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Daimler's abuse of the Dodge Charger legacy.

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#64 of 659 I'm not sure about later into the 80's... by andre1969 Oct 25, 2004 (7:04 am)
but I think there might have been a manual option in the '78-80 timeframe. At least, I know there was a 4-speed option for the Grand Prix...I think it was available for the Monte as well. Throughout the 80's, I think most of them just used lightweight Turbo-Hydramatic 200Cs, or the 4-speed overdrive variant of it. Sometimes the TH350 would show up behind the Buick 231 V-6 (my '82 Cutlass Supreme had one) but I think the Chevy engines got mainly the 200C trannies.   I had an '88 LeBaron turbo coupe when I was married. It was actually fairly reliable up to around 90,000 miles. Then all hell broke loose, and about the only thing mechanical that hadn't died by the 115-120K mark was the tranny, and even it was leaking fluid.   I think the LeBaron was definitely a looker, though, although when they went to exposed headlights for 1993(?), I thought that ruined the looks.   I thought that style-wise, the Sebring was a bit of a step down, too, although I did like the styling of the '96-00 generation. After the '01 refreshening though, I like it less, and it just comes off feeling cheaper, somehow. I don't know if they actually cheapened the cloud cars for 2001, or the competition just got that much better. Maybe a bit of both?
#65 of 659 by fintail Oct 25, 2004 (3:08 pm)
There were manual 84 Montes sold in the Mexican market, of all places
#66 of 659 yes by ghulet Nov 03, 2004 (5:08 pm)
An old woman who lived about four blocks from me when I was a kid had a super-strippo (not even a/c), light blue with light blue interior, '78 or '79 Monte with a four (or maybe three, or heck, maybe five, wish I would have checked more closely) speed manual on the floor, not sure what engine, but I'm guessing some sort of six. I can't remember if it had a bench or buckets, but I think bench. It's still the only one like it I've ever seen. Not sure if there's any way to find out how many like it were built.   Back on topic, in reading through this, I guess I'm not the only one who thinks the title of this topic is more than a little off-base, considering what Chrysler did to the Charger name through the years. Of course, they're hardly unique in that regard. How many bastardizations has the (now dead) T-bird been through?
#67 of 659 by kcram HOST Dec 01, 2004 (11:02 am)
A story in this week's Automotive News says DC is getting lots of mail from people against using the Charger name on a 4-door body.   kcram Host - Wagons
#68 of 659 I have a feeling... by andre1969 Dec 01, 2004 (11:42 am)
that the same thing happened over a decade ago, when Chevy did the blasphemous act of slapping SS badging on a Caprice, and in the process making one of the baddest big cars around since the switch to net horsepower ratings.
#69 of 659 Right - those SSs, in good shape, by driftracer Dec 01, 2004 (11:58 am)
are pulling more money now than they cost new...a definite hit and a dumb mistake not to continue them.   I can't see how any Mopar fan, even a purist could ever gripe about a Hemi powered, low-slung "Charger"...especially when DCC has done MUCH worse things to that name...1984 Shelby Charger ring a bell??   I would think that the new Charger, if produced, would out-perform most versions of the old Charger, perhaps save for a hemi car, and then all you'd have to do is take a high-speed corner for the new one to win that competition. Replies to this message: andys120 (Dec 01, 2004 12:03 pm)
#70 of 659 Re: Right - those SSs, in good shape, [driftracer] by andys120 Dec 01, 2004 (12:03 pm)
Replying to: driftracer (Dec 01, 2004 11:58 am) The Shelby Charger was a blot on the name of both Shelby and Charger. It's also worth noting that the current Chrysler 300s are the first to come with four doors and are selling just fine, as well as outperforming (in 300C form) the 300-letter cars of yore.
#71 of 659 My only concern... by andre1969 Dec 01, 2004 (12:05 pm)
about the new Charger, is that some of the artists renderings make me think the end product may look like a rush-job, with just a bunch of haphazard, clunky, quickie styling changes applied to the Chrysler 300. Kind of like a modern take on those Dodge Darts that were badge-engineered into "Magnums", "Chargers", etc for the South American market. A lot of frivolous stuff tacked on, but blatantly obvious that the thing was intended to be a Dart underneath!
#72 of 659 by john_324 Dec 01, 2004 (1:22 pm)
I have to imagine, in the name of production economics, it'll be the four door...Not my first choice, but it's not bad-looking either.   Actually, the 1984 Shelby Charger was the best of a bad lot...try the "regular" Dodge Charger of the 1980s for a real treat. Friend in highschool had one, and maaannn what a slow car.   I think with the Caprice in the 1990s, nobody really noticed when they made the SS. Sure, the diehards and the car mags did, but it slipped by the rest of the population. It only became really sought after it was out a while, then esp. when it was canceled.
#73 of 659 Shelby Chargers by turboshadow Dec 01, 2004 (1:25 pm)
Although I have to admit a bias towards turbo Mopars, I'm gonna have to siound up about the Shelby Chargers. Sure, they were poorly slapped together automobiles, sure they were no 'Charger' as the classic B-bods, but dang those little things could scoot. And with minimal dollars and a few easy mods, they could embarass many a big block, especially around corners.   Check out www.thedodgegarage.com for some info on these cars.   I've owned both a 69 Charger 383, and a Turbo Shadow, and I can tell evryone here that the Shadow would flat tear up that Charger. Straight lines, corners, etc....   And don't even get me started on Mother Mopar's decision to put little bitty drum brakes on those big-block cars. They were SCARY in emergency situations.   Turboshadow

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