1965 Dodge Charger 5.2L V8 4MT (230 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Chrysler unveiled the first generation of the Charger in January 1966, but the official sales started almost half a year later, in July, and things could have gone better than the automaker had hoped.

Ford was already competitive with its Mustang and became the car to beat on the market, but it was smaller than the Charger. Dodge tried to fit its new creation between the original pony car and the personal luxury coupe Thunderbird. But there were some flaws in the car’s design that made it difficult to sell. Almost 40,000 people bought the Charger by the end of 1966, which was not that impressive.

Based on the Dodge Coronet, the Charger sported a fastback shape, even though it was a three-box vehicle. Its front fascia featured rotating headlights, which was a first for Dodge. Its grille with vertical and horizontal thin slats also looked unusual for a time when most cars boasted massive chromed elements. The Charger’s profile revealed a sporty-looking hard-top shape with a retractable B-post. Finally, at the back, the rear fascia featured a six-lamp system, three on each side, with the chromed “Charger” nameplate between them.

Inside, Dodge opted for an unusual layout with a full-length center console that divided the cabin into four individual seats. Yet, the rear ones were folding to enlarge the trunk area. At the front, the automaker installed bucket seats and a four-dial instrument panel. The center ones were for the speedometer and tachometer. In contrast, the outer ones were used to fit several gauges in them for fuel level, water temperature, oil pressure, and the ammeter.

Under the hood, the Charger featured only V8 engines, with the base model powered by a 5.2-liter powerplant. The top-spec version was powered by the so-called Street Hemi 426 V8, rated at 425 hp.