1.
Dodge
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Dodge is an American brand of cars, minivans, and sport utility vehicles manufactured by FCA US LLC, based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The factory was located in Hamtramck, Michigan and was called the Dodge Main factory from 1910 until its closing in January 1980. The Dodge brothers both died in 1920, and the company was sold by their families to Dillon, Read & Co. in 1925 before being sold to Chrysler in 1928. Dodge vehicles mainly consisted of trucks and full-sized passenger cars through the 1970s, though it made memorable compact cars and midsize cars (such as the B-Body Coronet and Charger from 1962-79. The 1973 oil crisis and its subsequent impact on the American automobile industry led Chrysler to develop the K platform of compact to midsize cars for the 1981 model year. The K platform and its derivatives are credited with reviving Chryslers business in the 1980s, in 2011, Dodge, Ram, and Dodges Viper were separated. Dodge said that the Dodge Viper would be an SRT product, in 2014, SRT was merged back into Dodge. Later that year, Chrysler Group was renamed FCA US LLC, corresponding with the merger of Fiat S. p. A. chief among these customers were the established Olds Motor Vehicle Company and the then-new Ford Motor Company. The first machine shop where the brothers worked together as parts suppliers for Olds, the location was replaced by a larger facility at Hastings Street and Monroe Avenue, which is now a parking garage for the Greektown Casino Hotel. By 1910 the Dodge Main factory was built in Hamtramck, where it remained until 1979, by 1914, John and Horace had created the new four-cylinder Dodge Model 30. S. That same year, Henry Ford decided to stop paying stock dividends to finance the construction of his new River Rouge complex. This led the Dodges to file suit to protect their annual earnings of approximately one million dollars, leading Ford to buy out his shareholders. Also in 1916, the Dodge Brothers vehicles won acclaim for durability while in service with the U. S. Armys Pancho Villa Expedition into Mexico. One notable instance was in May when the 6th Infantry received a reported sighting of Julio Cárdenas, lt. George S. Patton led ten soldiers and two civilian guides in three Dodge Model 30 touring cars to conduct a raid at a ranch house in San Miguelito, Sonora. During the ensuing firefight the party killed three men, of one was identified as Cárdenas. Pattons men tied the bodies to the hoods of the Dodges, returning to headquarters in Dublán, Dodge Brothers cars continued to rank second place in American sales in 1920. However, the year, tragedy struck as John Dodge was felled by pneumonia in January. His brother Horace then died of cirrhosis in December of the same year, with the loss of both founders, the Dodge Brothers Company passed into the hands of the brothers widows, who promoted long-time employee Frederick Haynes to the company presidency
2.
Chrysler
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FCA US is one of the Big Three American automobile manufacturers. FCA US has its headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan and sells vehicles worldwide under its flagship Chrysler brand, as well as the Dodge, Jeep, other major divisions include Mopar, its automotive parts and accessories division, and SRT, its performance automobile division. The Chrysler Corporation was founded by Walter Chrysler in 1925, out of what remained of the Maxwell Motor Company, Chrysler greatly expanded in 1928, when Mr. The brand diversification efforts were inspired by Mr. Chryslers time working for General Motors, in the 1960s the company expanded into Europe, by taking control of French, British and Spanish auto companies, Chrysler Europe was sold in 1978 to PSA Peugeot Citroën for $1. Chrysler struggled through the 1970s to adapt to changing markets, increased US import competition, the company began an engineering partnership with Mitsubishi Motors, and began selling Mitsubishi vehicles branded as Dodge and Plymouth in North America. By the late 1970s, Chrysler was on the verge of bankruptcy, New CEO Lee Iacocca was credited with returning the company to profitability in the 1980s. In 1985, Diamond-Star Motors was created, further expanding the Chrysler-Mitsubishi relationship, in 1987, Chrysler acquired American Motors Corporation, which brought the profitable Jeep brand under the Chrysler umbrella. Like the other Big Three automobile manufacturers, Chrysler was hit hard by the industry crisis of 2008–2010. On June 10,2009, Chrysler emerged from the proceedings with the United Auto Workers pension fund, Fiat S. p. A. The bankruptcy resulted in Chrysler defaulting on over $4 billion in debts, by May 24,2011, Chrysler finished repaying its obligations to the U. S. government five years early, although the cost to the American taxpayer was $1.3 billion. Over the next few years Fiat gradually acquired the other parties shares while removing much of the weight of the loans in a short period. On January 1,2014, Fiat S. p. A announced a deal to purchase the rest of Chrysler from the United Auto Workers retiree health trust. The deal was completed on January 21,2014, making Chrysler Group a subsidiary of Fiat S. p. A, in May 2014, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, NV was established by merging Fiat S. p. A. into the company. This was completed in August 2014, Chrysler Group LLC remained a subsidiary until December 15,2014, when it was renamed FCA US LLC, to reflect the Fiat-Chrysler merger. The Chrysler company was founded by Walter Chrysler on June 6,1925, Walter Chrysler arrived at the ailing Maxwell-Chalmers company in the early 1920s. He was hired to overhaul the companys troubled operations, in late 1923 production of the Chalmers automobile was ended. In January 1924, Walter Chrysler launched the well-received Chrysler automobile, the Chrysler was a 6-cylinder automobile, designed to provide customers with an advanced, well-engineered car, but at a more affordable price than they might expect. The original 1924 Chrysler included an air filter, high compression engine, full pressure lubrication
3.
Chrysler Australia
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Chrysler Australia, officially FCA Australia, is the importer of Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Alfa Romeo and Fiat vehicles for sale in the Australian marketplace. However, there had previously been a Chrysler Australia Ltd which had operated as a manufacturer in Australia from 1951 until 1980. Chrysler Australia Ltd was established in June 1951 when the Chrysler Corporation acquired Chrysler Dodge Distributors Pty Ltd, during this time, Chrysler Australia established its position as the third of the Big 3 Australian motor manufacturers behind General Motors-Holdens and Ford Australia. Initially, Chrysler Australia assembled North American Chrysler passenger cars and trucks and their most popular car in the 1950s was the US sourced badge engineered trio, Plymouth Cranbrook, Dodge Kingsway and De Soto Diplomat, each based on the 1954 US Plymouth. The Plymouth sedan was a choice for taxicab usage however the rise in popularity of the Holden during this decade led to the decline of this range of cars. In 1957, Chrysler Australia consolidated each of the badge-engineered marques in one car—the Chrysler Royal and this was a facelifted version of the 1954 Plymouth, and it was to continue in production until 1963. The Royal was an automotive curiosity, on the styling front US Forward Look style tailfins were grafted on the rear of the car, while the front end gained dual headlights. These changes failed to arrest the slide in sales, as General Motors-Holden came to dominate the Australian market, the saving grace for Chrysler at this time was the French Simca Aronde—a popular 4-cylinder compact car which Chrysler Australia assembled from CKD kits at their Forestville factory. Local engineers developed an Aronde station wagon unique to Australia, with a then-novel wind-down rear window, the assembly and marketing of Simca Aronde and Vedette models by Chrysler Australia was announced on 1 July 1959. The Plymouth was fitted with a 318-cubic-inch V8 engine and the Dodge, assembly of the three models was discontinued in 1960 and they were replaced by a single model, the Dodge Phoenix, which was produced by Chrysler Australia through to 1973. Beginning in 1962, Chrysler Australia assembled the American Plymouth Valiant, by 1963, they had developed a local version, the AP5 Valiant, with distinctive styling giving the car a separate identity from the US Plymouth and Dodge variants. The reason for developing different styling was concern that the manufacturer could not afford to make substantial styling changes as quickly as in the US. Hence, a modified appearance would minimise the risk of accusations that Australia was selling last years model, through the 1960s, Chrysler expanded the Valiant range, with 2-door hardtop, long wheelbase and sporty variants. Also, in 1966, with the Chrysler USA acquisition of the British Rootes Group, the principal Rootes model sold in Australia was the Hillman Hunter and this car became a steady seller for Chrysler until 1973. In 1970, they introduced the unique-to-Australia Hemi 6-cylinder engine—launched with an endorsement from Stirling Moss, billed as being Right—for all the right reasons, this engine went on to become the most powerful 6-cylinder engine produced in Australia. Though this engine was based on a US engine design for trucks, the Valiant was a good seller, but never quite gained the level of market acceptance as its major competitors—the Holden and the Falcon. In 1971, Chrysler Australia released its most memorable car—the Valiant Charger and this was a short-wheelbase two-door hardtop version of the standard Valiant. The car had distinctive sporty styling, including a rear spoiler
4.
Chrysler Valiant Charger
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The Chrysler Valiant Charger is a muscle car introduced by Chrysler Australia in 1971. It was a wheelbase two door coupe based on the concurrent Australian Chrysler Valiant sedan. Introduced within the VH Valiant series, it continued as a variant through the subsequent VJ, VK and CL series and it was marketed and badged as the Valiant Charger in the VH and VJ series and as the Chrysler Charger in the later VK and CL series. The Charger was extraordinarily popular in Australia during the VH series, the VH Valiant Charger achieved critical acclaim, winning the 1971 Australian Wheels Car of the Year Award. It was also popular in New Zealand where they were assembled from imported kits, the muscle image of the Charger faded through the VJ range of cars and was neutered altogether by 1975 release of the VK series. During the seven years of production, the Charger carried many variations of two basic powerplants, based on the Chrysler Hemi-6 Engine and versions of the Chrysler LA engine V8. The Chrysler VH Valiant Charger range, introduced in 1971, consisted of Charger, Charger XL, Charger 770, the R/T version carried on Chryslers performance image from the VG series Valiant Pacer, and soon became the platform for Chryslers participation in production car racing in Australia. John Ellis then incorrectly stated that the 340ci engines were not imported for Bathurst,336 340ci engines plus 4 speed gear boxes were imported by Colin Adey under direct instructions from Chrysler Chief Engineer Walt McPherson. Chrysler General Manager David Brown and Walt McPherson had discussed the short comings of the E49 265ci and this information never filtered down to John Ellis. The engines were sold off in the upmarket 770 SE Charger, the SE was fitted with an imported Torqueflite 727 transmission, Chrysler further watered down engine performance by using a single pipe exhaust system. Production records indicate that Chrysler manufactured a total of 125 VH Valiant Charger 770 SE cars, in March 1973 the VH range was superseded by the VJ series. The VJ featured changes to the cowl, grille, lighting and rear feature panel. However, the elements of the Six Pack E37 engine option were carried over into the VJ series. Option E48, Street tune Six Pack 265 cu in engine with three two-barrel Weber carburettors and four-speed manual gearbox, option E55, 4bbl 275 bhp 340 cu in V8. This meant that a variety of colour and trim combinations are featured in E55 optioned VJ Chargers such that the only distinguishing features were the 340 4BBL badges on the front guards. Most, but not all, of the VJ-series E55 option cars also featured the W35 option seven inch wide alloy wheels that were an item for all prior E38, E49. There was an improvement to the motor in this model, as opposed to the previous VH-series, the introduction of Electronic Ignition replaced the use of points ignition. This greatly improved the car for use making cold starts easier
5.
Car
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A car is a wheeled, self-powered motor vehicle used for transportation and a product of the automotive industry. The year 1886 is regarded as the year of the modern car. In that year, German inventor Karl Benz built the Benz Patent-Motorwagen, cars did not become widely available until the early 20th century. One of the first cars that was accessible to the masses was the 1908 Model T, an American car manufactured by the Ford Motor Company. Cars were rapidly adopted in the United States of America, where they replaced animal-drawn carriages and carts, cars are equipped with controls used for driving, parking, passenger comfort and safety, and controlling a variety of lights. Over the decades, additional features and controls have been added to vehicles, examples include rear reversing cameras, air conditioning, navigation systems, and in car entertainment. Most cars in use in the 2010s are propelled by a combustion engine. Both fuels cause air pollution and are blamed for contributing to climate change. Vehicles using alternative fuels such as ethanol flexible-fuel vehicles and natural gas vehicles are also gaining popularity in some countries, electric cars, which were invented early in the history of the car, began to become commercially available in 2008. There are costs and benefits to car use, the costs of car usage include the cost of, acquiring the vehicle, interest payments, repairs and auto maintenance, fuel, depreciation, driving time, parking fees, taxes, and insurance. The costs to society of car use include, maintaining roads, land use, road congestion, air pollution, public health, health care, road traffic accidents are the largest cause of injury-related deaths worldwide. The benefits may include transportation, mobility, independence. The ability for humans to move flexibly from place to place has far-reaching implications for the nature of societies and it was estimated in 2010 that the number of cars had risen to over 1 billion vehicles, up from the 500 million of 1986. The numbers are increasing rapidly, especially in China, India, the word car is believed to originate from the Latin word carrus or carrum, or the Middle English word carre. In turn, these originated from the Gaulish word karros, the Gaulish language was a branch of the Brythoic language which also used the word Karr, the Brythonig language evolved into Welsh where Car llusg and car rhyfel still survive. It originally referred to any wheeled vehicle, such as a cart, carriage. Motor car is attested from 1895, and is the formal name for cars in British English. Autocar is a variant that is attested from 1895
6.
Subcompact car
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A subcompact car is the American term for an automobile with a class size smaller than a compact car, usually not exceeding 165 inches in length, but larger than a microcar. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, a car is classified as subcompact if it has between 85 cubic feet and 99 cu ft of interior volume. The subcompact segment equates roughly to A-segment and B-segment in Europe, or city car, in 2012, the New York Times described the differences, saying today’s small cars actually span three main segments in the global vehicle market. The tiny A-segment cars include the Chevrolet Spark and Smart Fortwo, they’re extremely short and very light. Slightly larger are B-segment cars like the Ford Fiesta and Chevrolet Sonic, the A- and B-cars are known as subcompacts. Previously, cars in this size were variously categorized, including small automobile and this type of car has been around since the 1940s with the Crosley, and in the 1950s with the captive import, the Nash Metropolitan. A number of imported models, notably the Volkswagen Beetle and various small British cars, were marketed as economy cars during this time. The AMC Gremlin was described at its April 1970 introduction as the first American-built import, the Chevrolet Vega and Ford Pinto subcompacts were introduced in September 1970 for the 1971 model year. The Pontiac Astre, the Canadian-born re-badged Vega variant was released in the U. S, the Camaro was scheduled for cancellation, but sales stabilized with the end of the 1970s energy crisis. The Monza with its GM variants Pontiac Sunbird, Buick Skyhawk, Plymouth Turismo, Oldsmobile Starfire, at this time another segment started opening up below Gremlin, Pinto and Vega that became the new subcompact segment. The Chevrolet Chevette was GMs new entry-level subcompact introduced as a 1976 model and it was an Americanized design from Opel, GMs German subsidiary. S. Renault Alliance, a version of the Renault 9, in Kenosha, Wisconsin, during the 1990s GM offered the Geo brand featuring the Suzuki-built Metro subcompact. Because of consumer demand for fuel-efficient cars during the late-2000s, sales of cars made it the fastest growing market category in the U. S. The Ford Fiesta is still only European subcompact car ever offered in North America, and there are even subcompact SUVs like the Jeep Renegade and the Mazda CX-3 Car classification Mini SUV Economy car Official US government car size class definitions
7.
Full-size car
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A full-size car is a marketing term used in North America for an automobile larger than a mid-size car. Traditional U. S. full-size passenger cars were designed to be comfortable for six occupants, the United States Environmental Protection Agency currently uses the term large car to denote full-size cars based on their combined interior passenger and luggage volume. The traditional full-size passenger cars that were built by the U. S. Full-size cars were also denoted for their length, nearing 4,953 mm in basic low-priced, family sedans. The luxury models often tended to reach 5,350 mm. Previously, the term first appeared in the early 1960s to distinguish what also became known as standard-size cars from the new compact and intermediate models then being introduced. The U. S. EPA defines large size as 120 ft³ or more of combined passenger, a majority of U. S. automakers manufactured full size automobiles were constructed using a body-on-frame platform. This platform was phased out in 2011 when the Ford Panther vehicles ended production, use of the term in North America became popular after the introduction of compacts by the U. S. Detroit Big Three for the 1960 model year, and then a few years later the introduction of what became known as mid-size cars. The term was most correctly applied to close to the width limit carrying nameplates of The Low Priced Three, Chevrolet, Ford. Manufacturers contributed to the lack of distinction by marketing models of their brands into the lower price ranges with what had previously been considered medium-priced brands. For 1977, General Motors downsized its cars, with overall width cut from approximately 80 in to the mid-70 inch range. Chevrolet, Pontiac, and the less expensive Oldsmobile and Buick models had a 116-inch wheelbase, more expensive Oldsmobile and Buick models, plus the Cadillac had a 119 in wheelbase, but no more width. Ford and Chrysler downsized for 1979, the latter even building its Chrysler R platform, by this time, a huge increase in gasoline prices had made it difficult to sell any large cars, downsized or not. Chrysler had the misfortune of introducing two consecutive new designs of its largest cars, in 1974 and 1979, during times when gasoline prices suddenly increased. The EPA interior volumes for passenger and cargo for the most part resulted in mid-size, full-size, the 1980s Chrysler M platform, classified as large cars at the time, were derived from the Dodge Aspen/Plymouth Volare platform, originally marketed as large compacts. While many modern cars are referred to as full-size, they do not qualify for the term as used in the 1960s and 1970s. Consumer acceptance of large SUVs approaching 80 inches in width shows interest remains in vehicles capable of seating with reasonable comfort. Police cars in the United States are almost always full-size cars and this is usually due to the amount of interior space for an arrestee as well as trunk volume for computer and electrical equipment. Interior space and trunk volume also make such vehicles popular for taxi use, since the discontinuation of the Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor the de facto replacement has been a variation of the Ford Taurus
8.
Personal luxury car
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A personal luxury car is an American car classification describing a highly styled, mass produced, luxury vehicle with an emphasis on image over practicality. In the U. S. the four-seat 1958 Ford Thunderbird launched the luxury car as a major market segment. Personal luxury cars are characteristically two-door coupés or convertibles with two-passenger or 2+2 seating and they are distinguished on the performance end from GT and sports cars by their greater emphasis on comfort and convenience. On the luxury scale, by their appointments, features, and style, there is great variability within the market, however, however, they have additional styling elements and sometimes baroque designs. During the 1910s, the car took the form of a low-slung runabout, relatively light in construction. In the Twenties, these runabouts became roadsters, still with the light-but-powerful connotation, in the ultra-luxury segment, antecedents of the concept are the highly expensive, often custom-bodied sporting luxury cars of the 1920s and 1930s. The Great Depression and World War II temporarily eroded the market for these expensive bespoke cars before post-War recovery saw a reemergence in Europe. On the sedate end of the spectrum appeared such erect yet swift premium ultra luxury two-door sedans, such as the H. J. Mulliner bodied, on the other, performance oriented GTs, relatively comfortable low-slung cars intended for high-speed, long-distance travel. France, successful in this segment before the war, chose to exit the market by applying strict tax horsepower regulations. Italian marques such as Ferrari and Maserati took the GT lead, offering distinctive, often custom-bodied two-seat, in between could be found such combinations of luxury and performance as the Mercedes-Benz 300SL and 190SL, BMW507, Alfa Romeo 1900 Sprint, and DKW 1000Sp. These were all very high price Veblen goods, GMs Buick division also offered the Roadmaster Riviera coupe as its top level luxury coupe in 1954. Packard introduced a large 2-door luxury coupe called the Packard Caribbean in 1953, in 1955, Chrysler introduced the 300 series 2-door coupe, with a powerful 300bhp engine, giving the car its name. There was a car aimed at this market as well - the 1956 Studebaker Silver Hawk range of two-door 2+2 performance hardtops in the GT tradition. The automaker Studebaker ceased operations in 1963, the first step to the evolution of the personal luxury car as a mass market segment in the United States was Ford Motor Companys two-seat 1955 Thunderbird. Ford termed the 1955 model a personal car, during the Second World War American servicemen stationed in Europe began to experience the benefits of the nimble sports cars, particularly in Britain, and many shipped them home on their return. The Thunderbird was a softly sprung car, with a powerful V8 engine, the model sold 53,000 units, achieving niche success for a two-seat car. Ford Motor Company also tried creating a vehicle with the 1955 introduction of the near bespoke Continental Mark II. The Mark II was only available as a 2 door coupé, nearly handmade, the Mark II sold for around $10,000, the equivalent of a new Rolls-Royce or two Cadillacs
9.
Mid-size car
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A mid-size car is the North American/Australian standard for an automobile with a size equal to or greater than that of a compact. In Europe mid-sizers are referred to as D-segment or large family cars, the automobile that defined this size in the United States was the Rambler Six that was introduced in 1956, although it was called compact car at that time. The mid-size class then grew out of the compacts of the early-1960s, for example, the Ford Fairlane was referred to at its introduction in 1962 as a compact intermediate because it was barely bigger than its close relative, the Falcon. General Motors first entries in the class, such as the Oldsmobile F-85, Pontiac Tempest, and Buick Special were not mechanically related to the compact Chevrolet Corvair, at that time vehicle classes were defined more by their wheelbase than interior passenger space and cargo capacity. The class began to rapidly, and for the next ten years each expansion in size in the full-size field was followed by a proportionate growth in the mid-size models. By the mid-1960s, they were as big as the cars of the mid-1950s. By the mid-1970s, they were nearly as big as the cars of the mid-1960s. During the 1970s, the class was generally defined as vehicles with wheelbases between 112 inches and 118 inches. A turning point occurred in the late 1970s, when rising costs and government fuel economy regulations caused all car classes to shrink. Automakers moved previously full-size nameplates to smaller platforms, new official size designations in the U. S. were introduced by the EPA, which defined market segments by passenger and cargo space. Formerly mid-sized cars that were built on the platform, like the AMC Matador sedan, had a combined passenger and cargo volume of 130 cubic feet. The situation was complicated when General Motors began to downsize its models about two years before everybody else, in 1978, the Chevrolet Malibu nameplate had been redesigned on a 108-inch wheelbase, while the Ford Granada moved to the 105-inch wheelbase of the Ford Fairmonts Fox platform in 1981. Both competed with the Chrysler standard and extended K-cars, often classified as compact, former mid-size platforms such as the Plymouth Satellite would be rebranded as full-size, rebodied, or dropped in the face of the downsized Chevrolet Caprice. Some were subsequently replaced by used to be large compacts. The Granada would be badged with the LTD moniker before being replaced by the class-defining Ford Taurus, similarly, import models such as the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry that had been classified by the EPA as compact in 1985 grew to the mid-size class by the 1990s. The Accord later grew even larger, its eighth North American sedan version was classified by the EPA as a full-size car, the current ninth generation North American sedan was slightly smaller than its immediate predecessor, putting it once again in the mid-size class. Mid-size vehicles today usually have wheelbases between 105 inches and 110 inches, another widely used definition is that of the EPA, which classifies cars between 110 cubic feet and 119 cubic feet of interior volume as mid-size. Mid-size cars are the most popular category of cars sold in the United States, in Japan, the term mid-size car probably does not have the intermediate sense that it does in other markets
10.
Dodge Charger (B-body)
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The Dodge Charger is a mid-size automobile that was produced by Dodge from 1966 to 1978, and was based on the Chrysler B platform. During the early-1960s, automakers were exploring new ideas in the personal luxury, the intention was to use the mid-size B-body for a sporty car with fastback look while sharing as much of their existing hardware as possible. The 1965 Rambler Marlin, along with the Dodge Charger that arrived during the 1966 model year, were the two set the standard for radical fastback design in American mid-size automobiles. Burt Bouwkamp, Chief Engineer for Dodge during the 1960s and one of the men behind the Dodge Charger, Lynn Townsend was at odds with the Dodge Dealers and wanted to do something to please them. So in 1965 he asked me to come to his office - for the second time and he noted that one of the Dodge Dealer Council requests was for a Barracuda type vehicle. The overall dealer product recommendation theme was the same - we want what Plymouth has, the specific request for a Mustang type vehicle was not as controversial to Lynn. His direction to me was to them a specialty car but he said for Gods sake dont make it a derivative of the Barracuda. So the 1966 Charger was born and we built a Charger idea car which we displayed at auto shows in 1965 to stimulate market interest in the concept. It was the design but we told the press and auto show attendees that it was just an idea. It was pre-ordained that they would like it, a mid-1966 surprise was Dodges Coronet-based Charger fastback. Sharing its chassis and front-end sheet-metal with the mid-sized Dodge Coronet, the Chargers interior was different from all other cars with its back seats that folded down and created a station wagon or camper usefulness. The Charger didnt begin with the muscle car image, though you could get a Hemi with it. The Charger evolved into possibly the top Chrysler-made muscle car, the 1966 and 1967 model years of the Charger are also the only Dodge cars that displayed the Fratzog Emblem on the grill as well as the trunk hatch. On January 1,1966, viewers of the Rose Bowl were first introduced to the new Leader of the Dodge Rebellion, the Chargers debut also followed by a half model year the introduction of a new street version of the 426 cu in Chrysler Hemi engine. With the Charger, Dodge had a new model to build an image to go along with this engine. Designed by Carl CAM Cameron, the Dodge Charger introduced a fastback roofline, the grille used fully rotating headlights that when opened or closed made the grille look like one-piece unit. Hidden headlamps were a feature not seen on a Chrysler product since the 1942 DeSoto, in the rear of the new Dodge, the fastback design ended over a full-width six-lamp taillight that featured chromed CHARGER lettering. Inside, the standard Charger featured a simulated wood-grain steering wheel, the rear seats and rear center armrest pad also folded forward while the trunk divider dropped back, which allowed for generous cargo room
11.
Dodge Charger (L-body)
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For 1979, Chrysler brought out sporty versions of the L-body Dodge Omni/Plymouth Horizon called the Dodge Omni 024 and the Plymouth Horizon TC3. The cars shared a 70 hp 1.7 L Volkswagen I4 as the engine under the O24/TC3 name. In 1981, the Charger nameplate returned as a package on the Omni 024. A total of 7,306 were built, in 1982, the Dodge Charger returned for a second year as the performance option for the 024. In 1983, the Volkswagen engine went out of production, so a joint Chrysler/Peugeot 1.6 L engine was used instead, the Omni 024 was renamed the Charger. Carroll Shelby developed a sporty version of the car later during the year, the transformation continued in 1984, with quad headlights now differentiating the Charger from its Omni origins. The Plymouth Turismo would share the front end. Apart from the badging, both cars were exactly the same, for 1985, the Shelby and Charger names were shuffled to reflect the addition of a turbocharged engine. Two new colors were added for 1985 — Black and Garnet Red with silver stripes, Plymouth also got a version of the old Shelby Charger, reviving the Duster name as the Plymouth Turismo/Duster. However, Plymouth would never get a version of the Shelby Charger. Two turbocharged Turismos, using the Shelby front end, were seen Chrysler headquarters with a Cuda Plymouth badge, the previous high-compression 107 hp Shelby Charger engine was now an option on regular Dodge Chargers. For 1986, the mandated center high-mounted stop light was added,1987 was the last year for the Omni/Horizon-derived Charger and Turismo. A total of 2,011 Chargers with the hotter 174 hp Turbo II engine were now badged the Shelby Charger Turbo. For 1987, they were replaced by the Dodge Shadow/Plymouth Sundance, and the Belvidere plant was retooled to build the Dodge Dynasty, Carroll Shelby bought 1,000 of the last Chargers and equipped them with the Omni GLHs engine and suspension to be sold under this name. The Plymouth Duster name continued on the new Plymouth Sundance line midyear in 1992, for 1983, Carroll Shelby modified the Dodge Charger, to be sold at Dodge dealers as the Dodge Shelby Charger. Rather than focusing on speed, Shelby modified the suspension and styling, the engine compression was raised for 107 hp, and the manual transmission had revised ratios. Shorter springs, special wheels, and tires complemented stronger brakes, outside, a new nose and racing stripes accented the performance image. The body kits, among other parts, were shipped to dealerships along with the car to be put on after delivery
12.
Dodge Charger (LX)
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The Dodge Charger LX is a rear-wheel drive four-door automobile introduced in February 2005. Built by Dodge, the car was created to continue the Dodge Charger line, the Charger shares the LX platform with the Chrysler 300, the newer fourth generation Dodge Challenger, and the discontinued Dodge Magnum. The first Charger was a 1964 show car, based on the Dodge Polara, the first production Charger, based on the Dodge Coronet, was introduced as a 1966 model. There were several different vehicles bearing the Charger nameplate built on three different platforms and sizes, all bearing the Charger nameplate, in 1999, Dodge introduced a new Charger R/T concept car. It took many styling cues from the 1960s Chargers, sharing their long nose and rearward cab and it was also 650 lb lighter. It featured a four-door sedan body design, whereas all the previous production Chargers had two doors and it was a return to a rear wheel drive platform Dodge had not offered since the Dodge St. Regis which stopped production in 1981. The smaller Dodge Diplomat continued to be a rear drive sedan. Both the SXT and R/T models were available as AWD starting in 2007. The All-Wheel Drive system is derived from the Mercedes-Benz 4MATIC technology, from 2007 to 2008, the AWD system is engaged all the time, routing approximately 60% of the power to the rear wheels and 40% of the power to the front wheels. The 2009 Charger AWD utilized the Torque-on-Demand system manufactured by Borg Warner which disconnects the front axles until extra traction is needed and this results in a slight boost in fuel economy while retaining the same maximum power split to the front wheels. After three years of production, an update for 2009 models was made and this included moving the decklids CHARGER badge from the left to the right, making way for DODGE at the left. 2008 models had seen minor revisions to the interior, the 2006 Charger Daytona R/T debuted at the Chicago Auto Show. It featured a high output 350 hp version of the 5.7 L Hemi as well as an updated suspension, visual additions included a special front fascia with a chin spoiler and a black rear spoiler. In a retro touch, the Daytona R/T featured black Hemi decals on the hood and rear fender, in 2007, larger 20-inch chrome-clad wheels were introduced. In 2008, a revised stripe package was adopted, in 2009, horsepower was increased to 372 hp by the addition of Variable Camshaft Timing. An SRT-8 version of the Charger debuted at the 2005 New York International Auto Show, powered by a 425 hp version of the 6.1 L Hemi, it also featured upgraded Brembo brakes, and interior and exterior updates. The engine produces 420 lb·ft of torque, the 425 net horsepower of the modern 6. 1L Hemi makes it even more powerful than the legendary Chrysler Hemi engines of the muscle car era, the biggest of which was rated at 425 gross horsepower. This made the 6. 1L Hemi engine the most powerful V8 engine that Chrysler had ever put in a vehicle up to that point
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