The non-muscle American car thread (READ THE OP)

[ScottPuss20]

 

[05XR8]

 

[Draggon]

These were awesome in the NATCC!

 

[05XR8]

Yeah couldn't believe when they debuted. Unfortunate for the small grids, but I mainly followed Randy Pobst in the Neuspeed Accord. Had to watch European races on ESPN and then SpeedVision. Such a fantastic era.

 

[TexRex]

Stunning thing.

I don't normally go for GM pickups before 1973 but that's a particularly cherry example. '67-8 sloped hood helps, as do the GMC quad headlights. 396 is kinda nice but the big V6 they had in these would be neat to have.

Edit: Looks like the V6 only came in commercial trucks at this point. Light duty pickups were basically Chevys with different grille assemblies and badges.

 

[05XR8]

When I look back at all the classics, they look hand built. That truck has all the character. Love the front end. Sits perfectly and the period color in the setting is so right. I’d love to drive it every day.

 

[Strittan]

Ford Shogun. Probably the best American car ever made, because it’s not very American at all, lol.

 

[TexRex]

Malaise grace. 1977 Dodge Charger SE Midnight Edition.

 

[Darla Starch]

Malaise grace. 1977 Dodge Charger SE Midnight Edition.

 

[05XR8]

It’s the whole package. Silver with the burgundy plush velour. I can hear the quietness of sitting in the back seat right now.

 

[TexRex]

It’s the whole package. Silver with the burgundy plush velour. I can hear the quietness of sitting in the back seat right now.

I do like them, but they're a bizarre confluence of styling features. They got a "sporty" grille shell with horizontal slats, foreshadowing the following year's Magnum, but the period posh opera roof was extended a couple inches over the standard Charger and split horizontally with that trim piece added. Chrysler didn't even offer that for the Cordoba.

And here's the Charger SE's grille, which I think is better suited to the opera roof.

The Midnight Edition's grille slats would have been appropriate for the Daytona trim, the only one that had a big block option.

 

[ScottPuss20]

 

[TexRex]

Painted metal roof on these is transformative.