44K Mile Survivor: 1972 Dodge Charger SE

In 1972, the Charger’s image hung in the balance. In one scale was Charger’s performance heritage: you know, Richard Petty’s #43, the bad guys in Bullitt…that kind of thing. In the other scale was the burgeoning concept of the intermediate as an affordable personal luxury coupe, which was gaining traction at Chevy stores with the Monte Carlo. This Dark Tan Metallic Charger Special Edition straddles those blurring lines by combining Dodge’s beefy third-generation styling with a vinyl roof that was beginning to show the profile one would expect from later Chargers. This mixed metaphor makes for an attractive coupe, one that is being presented here on eBay in Louisville, Kentucky, as a 44,000-mile survivor. Active bidding has driven the price up to $16,225, but there is also a $22,000 “Buy It Now” option.

One nice thing about this brown SE is its documentation; the seller has included pictures of the VIN, the fender tag, and the window sticker. The latter shows a car that wore almost a thousand dollars worth of options, but still wasn’t what one would call “fully loaded.” It has power front discs, a 904 TorqueFlite, a console, power steering, a vinyl roof, Rallye Road wheels (a bargain at $30.95), electronic ignition, and more.

The engine is Chrysler’s reliable 318-cubic-inch small-block, which disappears under the Charger’s long hood. Look at all that space between the grille and radiator support, the unintended consequence of making a car look dramatic. Since 1972 was the first year that automakers adopted net horsepower ratings across the board, the 318 was rated at 150 horsepower; in reality, a 1972 model was nearly as brisk as a similar 1971, which was rated at 230 gross horsepower (although compression did drop from 9:1 to 8.6:1 for ’72).

The Charger’s interior still spoke of sportiness rather than overt luxury, with high-backed bucket seats, “rallye” gauges, and the aforementioned optional console, although the woodgrained dashboard and door panels are vaguely highbrow. The interior is “excellent,” and “everything works as it should.” The Special Edition was the posh Charger of the bunch, with that standard vinyl roof, giant C-pillar, and concealed headlamps. The seller says that the expansive vinyl roof is showing its age and needs replacement; however, the paint is “great.”

Obviously, everybody wants a second-generation Charger, but that same popularity has made the 1968-70 models unattainable for many (if not most) of us. In my opinion, the 1971-72 Chargers are the next best thing, and a solid low-mileage SE with a reasonable price tag is something we can all get behind, and it doesn’t even matter which side of the scales you’re on.