1975 Dodge Charger

1975 Dodge Charger Daytona If you wanted to emulate your favorite NASCAR driver by buying a '75 Dodge Charger, you would have been out of luck. Turns out, the unique new body design with its vertical nose and square edges was bypassed by NASCAR which kept the more streamlined '74 body style, one which Richard Petty favored. Chargers were moving from sporty rides and leaning more towards personal luxury cars and 1975 epitomized the start of that direction, sharing many characteristics with the Chrysler Cordoba.  For consignment, a 1975 Dodge Charger Daytona showing 95,759 miles, but the true miles are unknown. This is one of just 238 Daytona's built in '75 and although the malaise period was in full effect, reducing the Charger's legendary muscle car status, this well optioned car is in fact, a rare example. Exterior Three color options were available for the Daytona, and red/maroon was one of them, formerly known as Dark Red Metallic sandwiching Vintage Red Metallic with additional augmentations that include a framing red stripe, side molding that connects with wheel lip trim, and Charger Daytona spelled out on the side and decklid. The medium red covers the C-pillar and around the quarter window delineating from the dark red and sunroof on the front side of the top. Carefully contoured chrome bumpers act as bookends congruent with the times, and the eggcrate grille is flanked by stylish round marker lights adjacent to the round headlights, giving slight Jaguar vibes. 15-inch turbine style wheels are paired with white wall tires, a representation of the sportiness of the car mixed with personal luxury. Imperfections are limited to some scuffs and bubbling on the rocker panel and a bent piece of wheel arch trim. Interior The luxury sports combo is evident on the inside where simulated burlwood trim adorns the burgundy doors and both are in good shape with some fading of the carpeted lower panel, once red. Biscuit tufted red vinyl buckets seats are equally hybridized, offering comfort with a touch of raciness, flanking a center console with shifter poised for action. While the driver's seat shows a couple of tears, the passenger seat is nice, and the rear seats look showroom fresh. A sporty steering wheel leads to a more luxurious dashboard with wood accenting and framed with gold trim with floral design around some simple gauges. Your entertainment experience is provided by an AM/FM/8-track player while your passenger basks in the glow of that gold trim around the Chronometer, a clock canted towards the driver. Our red carpet below shows some looseness and fading but the textured vinyl headliner is in good shape. An aged vinyl mat covers the trunk floor and a spare tire and jack are housed inside.  Drivetrain The engine bay presents cleanly and original looking where it houses a rebuilt 360ci V8 fueled by a 2-barrel carburetor and mated to a rebuilt A904 3-speed automatic transmission sending power to the 8 ¼ axle. A/C, power brakes, and power steering are onboard.  Undercarriage Clean, mostly dry, and original looking is how we find the underside, with an even coat of light surface rust throughout but no invasive stuff to our eyes. Brakes are divided as power disc in front, power drum in back and suspension consists of the standard torsion bar front and leaf spring rear. A single exhaust flows through a stock style muffler on its way to an unexciting exit under the back bumper. There's a drop or two of oil around and some on the rear differential.  Drive-Ability Seats made of smooth vinyl are not going to hold you in corners, but the soft tufting of these buckets does help with grip. We grab the sporty shifter and put it in drive after bringing the 360 to life and the car sets out on the test loop to represent the Charger name in a new, personal luxury kind of way. It has plenty of power and tracks straight, and while maybe not the red light warrior of Chargers past, certainly looks good with its