Vehicle Description
Although some guys will argue that the muscle car era ended in
1970, this 1972 Dodge Charger suggests otherwise. With dramatic
"fuselage" styling, a great-running 340 under the hood (you know,
the same one they used in the Challenger T/A), and a bucket seat
interior, it's easy to make the argument that this nicely restored
car has earned its muscle car stripes.
Any Mopar draped in dramatic "Hemi Orange" is going to attract
attention, especially when the restoration is as comprehensive as
this one seems to be. The new Charger styling has strong links to
the earlier models, from the chrome-ringed nose to the almost
full-width taillights, and with an all-new body, comfort took a
great stride forward. It's rare for someone to spend big restoring
one of these, but with values creeping up each year, there is a
time in the not-too-distant future when it may seem like a bargain.
That's why the bodywork still looks so good even after a few years,
and while it's not perfect, it certainly does get some attention on
the street. And I don't know where they found such beautifully
preserved taillights, but everything is done better than you'd
expect for a second-gen Challenger.
The interior should look familiar to any Mopar fan, with a pair of
high-backed buckets, a Tuff wheel, and big, round gauges. Like the
exterior, everything is in decent condition overall and they kept
to the stock recipe for best results. Dodge continued with the
separate round instruments, and this one includes a bunch of useful
gauges instead of the usual idiot lights. The three-spoke steering
wheel is pure 1970s kitch, and this one sports an unusual column
shifter that seems anachronous in a muscle car but actually makes
it pretty comfortable to use in the real world. Factory A/C is a
nice feature (needs to be serviced) and in the trunk and you'll
find a correct mat and exactly zero evidence this car has ever been
rusty or wrecked because those are original quarter panels with
factory undercoating inside.
Small blocks were the future of performance in 1972, and the 340
under the hood of this Charger delivers V8 performance with the
mass of a big block wrecking the handling. As a result, these
all-new Chargers are great cars on the road, with plenty of power
and an attitude that actually makes you want to find a twisty road.
You can see where the big money was spent on this car, with the 340
nicely detailed and ready to rock. Mopar Turquoise replaced Hemi
Orange as the standard engine enamel, although the bright orange
air cleaner assembly ties it all together. The factory A/C
compressor still dominates the top of the engine compartment and
both power steering and power front disc brakes are included.
Underneath it's pretty original but the floors are in good order,
there's a new Flowmaster exhaust system, and the gas tank looks
recent. Blacked-out steel wheels with dog dish hubcaps and
235/70/15 blackwall radials offer a no-nonsense look that works
quite well.
The market's always moving, and these Chargers are going to join
their older siblings on the hot list very soon. Call today!