Have we finally come to the point where the only accessible and relatively cheap Dodge Chargers are ten-year-old sedans? As much as I tend to think that’s the case, I wanted to prove myself wrong, so I hit eBay and went dredging. I wanted something that wasn’t rotted to the core, left in a field in a trashed state, and certainly wasn’t the ultra-annoying $1.00 bid brand-new car. Whatever appeared that looked like it could potentially drive around the block without things falling off of it would be declared the winner, be it K-car or Cordoba clone.
And that’s where we located this roasted but surprisingly solid 1972 Dodge Charger, sitting on a used-car lot in eastern Washington. It has certainly seen better days, but it’s not the worst B-body Mopar we’ve seen…trust us…and even as rough as it is, we place good money on being able to hop behind the wheel, hit the key, fire it off and take off down the road. Why? The 225 cubic inch Slant Six underneath the hood. It takes deliberate, cruel methods of torture to kill one of these blocks, so as long as there is fuel, air and spark, it’ll fire off. You won’t get home quickly, but you’ll get home, and if something goes wrong that doesn’t involve a rod sticking out of the block to say “Hello!”, all you’ll need are screwdrivers and a crescent wrench to get it going again. Ok, maybe a B.F. Hammer, just in case.
The 1971-74 Charger’s design was a little decisive. You either loved or hated the Coke bottle shape, but there wasn’t a vinyl roof, and the quarters look passable from a distance. Cleaned up, these Chargers have a menacing look to them, one that usually requires the low bass notes of a well-sorted big-block to pull the act together. But, against even my own tendencies, I’d recommend keeping the big six. Turbocharge the ever-loving hell out of it, feed it nitrous, say nice things to it…whatever you have to do to make it produce big-boy power. Then repaint the car in Light Gunmetal, widen the steel wheels, keep the Dart-style hubcaps and see if anybody is willing to buy into a race with a six-popper Charger. There could be a lot of fun to be had…
eBay Link: 1972 Dodge Charger
I agree 100% with you Bryan. With that state of tune the “Leaning Tower of Power” would match the output of a sorted Hemi. I can imagine researching where anything LS powered is in your area and then going and stomping the hell out of it. After a few dollars had changed hands you could bask in the sad expression of LS junkies who had just been stomped by a bone-stock ancient Dodge that looked as powerful as Donald Trump’s intellect…..
well, this is the 2nd slant charger I have seen. first one back in jr high owned by a kid, that version was a 68 model.
I’d fix the bench seat, do some maintenance then cruise it as is…
A guy had a 1971 slant 6, 3 on the tree, basically no option car at Carlisle a bunch of years ago. It had to be the only one ever made.
It was the only 71 and newer slant Charger I ever saw until this thing.