(first posted 6/24/2017) When we settled down in our suburban Tokyo neighborhood a good ten years ago, one of the things I was most looking forward to was a good, leisurely walk where I could indulge all my JDM desires; searching out first-gen Mazda Cosmos, Isuzu 117 Coupes, and Nissan Fairlady Z’s… Well, I’ve seen a few of those, but what has surprised me most was discovering a significant a number of cars that would have been right at home in my central Ohio high school parking lot circa 1974.
After finding Kenny’s MOPAR Service a few weeks ago, another Sunday walk in the opposite direction turned up this second generation Dodge Charger, decked out in what looks like some true period-correct JC Whitney accoutrements. Actually, this picture got me thinking, I imagine most folks under 40 may not know what the phrase “jacked up” means; at least in automotive terms. “Jacking up” your car was a favorite trick in the late ’50’s thru late 70’s – the rear spring shackle was extended, raising the back end so you could fit oversize tires, usually slicks, to give your car that “Pro Stock” appearance. The resulting ill effects on handling were usually overlooked. Ahh, youth…
Just like those in my ‘70’s high school parking lot, this one has aftermarket Centerline wheels and a set of “Mickey Thompson’s” in the back. No engine call-outs, so not sure what’s under the hood – engine choices in 1970 were plentiful; from a 225 Slant six to a brace of V8’s – 318, two 383’s, a 440 Magnum or Six Pack, and the infamous 426 Hemi.
Looks like a toolbox on the passengers side so more modifications may be on the menu…
The chrome rectangular grille surround with no center divider and full-width taillight marks this as a ’70, and the badging (or lack of) make it the base model. Chargers for ’70 could be had in three versions; base, sporty R/T, and luxury-themed SE. Unfortunately, the wedge-nosed, high wing Daytona model was no longer available.
As I’m sure CC’ers know, this generation B-Body Charger is regarded as one of the most evocative and attractive designs to ever come out of Highland Park/Auburn Hills – and I agree.
1974 Dodge Charger SE – example from internet
This is another car I’ve had some experience with – in 1977 I bought a used third-gen ’74 Charger, base model, 318 with Torqueflight. I thought the second-gen was better looking but the ’74 was newer and when you’re 21 years old, newer has a unique appeal. Not a bad car – but probably the worst winter car I’ve ever driven – even with snow tires it would just spin its wheels.
Back to the ’70 – here’s why I wouldn’t drive this one to the Fraternal Police Ball…at least the owner was thoughtful enough not to translate it into Japanese…
More Charger love:
1968-dodge-charger-rt-the-most-beautiful-car-of-the-muscle-car-era
If I had it, I`d remove the F the Police sticker, and put a ‘blue lives matter’ flag on it!
+1?!
A jacked-up Charger, boy does that bring back memories. But in my part of the world it was usually Novas, Chevelles, Fairlanes and of course Mustangs.
When I was a freshman in high school (mid 1970s) and still walking to school in the mornings, I would be passed most mornings by an older kid I never knew (big school) driving a burgundy 67 Galaxie 500 2 door with wheels and a stance pretty much like this. It just looked so right and normal then. And until you pointed out the Charger’s stance, it didn’t even register with me.
Age and experience is a funny thing. I hate the modern huge wheel/small tire and lowered look, but the look on this Charger is “just another day in the neighborhood.”
One of the differences between a Tokyo neighborhood and a big city, U.S.A. neighborhood is that the owner feels confident leaving a toolbox (and an open toolbox at that) on the floor in the passenger compartment of a car that would be a car thief magnet.
I visited Japan 3 times in the 80s, and rarely if ever saw an American built car off base.
Love the 68 and 70 Chargers of all the cars that have used that name. The odd, split grille used for 69 was just a feeble facelift of the 68. And I especially love that dark green color.
I have friends who spent 2 years in Kobe Japan. They reported that property theft crime was pretty much non-existent. Gotta love that!
We used to call that jacked-up-in-the-back look the”California Rake.” For any high school student’s first car, it was almost a requirement. You’d feel stupid if you didn’t have the back of your car jacked up. The same people who 10 years earlier were using clothes pins to make playing cards rub against their bicycle spokes graduated to that look when they finally got their first car.
I like this car but wonder why it doesn’t have the mandatory lights and off side exterior mirror Tom had to put on his left hand U.S.A. Spec. car when he imported it to Japan ? .
I grew up in snow country so the “California Rake” (that’s a _really_ dated term !) was only used by kids and stupids who didn’t care about sliding into the ditch…..
Snow tires work best when skinny, wide tires just spin and slide .
-Nate
Nice car. Hate the sticker.
I imagine enough Japanese police officers speak English that this decal will cause some issues. “Good afternoon, sir. Interesting window sticker. On an unrelated note, I just clocked you at 300 in a 25MPH zone.”
Reminds me of the old Cheech and Chong gag, calling to a cop, “Hey PIG, can you give us a push?” To each other, “Oh far out man, he’s coming over!”
I assumed it the decal was supposed to be in keeping with the character of the car, and that Japanese cops would see it that way too.
…or the car’s owner is a proud N.W.A. fan.
+1
Or maybe he didn’t like Sting’s attitude.
LMAO! 😄
I think the wheels are actually Weld Draglites. I love the stance personally, a lot of cars from this era tend to look saggy in the rear, as if there’s a ton of cinderblocks In the trunk.
The fuck the police sticker is about as subtle as this Charger’s vanity plate
I wonder if that F*** the police sticker was an American sourced “accessory” or if it is Japanese? Afterall, Japanese phrases often use American words in very odd ways.
When I was in Japan a popular drink was Pocarry Sweat, which sounds like moisture collected from some strange rodent.
I remember when that jacked up rear end look and the “big and littles” look was popular. I actually thought about using it on my 68 Mercury Cyclone GT….for all of 15 minutes. I figured those extended shackles used to help jack up the rear looked a bit too weak to hold up a car under hard acceleration.
Don’t forget another trim level, the 500, changed from a low production modified Charger in 69.
Wasn’t the SE an option on the R/T, at least through 1970? Seems like I’ve only seen RT/SE ’69 and ’70 Dodge Chargers.
The models themselves for 1970 were base, 500, and R/T. I don’t know what engines you could get on the base Charger, but I think the max engine on the 500 was limited to the 383-4v. If you wanted a 440, you had to get an R/T.
With all that, the feature car is interesting in that it looks like a base car with a factory bumble-bee stripe. I wouldn’t think you could get the stripe on a base car.
According to The Encyclopedia of American Cars, the 500 was a 69 year model only. It was also a V8 only car, the “base” Charger was the only model available with the 6 cylinder engine standard. As far as which V8 or V8s was available in the 500, The Encyclopedia doesn’t say, leading me to believe you could get anything from a 318 up to a 440 in a 500.
And the R/T was a distinct model, while the SE package was a trim package.
That changed with the 3rd generation of Charger when the R/T and SE became seperate models.
I believe the encyclopedia may be in error on the Charger 500. In 1969, it was a NASCAR special with a flush grill from the ’68 Coronet and custom, modified, flush rear window. Production was mandated solely for NASCAR (supposedly at least 500, hence the name). There were two engine/transmission options: Hemi/4-speed or a 440/auto. This was back in the day when the cars in stockcar racing really did have stock bodies, so I’d guess most of those 1969 Charger 500s with a Hemi went to racing teams.
But, like Jeff’s photo shows, the 1970 Charger 500 had nothing to do with NASCAR and was simply a normal production model slotted between the base and R/T Chargers. It also didn’t have any special aerodynamic modifications but had a standard Charger grille and flying-buttress rear window. I’d be willing to bet engine offerings were 225 six or 318 V8 in the base, 383 2v or 4v in the 500, and 440 or Hemi in the R/T.
They made a 500 model at least into 1971 as well.
I can speak from personal ownership experience.
One of my first Matchbox die cast cars was the ‘jacked up’ Charger ‘Big Banger’ around 1973 or 1974.
I thought jacking up the late 60s Charger didn’t do its clean, almost elegant, lines justice. Jacking up seemed more at home on the Duster, Satellite and the next gen Charger. Even the Volare/Aspen coupe.
I had the one that came before yours, around 71 or 72
I have to say that those old Chargers along with the majority of other old mopars are grossly overrated automobiles. They really weren’t very good cars in most ways. They had terrible build quality, ugly cheap interiors, awful driving dynamics, problematic engines except for the slant six and 318 which lasted, and many of those old mopars began rusting badly after 3 years. I’ve had enough personal experience with these cars to know that they’re not exactly the most plesant machines to own.
I’d have to disagree. The ’68-’70 Chargers were by far, one of the best vehicles to grace the road. I’ve a British market ’69 here in Kelowna, and with our BC winters I’ve seen NO rust, and the 440’s never let me down in service. The previous owner, who lived in Sheffield before emigrating to Canada in 1980 said that he wanted to get a British car, but his Charger beat the pants off the Euro iron, and he couldn’t leave his pride and joy in England. So it went with him. There are MORE Chargers in Western Canada that Hollywood hasn’t destroyed, and NO Canadian Charger owner would sell to you pessimistic, car wrecking yanks. So I’ll keep it in BC and give it the care it deserves…
One of the ways to get a car’s rear end up in the air is to install air shocks and pump them up. I don’t know if this was a factory option or was installed by the previous owner but my ’73 Vega had air shocks. I pumped them all the way up one time, and then quickly let them down. With the air shocks extended all the way it felt like the rear end would leave ground running over a piece of paper.
Would look so much more sinister/serious, without the white vinyl roof.
Back in the day, negative offset wheels were not very common. I worked at Grand Auto in the 70’s and when someone bought a set of ET mags, a set of Gabriel High Jackers usually went on the rear.
I may be dating myself, but I still use the term “jacked up” for the pickup truck crowd that is 4″ to the sky above ride height. I guess “lifted” is the preferred term for those who are way higher than stock, but to me it’s “jacked up”.
On the F the Police, at best, why wave a red flag in front of a bull, at best, you’re asking for trouble. Without accusing/excusing any side, why stir it up?
I’m not well-versed in the latest automotive terms. But I would differentiate between ‘jacked up’, and ‘lifted’. If you said a car was ‘jacked up’, I would think you were describing the rear of the car being raised. A term, I usually associated with muscle cars. ‘Lifted’ is a newer term to me. I usually associate with four by fours. Or vehicles where the full body is raised.
The why is pretty simple Mike .
FEAR .
It’s a discussion for another venue .
-Nate
I could be wrong, but I’d think a “F*ck the Police” sticker would draw far less attention or potential targeting, in a country where English is not the primary language. Or a country that has a less adversarial history between the public and police, as we have in North America. Seen as more benign in Japan, while always a hot topic here in North America. Why else would someone (confidently or naively?) place such a controversial sticker, on a high-value car?