1977 Chrysler CL Charger 770 265 'Manual' Coupe

Description

The legendary Valiant Charger, which burst onto the scene in 1971 to cries of "Hey Charger" thanks to a memorable television advertising campaign, moved away from its muscle car origins as the supercar scare - and subsequent loss of factory support for racing - spelled the end for the racy 'Six Pack' option.  Instead, Chrysler moved into the luxury GT market with the upmarket 770 model, combining V8 power with automatic transmission, radial ply tyres, heavier torsion bar suspension and standard anti-roll bar to deliver a more sophisticated, European driving experience.  The interior benefited most from this new approach, with better seats, full carpeting, improved sound insulation and an alloy-spoked steering wheel lending a much-needed touch of class.  In an effort to keep up with rivals Ford and Holden, Chrysler facelifted the range every couple of years, with the VJ of 1973 and VK of 1975 offering little in the way of significant improvement but did make continual revisions to the trim and equipment levels.  The 770 was available with a whole range of engines, from the 265-cid six to the 318 or 360-cid V8s and normally came with an automatic transmission, although a four-speed manual was offered.  The Charger’s swansong was the CL series announced in 1976, distinguished by the redesigned four-headlight front-end in line with the new corporate look.  Chrysler dropped the entry-level XL, leaving the 770 as the sole offering and the smallest 215-cid six was also no longer available, leaving the 245/265-cid motors and the 318-cid V8 as the only options.  Four-speed manual or three-speed automatic transmissions were available across the range.  The last CL Charger rolled off the Tonsley Park production line in October 1978, spelling the end of an era.