The 1975 Dodge Charger may not be the rarest in the very long and successful lineup, but it’s a handsome muscle car you can get on a budget.
However, while most people and magazines (us included) often talk about the Charger units that made it to famous movies (such as “Bullitt” or “Fast and Furious”), we wanted to also take a peek at less favored production years. For instance, the 1975 Dodge Charger is a handsome muscle ride, yet it got overshadowed by its more successful siblings. Let’s take a closer look at it, to even the score a bit.
A Glance At The History Of The Lineup And The Birthing Of The 1975 Dodge Charger
Back in the ’60s, Dodge faced one big problem requiring immediate attention — General Motors. While cars like the Chevelle, GTO, and 442 were already up and running, Dodge struggled to put out its big muscle car. When it finally arrived in 1966, the Dodge Charger was late to the party. Still, thanks to quality engineering and performance that excited the masses, this car quickly attracted quite some attention.
Featuring a two-door fastback body, four bucket seats, and a handful of V8 engines that delivered up to 425 ponies, the first generation of the Dodge Charger positioned itself well on the market. It was, however, the second-generation Dodge Charger that stole the show and remained most influential up to date.
Between 1968 and 1970, the Dodge Charger featured an unmistakable rounded long body with an undivided grill that concealed the headlights. What’s more, Dodge split the offering on an inline-six and two V8 engines and introduced two homologation-special cars — the Charger 500 and the Charger Daytona. These dominated the track to such a degree that NASCAR finally restricted their engine outputs and then banned them from competing.
Anyhow, the third-generation Dodge Charger from 1971 to 1974 was short-lived, even though it was quite popular among customers. Along the line of this generation, the oil crisis and federal regulations hit the muscle car market, and it was clear one era was coming to an end. So, Dodge came up with a new design for its fourth-generation Dodge Charger.
What Should You Know About The 1975 Dodge Charger
Between 1975 and 1978, the Dodge Charger aimed to meet the needs of an increasing number of customers who sought luxury over performance. The muscle car, therefore, became a personal luxury coupe. The 1975 Dodge Charger was much more luxurious than its predecessor from the beginning, offering premium materials for seats and faux wood all around.
On the outside, the 1975 Dodge Charger (and its variations up to 1978) had a new front fascia with two pairs of large and small headlamps. The long hood and the short rear end also gave an impression of a more long-distance-suited car, which is the direction in which Dodge wanted to market its new Charger in the first place.
When it comes to power and performance, the 1975 Dodge Charger (and the entire generation) was well under its predecessors. While various V8 engines were still in the picture, Dodge limited the power output to 240 horsepower for the top trim. The more inferior trims started at 180 horsepower with a V8, and the most standard ones had an inline-six capable of delivering an uninspiring 100 horsepower.
Obviously, all these engines were far from ones of the muscle car era, but admittedly, customers were looking for more comfort and luxury during the mid-70s and beyond.
Price And Availability Of The 1975 Dodge Charger
If, after reading this article, you find yourself wishing to seek the 1975 Dodge Charger on sale, you may get disappointed by its availability. This production year doesn’t hit the used car market as frequently as the 1968 Dodge Charger.
Still, unlike its more famous predecessor, the 1975 Dodge Charger is much less expensive. If you’re willing to wait to catch it on sale, you can expect to pay about $10,000-$20,000, which is a pretty good bargain for a classic car.