1969 Dodge Charger 500
source: ShutterStock
The Dodge Charger was a stunning muscle car, to be sure. In fact, many argue it’s one of the Dodge’s greatest creations up to today. Its hyper-aggressive coke bottle body and a perfect combination of angles and curves made it a masculine yet sensual muscle car from every angle. The Charger was introduced as a pony car in 1966, destined to compete against Ford’s own Mustang and their “personal luxury” Thunderbird. The Coronet-based Charger received critical acclaim, but this doesn’t tell the story of the greatest Charger ever built.
No, we’re not talking about any regular ole’ R/T or Dukes of Hazzard General Lee. We’re talking about the relatively unknown Charger 500, produced in 1969. During the “aero wars” of NASCAR, Chrysler and Ford were wildly reshaping cars to make them go faster. Anyone can recognize the Charger Daytona, but the Charger 500 was just as special.
source: ShutterStock
The problem with the standard Charger was its aerodynamics: An indented grille and recessed rear window made the Charger about as streamlined as a semi, and it performed horribly at NASCAR speeds. A simple fix was estimated: make the grille flush with the leading edge of the hood, and fill the air-sucking cavity in the rear end. Wind tunnel tests showed this improved the Charger’s aerodynamics exponentially, and it was ready for the track. Almost.
Those homologation rules still applied, and NASCAR required 500 cars be produced and made available to the public to qualify for racing. Thus, the aptly named Charger 500 was born. What’s so visually stunning about these comparatively minor aesthetic updates was the end result. The whole appeal of the Charger was its iconic and very recognizable visage. Dodge’s engineers managed to maintain the entire spectacle while improving the car enough to race against the best. If that’s not stunning enough, consider the available powerplants and the sale price.
1969 Dodge Charger
Dodge optioned the Charger 500 with its iconic 440 and 426 Hemi. The Base price of the Charger 500 was a mere $3,843 while the Hemi would add around $650 to that sticker. Sadly, all 500 cars would not make it to dealership floors. In an apparent slip-up, only 392 cars were made and sold, making them even rarer. Although the Charger 500 didn’t exactly dominate at the track, it is a highly prized and unique take on a muscle car that is already drop-dead gorgeous. Its rarity and powerplants make it even more so. For that, this special Charger earns a spot on our list.
