Charger Rallye’s to finish big in 1972

The most iconic name given to a Dodge thru the muscle
car years was Charger. Right from its introduction in 1966, the
Charger  was a show-stopper. No other Dodge
offered the styling and out-of-the-box innovations like
the Charger, from its four buckets seats, to
luminescent NASA inspired dash, to fastback
design, the Charger stood alone in the
Chrysler stable. Many sold their brand
X midsize muscle cars for the exciting new Charger.

This did not stop in 1968 when Dodge offered
the next generation. Again offering a body that no
one else was able to duplicate. This continued on to
the generation three Charger in 1971.

In 1971, an all new platform kept the Charger true to
it's roots. The new G-Series 1971 Charger was slicker
and more refined than previous models that cruised the
pike. The next generation Charger offered many
of the HOT features found on other Detroit muscle cars.
Fresh air hood (never offered before 1971 on a Charger)
was now available, and a huge hit. The Coke bottle
design with its high hips and long hood and fenders was
taken to the next level in 1971. When ordered with the most
powerful mill offered, the Charger was
seldom second on race day.

In 1972, the high performance Charger model lost it's
R/T name plate and the famed Hemi Mill. Many
knew this was the beginning of the end for
performance. Insurance companies were no longer
oblivious to muscle cars and the horsepower they
were capable of putting to the pavement. Long gone
was the 385HP and 425HP ratings.

In one last effort, Chrysler Corp. changed how
they measured horsepower. No longer were they measuring
horsepower at the crank, now it was measured at the
rear wheel. So in 1972 when you order the most potent
mill the rating was 280HP with an asterisk (*) stating
the rating was net horsepower at the rear wheel.
Insurance companies felt they had won the battle,
but soon they found out they were only tricked.

The most powerful Charger in 1972 was known as
the Rallye Charger. The Rallye Charger had all the
thrills available to power you down the Pike and the
1320 with ease. When ordered correctly, the Rallye
Charger was a force to be reckoned with. With a
440 Mill, Cast Iron Six Pack Intake, an
A833 heavy duty 4 Spd. Transmission ,
Trak Pak Dana rear packed with 3.54 gears, a never
before offered rear sway bar, an Air Grabber
hood, bucket seats, massive 15x7 Rallye Wheels and
the largest Polyglas tires ever offered- G60X15,
power brakes and power steering, the
Rallye Charger was ready for what ever you
had planned.

This 1972 Charger Rally was ordered new by one of my
friends in 1972. Henry, a Mopar enthusiast from the
beginning, knew this would most likely be the end
of high performance muscle cars. So Henry went into
VERNON DODGE in Vernon CT and filled out
an order form for the Charger you see here.
Henry was not going to settle for just any Charger,
he wanted the most powerful Charger available
in 1972. First, he knew it needed to be EV2 Hemi
Orange. Next, the Air Grabber hood was checked off.
The 440 Magnum mill with the Pistol Grip shifter,
A833 heavy duty transmission and the Trak Pak
Dana Rear End. The interior also received the
full Rallye gauge cluster with tack and am/fm
radio. Stratus ventilation was also checked,
along with painted dual mirrors, 15X7 Rallye‘s,
wheel opening moldings and the hood performance
stripe completed the order form. Only 165 Charger
Rallye's were ordered with the A833 4 Spd
Transmission in 1972.

This special Charger traded hands only twice in all its
years Last owned by another good friend, Wayne, who
was caretaker from 1989 till 2015. The Charger
retains all its original sheet metal and components.
It's bucket seat interior is 100% original and ready to
be installed once the body is completed.

Look for pictures detailing the complete restoration of this
Iconic and very important Charger Rallye in the
years to come.

The Charger is Painted and Ready to be Assembled

Big Thanks to Kenny @ Final Finish in N. Branford, CT

Look for the documented assembly to start in the fall of 2021