1972 Dodge Challenger

The world was introduced to the Dodge Challenger in the fall of 1969 for the 1970 model year. Along with the slightly smaller Plymouth Barracuda, the Challenger was a Chrysler E-body pony car offered with nearly every engine in Chrysler's arsenal, along with a plethora of trim and option levels. The 110-inch wheelbase was two inches longer than the Barracuda's, the interior was more luxurious, and its sheet metal was substantially different. Except for the 1971 model year, the front ends of both cars were different from each other in that the Barracuda had two headlights and the Challenger had four.

The exterior styling was courtesy of Carl Cameron, who had also penned the 1966 Dodge Charger, and gave the 1970 Challenger a grille based on the 1966 Charger prototype. Trim levels for the 1970 Challenger included the 'base', R/T (Road and Track), and T/A (Trans Am), with body styles that included a two-door hardtop, convertible (and the Special Edition two-door hardtop). A low-priced Challenger Deputy coupe arrived mid-year, with fixed rear quarter windows and devoid of some of the trim and features found on the 'base' model. Power was from either an inline-6 or V8 engine with over 85 percent of buyers selecting the V8. The one-year-only Special Edition 'SE' hardtop was available on both the 'base' and R/T, and added additional appearance, comfort, and convenience features.

Introduced at the end of the muscle car era, Dodge built approximately 84,000 examples in 1970. This figure plummeted a year later, to just under 30,000 examples.

1971 Dodge Challenger
The 1971 Challenger received minor trim changes, mostly to the front grille assembly and to the taillights. The Challenger R/T continued as the high-performance trim package and added chrome exhaust tips, heavy-duty drum brakes, Rallye suspension, bodyside tape stripe, variable speed wipers, the 383 CID four-barrel V8, and Rallye instrument cluster with simulated woodgrain trim.

1972 Dodge Challenger
In keeping with the industry trend, the performance option list grew smaller in 1972, and all the big-block engine options were gone. Also missing from the list were most interior upgrade options, many of the comfort and convenience items, and the convertible body style. The body styles that remained were the hardtop and Rallye hardtop, with a sunroof optional. The Challenger Rallye series replaced the R/T Series and came with four simulated vents on the front fenders, from which exited matte black strobe tape stripes.

Standard Equipment
The 'base' Challenger, with a factory price of $2,790, came with all federally mandated safety and pollution equipment, front and rear side armrests, front ashtray, cigarette lighter, ventless side windows, glovebox with rotary latch, a heater and defroster, color-keyed carpeting, dual horns, outside left manual mirror, inside day and night mirror, and parking brake warning lights. It had a three-spoke steering wheel with simulated woodgrain padded hub, bucket seats with front foam seat cushions, an electric windshield washer, and concealed two-speed wipers.

Challenger Rallye
The Challenger Rallye came equipped with a 318 cubic-inch V8 engine, a side scoop located behind the front wheels, and strobe-type tape strips that ran along the body side.

Engines
The standard engine was the 225 cubic-inch 'Slant' Six with overhead valves, 8.4:1 compression, solid valve lifters, four main bearings, a one-barrel carburetor, and delivering 110 (Net) horsepower at 4,000 RPM. The optional 318 cubic-inch V8 with overhead head valves and a two-barrel carburetor delivered 150 (Net) horsepower. The 340 CID V8 used a Carter Thermo-Quad four-barrel carburetor and delivered 240 (net) horsepower at 4,800 RPM. The 340 CID came with dual exhausts and a performance-oriented camshaft and heads. In order to run on lead-free gasoline, all three engines were detuned and given lower compression ratios.

The engines were backed by a three-speed manual or automatic transmission, while the 340 CID V8 could also be fitted with a four-speed manual. The only performance axle that remained with the 3.55 sure grip that could be added with the 340 and the heavy-duty suspension.

Styling
The Challenger received a new grille for 1972 that extended beneath the front bumper, and once again, the rear taillights were new. The grille and taillight arrangement would be used on the 1973 and 1974 Challengers, along with the mandatory five mph bumpers.

Production
The two-door hardtop had a base price of $2,790 when equipped with the six and $2,900 when powered by the V8. The Rallye Hardtop was only available with the V8 and was priced at $3,080. Dodge produced a total of 18,535 examples of the Hardtop and 8,123 of the Rallye Hardtop. The combined 26,658 examples attributed to approximately five percent of Dodge's 1972 production.

by Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2021