1968–1970
[edit] 1968

<TABLE style="WIDTH: 25em" class="infobox hproduct" cellSpacing=5><CAPTION class=fn>Second generation</CAPTION><TBODY><TR><TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" colSpan=2></TD></TR><TR><TH style="TEXT-ALIGN: left" scope=row>Production</TH><TD>1968–1970</TD></TR><TR><TH style="TEXT-ALIGN: left" scope=row>Assembly</TH><TD>United States: Detroit, Michigan
Hamtramck, Michigan
Los Angeles, California
St. Louis, Missouri

</TD></TR><TR><TH style="TEXT-ALIGN: left" scope=row>Engine</TH><TD>225 cu in (3.7 L) 1bbl I6 (1969-70)
318 cu in (5.2 L) 2bbl LA V8
383 cu in (6.3 L) 2bbl B V8
383 cu in (6.3 L) 4bbl B V8
426 cu in (7.0 L) Hemi 2x4bbl RB V8
440 cu in (7.2 L) 4bbl RB V8
440 cu in (7.2 L) 2x3 RB (1970)

</TD></TR><TR><TH style="TEXT-ALIGN: left" scope=row>Transmission</TH><TD>A904 3-Speed automatic
A727 3-speed automatic
A230 3-speed manual
A833 4-speed manual

</TD></TR><TR><TH style="TEXT-ALIGN: left" scope=row>Wheelbase</TH><TD>117 in (3,000 mm)</TD></TR><TR><TH style="TEXT-ALIGN: left" scope=row>Length</TH><TD>208 in (5,300 mm) (1968)
207.9 in (5,280 mm) (1969-70)

</TD></TR><TR><TH style="TEXT-ALIGN: left" scope=row>Width</TH><TD>76.7 in (1,950 mm) (1968-69)
76.6 in (1,950 mm) (1970)

</TD></TR><TR><TH style="TEXT-ALIGN: left" scope=row>Height</TH><TD>53.2 in (1,350 mm) (1968-69)
53.0 in (1,350 mm) (1970)

</TD></TR><TR><TH style="TEXT-ALIGN: left" scope=row>Related</TH><TD>Dodge Coronet
Plymouth Belvedere
Plymouth Satellite
Plymouth GTX
Plymouth Road Runner

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
The entire B-body lineup for 1968 was redesigned and the Charger was further differentiated from the Dodge Coronet models. Designer Richard Sias developed a double-diamond coke bottle profile with curves around the front fenders and rear quarter panels. Front and rear end sheet metal was designed by Harvey J. Winn. The rear end featured a "kick up" spoiler appearance, inspired by Group 7 racing vehicles. On the roof, a "flying buttress" was added to give the rear window area a look similar to that of the 1966-67 Pontiac GTO. The Charger retained its full-width hidden headlight grille, but the fully rotating electric headlights had been replaced by a simple vacuum operated cover. The full-width taillights were gone as well. Instead, dual circular taillights were added at the direction of Styling Vice President, Elwood P. Engel. Dual scallops were added to the doors and hood to help accent the new swoopy lines.
Inside, the interior shared almost nothing with its first generation brothers. The rear bucket seats were gone, though the console remained the same as the '67 save for the removal of the armrest cushion. The tachometer was now optional instead of standard, the carpeting in the trunk area was gone, replaced by a vinyl mat, the rear seats did not fold forward and the electroluminescent gauges disappeared in favor of a conventional design.
The standard engine was the 318 cu in (5.2 L) 2bbl until mid-year when a 225 cu in (3.7 L) slant-six became available. The 383-2 and 383-4 remained unchanged. A new high-performance package was added, the R/T ("Road/Track" with no 'and' between Road and Track). The R/T came standard with the previous year's 440 "Magnum" and the 426 Hemi was again optional.


In 1968, Chrysler Corporation unveiled a new ad campaign featuring a Bee with an engine on its back. These cars were called the "Scat Pack". The Coronet R/T, Super Bee, Dart GTS and Charger R/T received bumble-bee stripes (two thin stripes framing two thick stripes). The stripes were standard on the R/Ts and came in red, white or black. They could be deleted at no cost. The 1968 model year Charger sales increased to 96,100, including over 17,000 Charger R/Ts.

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  1968 Dodge Charger R/T
  
  
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  1968 Dodge Charger R/T
  
  

[edit] 1969


1969 Dodge Charger


The 1969 model year brought few modifications. Exterior changes included a new grille with a center divider and new longitudinal taillights both designed by Harvey J. Winn. A new trim line called the Special Edition (SE) was added. This could be available by itself or packaged with the R/T, thus making an R/T-SE. The SE added leather inserts to the front seats only, chrome rocker moldings, a wood grain steering wheel and wood grain inserts on the instrument panel. A sunroof was added to the option list as well, and saw only 260 sold installations. The bumble bee stripes returned as well, but were changed slightly. Instead of four stripes it now featured one huge stripe framed by two smaller stripes. In the middle of the stripe an R/T cutout was placed. If the stripe was deleted, a metal R/T emblem was placed where the R/T cutout was. Total production was around 89,199 units.

Bo & Luke Duke popularized the 1969 Dodge Charger in The Dukes of Hazzard


The television series The Dukes of Hazzard (1979–1985) featured a 1969 Dodge Charger that was named The General Lee. "The General" sported the Confederate battle flag painted on the roof and the words "GENERAL LEE" over each door. The windows were always open, as the doors were welded shut. The number "01" is painted on both doors. Also, when the horn button was pressed, it played the first 12 notes from the de facto Confederate States anthem "Dixie". The car performed spectacular jumps in almost every episode, and the show's popularity produced a surge of interest in the car. The show itself purchased hundreds of Chargers for stunts, as they generally destroyed at least one car per episode.
[edit] Charger 500


Dodge Charger 500


In 1968, Dodge watched their NASCAR inspired Charger R/T fail to beat the Ford cars (the Ford Torino Talladega and the Mercury Cyclone Spoiler II) on the high-banks oval-tracks. The Dodge engineers went back to the wind tunnel and found the tunneled rear window caused lift and the gaping mouth induced drag. Dodge engineers made the rear window flush with the rest of the roof and put a 1968 Coronet Grille up front. The original Charger 500 prototype was a 1968 Charger R/T with a 426 Hemi. The prototype was painted in B5 Blue with a white stripe.
The Charger 500 prototype had a Torqueflite transmission, a white interior and 426 Hemi. The Charger 500 was tested for production, got the greenlight and was one of three models introduced in September 1968. The Charger 500 was standard with the 440 Magnum but the factory literature claims the 426 Hemi was standard. The Charger 500 had the Torqueflite standard and the same equipment standard as the R/T.
The Charger 500 sold for $3842.00 MSRP and was available with the 426 Hemi for an extra $648.20. It had the options A11 and V88. Stripes were available with red, black and white colors. Air conditioning was optional on the 440 Magnum for an extra $357.65.
A total of 500 Charger 500s were made but only 392 were bought for street use. The rest were bought by racers and gutted, stripped, modified and/or repainted. Only 67 Charger 500s were built with the 426 Hemi; 27 with 4-Speeds and 40 with Torqueflites.
The Charger 500 did not achieve the results expected of it on the NASCAR superspeedway circuits and lost to Ford Motor Company entrants, but it was successful on the shorter under 1 mi (1.6 km) tracks.