Yes, the Dukes of Hazzard General Lee is highly recognizable. But can you identify a Dodge Charger that isn’t a 1969? Or one that isn’t bright orange with a Confederate flag on top? Fact is, Dodge made some pretty sweet Chargers before and after the General Lee jumped its first washed-out bridge. If you’re a Mopar fan, you’re probably accomplished at identifying early Dodge Chargers from, say, 1966-74.
For the rest of us, here’s a quick guide to identifying the years of early-model Dodge Chargers.
Graphic by: Lori Sams
There is an error in your guide. The rubber bumpers got thicker in 1974, they were not removed completely. The owner of the Charger in that picture must have removed them because they didn’t like how they looked. It was a federal requirement to upgrade the bumpers in 74, so the car would not have been approved for production if Chrysler had removed them.
Totally correct about the rubber bumper nerfs for 74.
This guide is incorrect.
I own an original unrestored 74 that wins trophies – huge ugly rubber bumper nerfs on it
Both of you are correct. I am only 13, but I am an expert on Dodge Chargers. Thanks to the Dukes of Hazzard coming into my life! Since I was three, I had been studying Dodge Chargers.
At 13 years old have you decided which Mopar to build yet? I grew up with Chevy’s street racing and the fastestreet car in vegas: 63 Nova Convertable w/ 327 ChevyII LJ block, federwell Headers, Smokey crossram w/ 2 660 center squirters Grumpy style linkage. beam polished rods shot peeneed and balanced 13.5 to 1 TRW pistos, Z-70 Isky solid lifter cam, Harlan & Sharp roller rocker arms, 2.02 & 1.6 manley valves in 461X ported, studs,t plates, angle milled,M-22, 4.11 8 3/4 posi w/ 17.5″ X 15″ Goodyear Blue Stripe tires added a cur down mono and trailing arms to spring perch on green airplane gas.Never got beat by a Mopar or Kawasaki 750, only car that came close was 70 GTX Hemi w/ Air Grabber hood scoop and definitely the fastest factory production car in Las Vegas number 2 contender was 383 2 4bbl RoadRunner out of Kingmon, Ari. SO move the motor back put 413 heads and a purple shaft in a 67 cuda and go racing!
Dodge Chargers have a silver or black paint job. As you may have noticed from the photo, every time a Dodge Charger turns the corner, the top becomes transparent, giving the driver a wonderful view into their rear quarter-panel.
Dodge Chargers have many options available, including:
Black or silver
Carbon fiber
Platinum (with black side windows)
Platinum (with white side windows)
Aero (carbon fiber only)
Platinum (with black side windows)
There’s a reason for all the options. Dodge Charger owners know they’ve won this race — Dodge Charger owners have made it the fastest car in America. Dodge Charger owners will drive it like a pro and win all the races they enter, even if those races are on public roads (because they take place mostly at night).
So, if you’re looking for a Dodge Charger, keep an eye out for how you’re driving and choose wisely.
How would I go about getting one of the above Charger prints- “Quick Guide to Identifying 1966 – 1974 Dodge Chargers”???
Can’t find a way to buy it on-line??
How can I identify a 1969 Dodge Charger if it is an s-e
Hey Betty, thanks for reading. The SE Trim was an optional “Special Edition” package that took the Charger a bit more upscale. It included things like a faux woodgrain dash and leather seats, so you can look for those to start.
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CLICK HERE to see an original factory brochure page that describes what the package included for more detail.