1969 Dodge Charger - An American Classic

Most people remember the 1969 Dodge Charger as the stunt car for the Dukes of Hazzard, nicknamed the "General Lee."  However, Dodge also manufactured the Charger 500 in 1969, which went head-to-head with top offerings from the likes of Ford Mercury and Plymouth in NASCAR races.  The first Charger prototype was built in 1965 as a way for Chrysler to get in on the muscle car game.

Thanks to an enthusiastic press reception, the Charger quickly went into production.  Special 1969 features included Special Edition trim, yellow and black stripes, sunroof options, and a special grille.  All told, more than 85,000 Dodge Chargers were built in 1969.  The car spiked in popularity thanks to the <i>Dukes of Hazzard</i> TV show and the NASCAR and Daytona race exposure.

The ‘69 Charger Daytona performed amazingly well in wind tunnel tests and generated lots of public acclaim.  The nodes on the Daytona gave the vehicle an extra foot and a half, and the scoops above the fenders gave the Daytona a sleek look.  These incredibly powerful cars boasted 7.0 liter displacement.

In addition to its Dukes of Hazzard bow, the 1969 Charger appeared in many films and television shows.  In Forever Young, a 1992 movie, a Charger made a fleeting appearance.  The car was similarly seen in the 2001 movie The Forsaken, the 2005 film version of the Dukes of Hazzard, and the 1974 movie Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry.  The dynamic influence that the Charger has had on popular culture has altered the way automotive dealers launch cars to the public.