![]() ![]() In 1971, the third-gen Charger transitioned to Fuselage Styling, incorporating rounder body panels and an extended front end. The second-gen, introduced in 1968, was sleeker and more streamlined than its predecessor, helping overall boost sales of the Charger.Īdding to the demand for the second-gen models long after its release, a 1969 Dodge Charger R/T known as the General Lee Car appeared on the Dukes of Hazzard television series from 1979 to 1985. Due to lower-than-expected sales, the 1968 model year saw many cosmetic improvements, including a curvy notchback style. The first generation started as a two-door fastback body design. Ever since, it has become one of the most popular Dodge muscle cars ever made. In 1967, the Charger R/T package debuted, while the Charger 50 arrived two years later in 1969. The first-generation Charger (1966-1967), second-generation (1968-1970), and third-generation (1971-1974) all leveraged the midsized B-Body platform. Google them for more on this interesting turn of events.Dodge Muscle Cars Dodge Charger Photo: Mecum Auctions But get this, while domestic production of the Swinger 340 ended after 1970, Canadian access continued for two more years! Thanks to some string pulling by Canadian Dodge dealerships, Chrysler of Canada’s Windsor, Ontario, plant was convinced to produce 83 Swinger 340 Specials in 1971 and another 30 in 1972. The Swinger 340 would also be offered in 1970 before being replaced in the Scat Pack hierarchy in 19 by the Plymouth Duster-based Demon 340. Of the 197,700 Darts built in 1969, no fewer than 16,637 were Swinger 340s – that’s roughly one-in-twelve. This ad must have attracted plenty of attention, successfully turning viewers into buyers. Here, the bumblebee cartoon is depicted from a lower than usual angle, coming at us head on, just above the consistently applied recurring slogan: Dodge Scat Pack…the cars with the Bumblebee stripes. To Dodge’s credit, several renderings of the famed bee were used throughout the campaign to keep it fresh and interesting. These radio-delete fenders command a premium at the swap meet.Īs with any 1968-1971 Dodge magazine muscle car ad, the cheeky Scat Pack Bee, also known as the Dodge Racing Bee, is boldly depicted in full color. Like other Darts ordered without radio equipment, the passenger side front fender is not pierced with the 1-inch diameter hole needed to mount the antenna mast. You paid $63.35 extra for the basic Music Master AM radio or a hefty $134.95 for the solid state AM/FM unit. Looking a lot like exotic magnesium rims, they were also offered on Chargers, Coronets and full-size Dodges riding on 14-inch tires (a 15-inch version of these complex wheel covers was not made).Īn interesting detail is the lack of an antenna on the passenger side front fender of this radio-delete example. And while all Swinger 340s rode on specific 14×5.5 inch steel wheels with small center caps, an extra $64.10 got the Simulated Mag Wheel Covers shown. Presented in R4 Bright Red to complement the brash, diagonal Swinger callout, an extra level of eye-catching contrast is gained from the optional black vinyl roof, a $78.65 upcharge. Now, let’s focus on the car featured in the beach scene. In all, with a base sticker price of $2,836, the ad’s claim that “three bills” got a whole lot of car was no hollow boast. And for those who didn’t enjoy fancy footwork, the beefy A727 Torqueflite ® automatic transmission was a no-cost alternative to the A833 4-speed manual. While the Swinger 340 got the same 8-3/4 rear axle as the Coronet Super Bee, Coronet R/T and Charger R/T (with special brakes and axles to accommodate the compact Dart’s 5-on-4 inch wheel lug pattern), buyers wanting maximum acceleration were offered the Sure Grip limited slip differential for an extra $42.35 and steeper 3.55 or 3.91 gears for just a few dollars more. From there, the copy lists standard equipment, including the 340 cubic inch 4-barrel V8, 4-speed full synchro with Hurst shifter, heavy-duty suspension, dual exhausts, D70x14 wide tread tires, Dart Swinger bumblebee stripes, performance hood with die-cast louvers and 3.23 axle ratio. A 4-speed Hurst on the floor to keep things moving. Getting back to our analysis of the ad, let’s look at the written words: “ Play your cards right and three bills can put you in a whole lot of car this year. ![]()
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