The second-generation Dodge Charger, produced from 1968 to 1970, may be the most recognizable muscle car ever built — and that recognition was earned on screen before it was earned on the street. A Highland Green 1968 Charger served as the villain's car in Bullitt. An orange 1969 Charger named General Lee flew through the air weekly on The Dukes of Hazzard. In both cases, the car stole the show.

But the Charger needed no fictional character to justify its existence. It was, on its own merits, one of the most striking automobiles Detroit ever produced. The Coke-bottle body — pinched at the waist, flared at the fenders — gave it a muscularity that other muscle cars attempted but few achieved. The full-width tail-light panel and the hidden headlights created a face that was simultaneously elegant and intimidating.

What Made the Charger Legendary

  • The iconic Coke-bottle body shape with tunneled rear window and flying buttress C-pillars
  • Hidden headlights gave the front end a clean, sinister look
  • The 440 Magnum V8 produced 375 horsepower; the Hemi made 425
  • The R/T (Road/Track) package was the performance trim — just 18,025 built in 1969
  • Full-width tail-light panel became one of the most recognizable rear ends in automotive history

The engine options told you everything about Mopar's philosophy. The standard 318 V8 was for people who wanted a Charger's looks without the insurance premium. The 440 Magnum was for people who were serious. And the 426 Hemi — the legendary elephant motor, so named for its hemispherical combustion chambers — was for people who considered self-preservation optional.

Charger Production and Values

  1. 1969 Charger total production: 89,199 units — the best-selling year
  2. R/T models numbered just 18,025 — the desirable performance trim
  3. Only 432 Chargers were equipped with the 426 Hemi in 1969
  4. A Hemi-powered 1969 Charger R/T can exceed $200,000 at auction
  5. Even six-cylinder 1969 Chargers now sell for $25,000-$35,000 as the body style appreciates
The Dodge Charger did not need Hollywood to be famous. But Hollywood needed the Charger to be exciting.

The 1969 Charger remains the car that people who do not know cars can identify. Its silhouette is that distinctive. Its presence is that commanding. It sits at car shows like a heavyweight champion sits at a bar — quiet, confident, aware that everyone in the room knows exactly who it is.