Ever notice how most Hemi Mopars from 1966 look so uninteresting? Compare a Hemi Dodge Coronet 500 with a Pontiac GTO and there will be no doubt which was a style-leader. The Goat looks the part, while the Coronet looks somewhat staid by comparison. No, claiming the Mopars were Q-ships doesn’t cut it — that was the role of the Coronet Deluxe, not a Coronet hardtop with bucket seats.
Image courtesy of Jim Campisano
But there was one Mopar that was born to carry the 426 Hemi when it debuted for 1966: the Dodge Charger. Also new for the model year, the Charger was Dodge’s show car come to life, a specialty vehicle only available as a fastback with a special interior and plenty of nifty details, from the hidden headlights and full-width taillights to the electroluminescent instrument panel, full-length console, and folding rear seats.
Image courtesy of Jim Campisano
It’s amazing that the 1966 Hemi Charger is not a top collectible of the era. Perhaps the fastback roofline is not to everyone’s liking — some come off better than others, but the Charger certainly isn’t awkward like a Rambler Marlin. Or maybe the 1968-70 Charger is so strong that it has overshadowed the first-generation Charger. What’s clear is that America c.1967 has similar sentiments, as sales cratered from 37,344 to 15,788. Chargers of this vintage are also difficult to restore, with several specialized pieces that can be so expensive that a restoration will put an owner underwater.
Nonetheless, there’s only one 426 Hemi, and the 1966 Charger is the perfect vehicle for it. Steve Hurley owns this Medium Turquoise metallic example, and he’s joined by Muscle Car Campy to discuss the charms of both the model and the engine. The TorqueFlite-equipped fastback has been modified with Keystones and a Vintage Air climate control system for those humid Florida days. It even has the NASCAR-spec rear spoiler!
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