1967 Dodge Charger Fastback (LHD)

Dodge’s first generation Charger was introduced for the 1966 calendar year in response to the fastback craze sweeping America in the Swinging Sixties, spurred on by the need for an aerodynamic profile for NASCAR racing. The Charger drew heavily on the intermediate mid-size Coronet running gear but sported a unique and distinctively-styled coupe body featuring a full-width grille with hidden headlamps, full-width tail light treatment and, of course, the gently sloping fastback roofline. Inside there were individual bucket seats that folded in the rear compartment for additional luggage space, plus a unique dash arrangement in four separate pods made for one of the best laid out interiors designed in Detroit. The wind cheating shape clearly worked as David Pearson took out the 1966 NASCAR driver’s title in his Hemi-powered Charger. In its sophomore year, the strong selling Charger changed little, with only repositioned turn signal indicators and some additional chrome decoration setting the 1967 model apart from its predecessor. The base engine was a 318-cid V8 equipped with a three-speed manual gearbox, but the list of engine and transmission options was extensive. The 383-cid big-block V8 proved a popular choice with buyers, offering 326 horsepower on tap and the ability to run the quarter-mile in 16.2 seconds at 88 mph according to a contemporary road test published in the American magazine Car & Driver. Front disc brakes were another popular option, particularly useful with so much power under the hood. Total production fell dramatically to 15,788 units (less than half the number sold in its debut year) for 1967, making this one of the rarest variants of the extended Charger family. Survivors of the first generation Charger are few and far between and a rare sight on Australian roads, but still hold great appeal for Mopar fans and muscle car enthusiasts alike.