DODGE Charger 1974-1978 Photos, engines & full specs

Gone was the muscle-car era, and Dodge had to focus on different customers to sell its Charger, and that made the carmaker transform the famous vehicle into a personal luxury coupe.

Switching from muscle cars to luxury vehicles took work as customers were looking for big muscles and a V8 under the hood, not a comfortable two-door sedan loaded with amenities. But Dodge considered that if customers couldn't buy powerful vehicles due to the oil crisis and substantial insurance costs, they might as well go for comfort and forget about neck-hurting accelerations.

The fourth generation of the Charger sported a new front fascia with two more prominent outer headlamps and two smaller ones on the inside. With its long hood, raked, and taller windshield, the coupe looked even more appealing to those looking for a comfortable, long-distance car. Even if the rear deck was long, it looked much smaller since it was way shorter than the hood. The cabin could have been completely covered with vinyl or just the rear part. Dodge called that a "landau roof."

The interior featured velour-covered bucket seats at the front and a bench for two in the back. Thanks to the long doors, the ingress and egress from the rear seats were eased. With the dashboard covered in wood trims and a complete instrument panel, the '75 Charger was much more luxurious than its predecessor. Moreover, Dodge added 143 lbs (65 kg) of sound-deadening materials. Thus, the interior was quiet. To make the trips more pleasant, the automaker offered a choice of eight sound systems, including 8-Track players and stereos.

Under the hood, the Charger received a wide choice of engines. It started with a sluggish, 100 HP inline-six. The most potent version offered a 240 HP V8 that pleased customers. Yet it was a far cry in terms of performance compared with the mighty, third-generation Charger R/T.