin and Chrysler just had to respond through their Dodge Division using their mid-size Coronet so as not to be in direct competition with the Barracuda. Along with a full length fastback, they turned the Coronet into a 4 seater with a full length console separating 4 bucket seats with the rear seat backs flipping down which offered opportunities for a couple at the Drive-in movie or any secluded spot. The V8 only options were legion. Almost every '66 Charger I saw back then boasted the 325 HP 383 4bbl which I had on my Satellite and loved it. A mere 468 Chargers were sold with the 426 Hemi that year. I never really took to this 1st gen Charger which ended in 1967. It just looked too contrived. The 2nd gen starting in 1968 was a more dedicated design that became my favorite of all the Charger series.
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15/03/2026 9:18 pm
I loved this Charger design and the first Barracuda in spite of the fact that their source was quite obvious. I do agree however that the '68 Charger styling was definitely the best!
GDH and Christopher Moroni reacted
16/03/2026 8:59 am
The interiors on these Chargers were fantastic with their four bucket seats and full length consoles. I can't say that I liked the fastback styling on large cars as well as on smaller cars.
GDH and Christopher Moroni reacted
16/03/2026 9:29 am
@bob-jackman I may have mentioned this before but my friend's father bought one of these 1966 Chargers, with the 383, new in the mauve poly shade with black interior, which really polarized opinion (both design and color). Personally, I loved it then and still do. I got a few rides in it and the two things that blew this young 14 year old car freak away were the awesome interior with full length console and all bucket seats and the sound of that 383 when he punched it for us kids to enjoy. He obviously knew I LOVED it because when he dropped me off he would always punch it....I would stand and stare in awe. He must have got a chuckle seeing that. Lol.
Topic starter
16/03/2026 12:29 pm
@jack-dodds You could make great sounds with that 383. With mechanical secondaries on the 4bbl, depress that last 1" on the gas pedal and you got that "BOOO_WAAAH!" out of it! LOL
16/03/2026 1:01 pm
@rich-sufficool LOL....you just cannot have enough "BOOO_WAAAH!" It's our life blood.
