Richard Petty on his favorite race car

[YY1]

Note the engine displacement!

Shame it wasn't licensed, but in my world it was the king's car.

 

[WileE]

It bothers me that so much work went into the 3rd gen and it didn't get to live up to its potential on the track or the street.

Huh ? As I stated, the 3rd gen won FOUR championships with King Richard, and he stated he preferred the Charger, which he retained as long as permitted. Since the 75 style reverted to the aerodynamic brick.

 

[DeltaV]

Richard was very popular in my hometown. I started highschool in 1971 and it was located, as the crow flies, around 3/4 of a mile from the track. My highschool was a campus style arrangement of buildings with no air conditioning except for the Principal's office and library. Our classroom windows were open and the glorious sounds from practice/time trials were a distraction.

The track looked more like this back in the day:

Also, my parents bought the car pictured below around the same time. My Dad took me with him and there were rows and rows of RR's & a handful of GTX's. Anyway, is the world perfect or what?

 

[#41]

View attachment 1668930

Note the engine displacement!

Shame it wasn't licensed, but in my world it was the king's car.

I have never seen this before. Neato

They should start marketing that again, only instead of "ages 4-11", it should be "ages 4-11, and 65-85".

 

[JR_Charger]

Huh ? As I stated, the 3rd gen won FOUR championships with King Richard, and he stated he preferred the Charger, which he retained as long as permitted. Since the 75 style reverted to the aerodynamic brick.

I mean, it didn't get the nose cone and wing and there could have been newer versions of he HEMI as well.

The street cars only had 1-2 years of performance before the shift to luxury.

 

[maxwedgechar]

Somewhere I have my 1971 Superbird model kit.

 

[WileE]

I mean, it didn't get the nose cone and wing and there could have been newer versions of he HEMI as well.

The street cars only had 1-2 years of performance before the shift to luxury.

Didn't need the cone & wing, they were designed aerodynamically already as is. The cone/wing for the Tona & Bird were added to attempt to correct horrible aerodynamics on the 68-70 style. As far as engine performance, the gov't/insurance tandem were the culprits, for all manufacturers.

 

[WileE]

Somewhere I have my 1971 Superbird model kit.

Some outfit, can't recall their name, custom built "what could've been" 3rd gen Daytona and Superbird, some years ago. I then recall seeing them up for sale for some stupid money.

 

[not so famous bob]

I suspect what got Richard out of the Road Runner was getting his doors blown off by team mate Buddy Baker's 71 Charger. I can't remember which race it was, but Buddy Baker smoked the King good. I can imagine the thoughts going through Richard's head as his own team mate soared by him like he was standing still.

View attachment 1668881

yeah but , he didn't blow by him too many times ...

 

[YY1]

I've read from muliple sources that the 71 body was more aerodynamic than the 69/70 wing cars.

 

[YY1]

Anyone know for sure how long the 74 body ran?

 

[SlingLow]

I have never seen this before. Neato

They should start marketing that again, only instead of "ages 4-11", it should be "ages 4-11, and 65-85".

C'mon, man! How about 64-85?

 

[WileE]

Anyone know for sure how long the 74 body ran?

It was probably 77.

 

[73BlkChargerSE]

Anyone know for sure how long the 74 body ran?

Do you still have the green door pull straps for a 73 Charger or know where I can get some ?

 

[WileE]

I suspect what got Richard out of the Road Runner was getting his doors blown off by team mate Buddy Baker's 71 Charger. I can't remember which race it was, but Buddy Baker smoked the King good. I can imagine the thoughts going through Richard's head as his own team mate soared by him like he was standing still.

I doubt it. Petty won the championship and 21 wins in his road runner. Baker only 1, didn't even finish in the top ten points.

 

[JR_Charger]

Some outfit, can't recall their name, custom built "what could've been" 3rd gen Daytona and Superbird, some years ago. I then recall seeing them up for sale for some stupid money.

71 Wing Cars, no longer around unfortunately.

I wouldn't bet money that there were no aerodynamic improvements with the wing cars. Too bad info is so hard to come by!

 

[JR_Charger]

I've read from muliple sources that the 71 body was more aerodynamic than the 69/70 wing cars.

What sources? I've only seen one internet forum comment that the 3rd gen was as aerodynamic as the 2nd gen wing cars, but not more aerodynamic.

That would make it more aerodynamic than modern Chargers, which is extremely impressive!

 

[JR_Charger]

"Based on the third-generation Charger produced from 1971 to 1974, the 1974 STP Dodge Charger’s distinctive styling exudes an air of nostalgia. Petty’s remarkable success with this body style, amassing an impressive 35 wins between 1972 and 1977, solidifies its status as an icon in NASCAR history."

Richard Petty’s 1974 Dodge Charger NASCAR Cup Car Is Still Awesome​

 

[WileE]

Probably a toss-up between the wing cars and 3-gens. Funny, all this discussion about aero, yet Petty had a monster year-of-the-ages in 67 with his Satellite. What got my attention to Mopars !

 

[Richard Cranium]

What sources? I've only seen one internet forum comment that the 3rd gen was as aerodynamic as the 2nd gen wing cars, but not more aerodynamic.

That would make it more aerodynamic than modern Chargers, which is extremely impressive!

The 70 Torino was not as aerodynamic as the 68-69 body due to the concave shape of the rear window/ trunk lid area. The 71 Charger’s rear window is similarly shaped and my guess is that it suffered similarly. However, the windshield was angled more and that may have made up for it.