Some classics are mild-mannered and restrained. However, others sit at the opposite end of the spectrum. They are potent beasts that could put the driver on a first-name basis with local law enforcement officials if they aren’t gentle with their right foot. This 1967 Dodge Charger falls into the latter category, courtesy of the first owner’s decision to order it with a Hemi under the hood. That makes it a relatively rare muscle car, although the four-speed manual transmission further increases its rarity. It is a tidy classic that is set to find a new home. I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder RichardinMaine for spotting the Charger listed here on Facebook Marketplace in Portland, Maine. The seller set their price at $95,000 OBO, indicating that they may consider trades for a 2018 or newer GT350R.
When Dodge released the First Generation Charger in 1966, some journalists stated that the company had blurred the line between traditional muscle and personal luxury cars. The belief was easily understood because the Charger’s interior featured items not found in the opposition. The problem was that those features came at a cost, making the Charger quite expensive. That Generation remained on sale until the end of 1967, with its replacement following a more traditional approach. This final-year example looks classy in Code A Silver, an impression heightened by the tinted glass and Magnum 500 wheels. The seller states that it has never received panel repairs and that life in California has left it rust-free. The deal includes an enormous selection of documentation, which also reveals that this car underwent a better-than-average amateur restoration in 2004. The fact that it still presents so nicely suggests that the person performing the work knew what they were doing. The paint retains an impressive shine, with no visible patchiness. The panels are straight, and the trim is in good order. The windshield is the only non-original glass, and every piece is in good condition. This Charger makes a positive first impression, but lifting the hood reveals it is more than a pretty face.
The 1967 Charger was V8-only territory, and buyers with a fat wallet could select from some pretty potent powerplants. The 426ci Hemi was the undisputed “daddy” of the bunch, which is what we find occupying this Charger’s engine bay. The first owner teamed the Hemi with a four-speed manual transmission, power steering, and power brakes. The Hemi rightly enjoys legend status, churning out 425hp and 490 ft/lbs of torque. Those figures made it the most potent American V8 on the road at the time, and telling anyone who would listen that your Charger featured a Hemi guaranteed your car would receive respect. The documentation included in the sale indicates that the Hemi is original, but that the Charger received a new four-speed at some point. The seller’s confidence in its mechanical health is reflected in their statement that the new owner could drive this Charger home. It doesn’t get much better than that.
The interior reveals why contemporary road tests questioned whether the First Generation Charger was a muscle car or a personal luxury car. Every 1966 Charger received four bucket seats, a full-length console, and an electroluminescent sports gauge cluster with a tachometer. The folding rear bucket seats meant the Charger could accommodate only four people, which some potential buyers found limiting. Dodge eliminated the full-length console in 1967, offering folding center armrests to increase seating capacity. However, with no further interior changes, it remained more expensive than the competition. Trimmed in Black, this Charger’s interior appears to feature no aftermarket additions. The vinyl upholstery is free from wear and other issues, as is the carpet. The dash and pad are excellent, with the dash housing the factory AM radio. The wheel is wear-free, and this interior seems to tick the boxes for enthusiasts seeking a high-end driver.
Rarity claims are a slippery slope, as Fiat demonstrated when it released the retro-styled 500 in 2007. The bewildering list of factory options meant the company could build almost 500,000 vehicles, each unique. Did that add to their potential value? In most cases, the answer was a resounding “No!” However, various sources confirm that Dodge produced only 116 Hemi Chargers in 1967, and of those, only 58 featured the four-speed transmission. That makes our featured car both very rare and extremely desirable. Whether the seller’s price is justified will spark debate among readers, but it is worth noting that the listing indicates the seller placed it on the market six weeks ago. Is the price the reason it hasn’t sold, or are there other factors preventing this Hemi Charger from finding a new home?
Cue “Man from U.N.C.L.E.” theme, United Network Command for Law Enforcement, a fictional espionage agency, from the mid 60s. Why the TV schpiel? It was the 1st time we saw Illya Kuryakin( David Mccallum) driving a silver Dodge Charger. It most certainly didn’t have a hemi, which I read was very short in supply, or a 4 speed, but much like Hank Kimballs Bronco, or Wilburs Studebakers, it got full attention of the TV audience. We thought it was a joke, with Marlin visions still fresh, we weren’t the only ones with a flop. And a flop it was, again, little did we know it was the thing to come. If only it had a hatchback. Naturally, a car like this is not very practical for today, but it should show the future generations what lengths car makers were willing to go, sometimes for nothing. Sales in ’66 were so-so, with 37,000 sold, but dropped to less than 15,000 for ’67. AMC had better flops than that. This really should be in a museum, if any left.
In the early ’60s while stationed at Jacksonville Naval Air Station I bought and restored a ’57 Porsche Cabriolet at the base auto hobby shop. Navy Chief in charge was repainting his Charger and we shared the same work space. That car was almost as long as two of my Porsches nose to tail. His repaint must have used up a lot of paint.