no, not a "vs" thread exactly...

Used to own a 73 Charger with a 400/727. It was junk, but I miss that car.

I've always had a thing for Chargers, but I always really liked the styling of the 68/69 Coronet, too. I mention this because I saw a Coronet on the side of the road the other day, all black, and it made me wonder what one would look like if you tricked it out as a street "Trans-Am" car rather than a NASCAR-inspired ride.

So what's the vote--based almost completely on subjective aesthetics--the 68 through 74 Charger or the 68/69 Coronet? And if you want to throw in your $.02, what engine/transmission combo would you want?

69 Charger, viper driveline. As long as we're dreaming. I would paint it "Ghost of the General Lee" style. So- blacked out, tattered pirate lookin version of the stars and bars on the roof, ghosted in 01 on the door....... yep. That would about do it.

Old Mopars are cool. Old Mopars are expensive. Cool old Mopars are REALLY expensive.

68-70 Charger is big money for a solid car. 71-74 is cheaper but less desirable. You could work this to your advantage. See Satellite / Roadrunner too.

I'd say injected 340 built for hi-rpm use. Again Expensive....

'68-70 Charger is going to be the steepest buy-in, with the '68-69 Coronet second, '71-72 Charger in a close third, with the '73-74 Charger the most affordable for raw material. Unless Burn Notice has driven the prices of those up now too.

I have a '73 Road Runner in the fleet. Same car as the Charger under the skin.

Really from an aesthetic point, one of those cars done up in late '60's/early '70's NASCAR style wouldn't be too different from a similar vintage Trans Am styled car. Other than the starting point would have been a bit large for Trans Am.

Of your choices I'd go with the '73-74 Charger. The body was fairly swoopy without having to go with a Daytona nose and tail. I'd also go with a healthy small block Mopar and a stick. Either an original 4-speed or a newer OD 5-speed.

The Mopar Trans Am cars were all small blocks. The later NASCAR Charger was a small block. You can use an aftermarket Mopar small block casting, bore and stroke it to the legendary 426 CID if you want. Take a little helping of Petty Charger, and borrow a little from the Penske-Donahue Javelin, and you are on your way.

I had a friend who actually had a 2 Door '68 Coronet 440. It had a 318 2 bbl with a 727. I really liked that car.

I would take the same car, but use the 260 hp 318 with a 4-speed and Tru Trac. It's not a very big car to begin with, so I think it would scoot around really well and get half ways descent mileage.

My other option is a Coronet 440 wagon, 340/4-Speed. Definitely.

I like the 67-69 Darts myself. Then put in a 5.7 truck Hemi and 727/46RH.....

I never have really liked the "big" intermediates.

I really like this thread.

I had a '74 SE w/ 318 in the 80's. It was a great car then but when I look at old pics now it looks hideous to me.

My friend's parents had a white '68 Coronet 440. I could never stop staring at those beautiful tail lights.

And...I'm tired of Chargers.

A coronet simply because no one will ever mention the dukes of hazzard to you.

My dad built a 69 Charger R/T in 94. You couldn't go anywhere without someone bringing up that awful show. Grocery store, stop lights, anywhere. It didn't matter. It was General Lee this and duke boys that. I hated that part of the car and then a decade later I adopted a Basset hound and every where I go it is "Hey Flash" and "Look the dukes of hazzard dog!"

The only Charger I want, is the 515 GTB designed by Steve Strope. I love this freaking car.

And yes, it's right hand drive.

My mom had a Coronet until a few years ago (I get the car gene honestly). It's far more unique than a Charger, yet way cheaper to buy. The difficulty is getting trim parts for it; they aren't exactly on the radar of the parts repro people.

Wow, Google images for "Dodge Coronet" finds all kinds of fun stuff.

Sixty SIX Charger, rear-mounted 4g63 with a turbo the size of a berkeleying dinner plate. Cuz berkeley 'em, that's why.

I had a 4g63 in a car with a Mopar 5 point on the side, so it's legit.

Rob_Mopar wrote:

Man, this car makes me feel funny in my swimsuit area every freakin time I see it.

mndsm wrote: 69 Charger, viper driveline. As long as we're dreaming. I would paint it "Ghost of the General Lee" style. So- blacked out, tattered pirate lookin version of the stars and bars on the roof, ghosted in 01 on the door....... yep. That would about do it.

Some one needs to go do this now!!!!

poopshovel wrote: Sixty SIX Charger, rear-mounted 4g63 with a turbo the size of a berkeleying dinner plate. Cuz berkeley 'em, that's why.

Go get it, Poop!

http://stlouis.craigslist.org/cto/2877131814.html

If I were in the Southwest I'd have to think real hard about something like this:

http://lascruces.en.craigslist.org/cto/2894871063.html

Newer B bodies have slightly less offensive handling characteristics than the early ones, but they are still pigs, so the engine really doesn't matter unless you rebuild the bottom side of the car first.

I'd build a 73-73 with a modern Hemi.

ddavidv wrote: My mom had a Coronet until a few years ago (I get the car gene honestly). It's far more unique than a Charger, yet way cheaper to buy. The difficulty is getting trim parts for it; they aren't exactly on the radar of the parts repro people. Wow, Google images for "Dodge Coronet" finds all kinds of fun stuff.

Y'know, looking at that picture I wonder if the '69 fenders/hood would fit a '70. You could do that stuff with Valiants and Darts... I DESPISE that "Agnes Moorehead" grill, but it might open up some candidates.

You can swap a '69 front end onto a '70 Coronet, but all that is going to get you is different taillights and the profile of the stamped "scoop" on the quarter is different. Might as well go get the complete '69 Coronet.

I'm one of the ones that likes the '70 front end. Yea it ain't pretty, but it's mean.

As for handling, there's plenty of aftermarket resources for the old Mopars now. And you don't need to scrap everything the factory designed either.

Fresh from atlanta! http://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/cto/2895746387.html