Raible Designs

2006 Dodge Charger, Dukes and VW Buses

Heard on the radio this morning: Dodge is bringing back the Dodge Charger in 2006. Remember the General Lee from the Dukes of Hazzard? That's a Charger and here are pictures of the 2006 (or at least the concept car). "The Dukes" was one of my favorite TV shows growing up.

Since I grew up without electricity (hence, no TV), people often ask me if I've seen certain shows. I had friends, I watched TV at their houses. Also, my grandparents (who lived 10 miles down the road) had a TV. Night Rider and Dukes of Hazzard were shows that I went out of my way to see. However, there are shows like Gilligan's Island that I've never seen.

I won't be buying a new Charger, but I do plan on restoring an old VW Bus in the near future. I restored a couple of bugs in high school and college and I really enjoyed it. Right now, I'm looking for a late '50s or early '60s 23-window bus. I plan on dropping in a Porsche 911 or 914 engine, wrapping it with some Porsche wheels, and generally enjoying the whole process. It'll probably take me 2-3 years to complete the project - but I definitely need a new hobby. Being on the computer so much just isn't healthy. Besides, kids can participate in a car restoration. Hopefully I'll be able to post pictures like this in a few years.

Posted in General at Mar 12 2004, 06:24:12 AM MST 18 Comments

Comments:

What a nice use for the <blink> tag on the page you link to, makes you wonder just how much sweat and tears went into restoring that VW Bus.

Posted by Laust M. Ladefoged on March 12, 2004 at 04:45 PM MST #

</blink> Ahh, sorry. Should offcourse have been <blink> tag.

Posted by Laust M. Ladefoged on March 12, 2004 at 04:46 PM MST #

It's an Intrepid, That new 2006 Charger is a disgrace to the charger name I mean I thought the Turismo edition was bad but this...THIS takes it. As a owner of a 1969 Charger I just had to shake my head at what Dodge...excuse me what Mercedes is doing and then they didn't even get the gas cap on the right side?!!?. Cudos on the VW bus resto

Posted by Art Mckufrin on March 15, 2004 at 04:07 PM MST #

One more thing, A FOUR DOOR!!!! who's the genius that came up with idea?, just one more thing the Starbucks coffee toting office poofter wrecked We can't forget the GTO either.

Posted by Art Mckufrin on March 15, 2004 at 04:11 PM MST #

Who's the yuppie that approved this project? It's an LHS with a fat ass. Let's face it people, I'm feeling the rush already....zooming along the parkway drinking my latte and listening to Diana Krall on the 10 speaker stereo. Yesiree...that says Charger all right! Or maybe they're calling it Charger because they're asking exhorbitant money for it. In any case, I find it impossible that no one who designed this car has ever seen the Dukes of Hazzard let alone King Richard (Petty for you young whippersnippers) burning the roundy-round track. Obviously EVERYONE has forgotten about the Charger heritage. That was clear in the 80's when the 2.2 thing happened, but it's downright insulting that the new one is a SEDAN. Come on people, it's lame. Oh, does it have golf club storage at least? I know, who am I to talk right? Well, as the owner of a 1930 Dodge 6 sedan with bulletholes in it, I can at least say that Mopar's heritage has gone to Hell. They started by building decent bootlegging cars, perfected the art in the 60's, and now it's all about baby seat tethers and climate control. Sorry Daimler....you should've stuck to steam power.

Posted by John Bates on March 15, 2004 at 04:26 PM MST #

I hope that these computer generated pictures are not even close to what the new Charger will look like. The 1999 Charger Concept car at least had the classic lines and looked the part. This car doesn't even come close. If the new car looks like the 1999 concept, then sign me up because I want one, and would be proud to show it along side my 74 Charger Rallye. If it looks like these photos you can keep it and I'll look for a Mustang instead.

Posted by Gregg Nelson Sr. on March 16, 2004 at 02:43 PM MST #

The picture you posted is some magazine artist's masturbatory conception of what the car might look like, not not not any sort of official DCX picture. Rumor is that it will look quite a bit like the concept Dodge showed in '99, though the nose will be different. In other words, it will look like a Charger.

Posted by Jac Flash on March 29, 2004 at 07:44 PM MST #

I plan to buy the new charger that is if its not too much

Posted by mookie on April 10, 2004 at 10:57 PM MDT #

I have the 69 dodge charger r/t and I am trying to restore it

Posted by Unknown on April 10, 2004 at 10:58 PM MDT #

This charger is awsome. Im a fan of the old charger but this one is too cool. The 2 door RT is a beast. 5.7 hemi v8. Can you argue with that? deff not.

Posted by James on May 07, 2004 at 11:39 PM MDT #

Greeting from the Hills of Tennessee, I am on the hunt for a mid 70's VW bus. I would like it to have a good engine (which apparently is hard to find in a VW). If you could help or send me in the right direction I would appreciate it. Thanks Laura Lee Thompson

Posted by Laura Lee Thompson on May 10, 2004 at 06:34 PM MDT #

This is not what the Charger is going to look like. If you look closely, yu can tell that it was built on a computer. It is not a real car. The Charger is a fantastic car, and for those of you who know mopars, you know that Dodge has no rear wheel drive vehicle to keep up with the trans am, mustang etc. It is a great addition to the Dodge line. Ge the correct information before you start bitching. It will be a great car. THose of you who think otherwise don't know your ass from your elbow....

Posted by Michael Farmer on May 18, 2004 at 05:55 PM MDT #

That is just a computer rendering of somebody who is somewhat affilated with Popular Hot Rodding Magazine. This kid who fabricated his own 2005 Camaro. A real car he can drive. This was just his idea of what the 2005 Charge could look like takeing Dodge styling trends and a little bit of herritage design. The new Charger will only be offerd in four door, based off the LX platform that 300C and Magnum are based off of. Top model will come the Hemi, 5speed-autostick,IRS, and 18" wheels. <-- Was all that could be confirmed by PHR by people they have some where in Dodge. That picture is in no way a the actual car, just some kids dream.

Posted by Chris Zeplin on May 22, 2004 at 02:01 PM MDT #

This charger looks stupid, the last concept in 99 is a lot better.. Just expect chrysler to use the 6.1 liter hemi with 420 hp...

Posted by chris on August 26, 2004 at 02:31 AM MDT #

If the 1999 Dodge Charger R/T Concept car is going to be put into production and raced in NASCAR, then you are my best friend. I'd go out and buy one as soon as it hit the showroom floor. On the other hand, if the ugly Mustang II/Pontiac Fiero look-alike that appeared in a recent issue of Popular Hot Rod is going to be passed off as the next Dodge Charger, then I will have to take my business to another automaker. Also, this smacks of a bait & switch routine. First, you show us the outstanding 1999 Charger concept, then bust us in the chops with something that looks as if it was poorly chiseled from a solid block of iron with a rusty screwdriver. Popular Hot Rod spoke of the Mustang II/Fiero look-alike as being tailored to a 300C/Magnum frame. To design a car like the Charger to fit on an existing platform to save some bucks is ludicrous. It's losing its original identity, appeal and all of the things that made the 60's & 70's Chargers an icon. It would have been better to save the Charger name for a worthy heir to its name and history. Instead, all that you'll accomplish is ticking off once loyal customers. If a Ferrari nameplate suddenly appeared on a Ford Pinto look-alike there would be justified and widespread outrage. P.S. I had stopped watching NASCAR when Chrysler left the sport a couple of decades ago. I returned to watching NASCAR when Chrysler brought the appealing Dodge Intrepid (which I own) to racing. If Dodge tries to pass of the Mustang II revamp as a Charger, I will spend my Sunday afternoons on the golf course instead, but I won't be driving a Chrysler product to get there. That's how strongly that I feel about it. Sincerely, Mark Ebert

Posted by Mark Ebert on August 27, 2004 at 09:18 PM MDT #

This car is NOT going to be the next Dodge Charger. Read the article that accompanies the pictures, and you'll see that it's an independent design, totally unrelated to Dodge. I can't believe so many people would think this was a serious concept that DCX would put into production. Go pick up the latest Car and Driver and the latest Road&Track magazines. Each magazine has its own rendition of what the Charger could look like, but it WILL be built on the 300C/Magnum platform. (Note: A "platform" is NOT a "chassis." The only vehicles that still use a "chassis" in the same manner as the original Charger (and most other cars of that era) are pickup trucks, and some SUVs. A "platform" is merely the same base engine, suspension/brakes, drivetrain, and basic wheel locations.) Chris Zeplin, I have to correct you when you say that Kris Horton (the guy who designed the PHR Charger and "5th-gen" Camaro) fabricated a car he can drive. If you read the two articles linked at the bottom of the Charger article, it says in no place that he built it, only that he designed it. Mark Ebert, you need to realize that the beancounters in a car company have WAY more clout than a bunch of guys who have nothing better to do than reminisce about the "Good Old Days." I have recently seen two different, PLAUSIBLE renditions (see above paragraph) of the Charger, and BOTH are reported to use the aforementioned platform. There is simply NO economic sense in creating an entirely new platform just for a Dodge-only sedan/coupe, when they already have a perfectly serviceable (and VERY capable) platform. In fact, expect to see perhaps another nameplate or two based off the same platform, possibly reconfigured, simply because it makes GREAT economic sense. I also can't believe that you returned to NASCAR (the most archaic motorsport around) because Dodge returned to it with their rear wheel drive 2-door "Intrepid." I STOPPED watching NASCAR a) when I realized that the sport no longer had the right to use the word "Stock" in its name and b) when 4-door, v6-powered FWD cars (Taurus, Intrepid) were being passed off as 2-door, v8-powered RWD cars. At least the monte Carlo and Grand Prix were 2-doors. But that's just my opinion. Also, I think everybody has to agree that the next Charger shouldn't be judged on its looks, it should be judged on its performance. Christ, look at the Renault 5 (Le Car) Turbo. Arguably the fugliest car ever made, and yet it had some of the best performance of its era. Looks aren't everything in the world of performance vehicles, and a lot of people need to wake up and realize this. the sooner this happens, the better off we'll all be.

Posted by Rob on September 19, 2004 at 11:35 PM MDT #

Rob, Just yesterday, I was looking for some reading material at an Orlando International airport newstand when I saw the Car&Driver issue that you had mentioned. This is the truth. When I saw the cover I immediately thought that some misguided soul had put a Hemi into a lime green S-10 pickup truck. Then, when I read that this was an insiders rendering of the next Charger's design I started looking for an airsickness bag. After viewing additional Charger graphics inside the magazine, I came to the following conclusion: If this rendering was, in fact, the design that Diamler plans to waste the Charger name and history on, then I would take all of my future business elsewhere, case closed. In regards to your comments about French musclecars...I think that Enzo Ferrari would differ with your opinion. Personally, I wouldn't be the first one in line to take automotive design cues from the French, but Rob, that is your option. Happy motoring and au'revoir.

Posted by Mark Ebert on September 23, 2004 at 11:58 PM MDT #

Yea thats a nice charger now if only dodge didnt screw UP ON MAKING IT A 4 DOOR THEN MAYBE DODGE WOULD B IN THE LEAD AGAIN BESIDES THERE TRUCKS. i mean look at ford they r in the lead now and chevrolet u will b once the challenger comes out but not by much

Posted by Chris Agee on October 17, 2007 at 09:48 PM MDT #

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2006 Dodge Charger, Dukes and VW Buses