I was primarily a Ford guy in my younger years, so that’s why it never ceases to amaze me when I stumble across another old MOPAR here in of all places Tokyo. They seem to follow me…it’s spooky…cue the Twilight Zone theme…
Well, maybe it shouldn’t be much of a surprise since most reside here at Kennie’s MOPAR Service. We reviewed several finds at Kennie’s a few years ago. He’s now moved to a new location and I found this very nice 1966 Dodge Charger outside his shop last weekend. I place it as a ’66 since it doesn’t have the fender mounted turn signals and does have the spinner hubcaps. I couldn’t get too close, but it appears complete and very stock – just the way I’d prefer mine.
In comparison to the second-gen Charger next to it with the blower sticking out of the hood – we also reviewed it previously – before its hood surgery. Next trip by, I’ll also try to get a few shots of that ’62 Plymouth in the rear.
If only these old MOPARs could talk and regale us with tales of how they made the trip from Highland Park across the ocean to Tokyo.
Hard to pick which of these generation Chargers I like best. Generation 1 was a pretty dramatically styled fastback with an absolutely beautiful interior and the ultra cool electro-luminescent dash. Gen 2 was more conservative, but beautifully proportioned with far wider appeal. The 1968 version is my favorite. Love the round taillights.
I’ll take the ’66 Charger. Prettiest on the inside, ya know…
Nice ’66, but I never really warmed to it; on the other hand, I love the ’70 (full disclosure, I own a 1970 Charger 500!). My first car was a 1962 Dodge Dart 440 hardtop. What blower are you referring to? The linked article shows the same picture? 🙂
If you look at the very first picture, showing the 3 cars, you can make out the blower poking through the hood of the 69 Charger. The picture you see of just the front of the 69 is the same car taken before the blower installation.
Minor correction, it’s a 1970
It’s be great to know about the switch to loop bumpers on the B-body coupes, first at Dodge for 1970, then Plymouth for 1971. I’ve always suspected it was to more easily mate the NASCAR wingcar nose cone to the front end.
In fact, the 1970 Plymouth Superbird uses Dodge Coronet front fenders and hood (Plymouth wasn’t supposed to get a wingcar but Petty insisted). It’s possible that the next year Satellite coupe got a loop bumper for the same reason.
My brother ordered a 1967 Charger with the 383 4-barrel, heavy-duty drum brakes, automatic, air conditioning and more. Dark blue exterior and matching interior. Bucket seats were standard. The car was a bad ass for acceleration and drove nicely too.
when I was a kid in grade 3 living in Fort Dodge Iowa my teacher had a brand new green first generation charger. I thought it odd that an old lady had such a cool car. in hindsight she was no more than 40 and actually quite the looker.
An unmolested ’62 Plymouth two door is very high on my MM wish list.
Once Again: Paul and I agree on a car.
Make mine a 2 door hardtop or sedan, 318 or 361 “Golden Commando” V8 engine, push button Torqueflite, power steering and factory air conditioning.
‘Course I am somewhat biased since I bounced around in the back seat of one all thru grade school.
Me too. Love those…
Amazing to find those in Tokyo. Must be the collection of someone very enthusiastic. The background could almost be anywhere in the world.
It honestly warms my heart to see a recently modified old Charger modified the way it would have been modified in the 80s, not as restomod with a Hellcat engine swap.
The 62 Plymouth is underrated, I can find charm in the Dodge that year but it’s styling is definitely out there, I don’t see why the Plymouth was ever considered so bad, it’s a clean handsome design to my eye, and this one’s parked next to some stiff competition
In my opinion: Better looking AND better driving than the same year Ford or Chevy.
1962 Sport Fury interior:
I think the original Charger is a very good looking car. It’s amazing how for not much money they transformed a very conservative blocky intermediate into a pretty cool vehicle. Then AMC thought “We can do that too!” and somehow came up with a car that was way more terrible than the intermediate it was based on, the Marlin. Should have called it the Beluga (no offense to actual Belugas).
It may have been the other way around since the Marlin was introduced for 1965.
I’m sure Chrysler was sweating when the Marlin quickly turned out to be a dud but, thanks to Dodge dealers whining about getting a ponycar, the Charger was set for a 1966 introduction, come hell or high water.
In defense of the Marlin I think it’s pretty hard to argue the Coronet hardtop wasn’t a more handsome design than the Classic as a starting point. True they both may have been conservative and blocky intermediates, but the Dodge had the bone structure and stature to grow its hair long and throw on shades.
Personally I think they’re both challenged designs in similar ways, and the Charger is very angle dependent – some angles it is very good looking, others it looks ponderous and heavy, where the rear overhang even looks more massive than it is. I’ve always preferred the 68 since there really isn’t a bad angle, and even with little base tires and hubcaps they have a confident aesthetic stature
The key difference is the Charger’s electric razor grille (and full width strip tallights). Without it, it would look too much like a Coronet with a tacked-on fastback roof. The Marlin looks way too much like a Rambler. Combine that with the lack of a performance drivetrain, and the Marlin didn’t stand a chance.
Yeah I agree, but I can’t help but think the better look(to me) would be the Coronet hardtop body with the Charger grille/taillights and the cool dash instead of the fastback at all.
I’ve seen pics where someone actually did a ’67 Coronet hardtop with Charger equipment. It does look pretty good.
Considering Chrysler’s penchant for offering just about any kind of equipment on any bodystyle, it’s a little surprising that they didn’t take that route for the 1967 Coronet R/T, particularly when one considers that the R/T came standard with the 440, and the Charger started with a 318.
Check out the compact AMC Tarpon concept car. It was basically the fastback on the smaller Rambler body. The car was much more in balance and a good looking car. Then AMC ruined it by moving the fastback to the larger car. It went downhill from there.
The dashboard on that ’62 Sport Fury is Jetson’s cool!
A close up of the instrument panel.
Good luck finding gauges on the same year Chevy or Ford.
The Charger is very nice, but I want that 62 Dodge! A 413 4 sp would be heaven!