Color often makes the car. You could have a perfectly nondescript vehicle but, when painted in an interesting color, the car suddenly becomes spectacular, if not more sporty or luxurious. Last week, one of our Picks of the Day was an unusual 1966 Dodge Monaco 500 painted Mauve, and we’ve found another Dodge in this interesting color. This time it’s a 1966 Dodge Charger fastback, and it’s listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in Torrance, California.
The 1966 Dodge Charger was a show car that came to life. With a special fastback body style and even more special interior, the Charger could wear several hats, from sporty mid-size coupe to performance car to personal luxury car for those who were too young for a Thunderbird. Say what? A Dodge fastback that competed against the likes of a Pontiac Grand Prix? Perhaps a loose claim, especially when the Charger was considered the leader of the Dodge Rebellion. What does Dodge have to say about that?
Dodge touted the hidden headlights as rotating and turning on automatically when a switch was pulled: “You’d expect this kind of feature on a luxury car.” Then, “Charger’s a luxury car that is nimble enough and quick enough and challenging enough to make you glad you can’t afford a chauffeur.” Nonetheless, it’s still difficult to imagine the Charger as a luxury car, though we understand what Dodge’s marketing department was trying to do.
Engine options ran the gamut, from utilitarian to scorching. The 318 “Poly” was standard, available with a three-speed manual or automatic transmission. The 361 two-barrel, 383 four-barrel, and 426 Hemi all were available with automatic or 4-speed. Considering the console was standard, it is strange Dodge did not offer a three-speed on the floor.
The standard Charger interior was full of features, from 2+2 seating to console front and rear. Additionally, the rear seats folded, giving a generous amount of cargo room—so much room, you’d swear it was a Barracuda.
This restored 1966 Dodge Charger fastback is painted in Mauve, the same color that was featured on a 1966 Dodge Monaco 500 for last week’s Pick of the Day. It’s a pretty, feminine color—something not often seen on a sporty car like the Charger, but we could see it on a luxury car like the Charger. “An obviously always garage kept example with the original floor boards, trunk and all the typical rust-prone areas completely solid and rust-free,” says the seller. “The dashboard, the headliner, the carpets and all the seats and all the chrome work are in exceptional condition, and the car has factory correct wheels and tires.”
But perhaps even more special than the color is the plate placed in the middle of the console—this car is a three-on-the-tree, so there is a “delete plate” on the console to fill the hole where a four-speed or automatic shifter would normally be. We’d expect more from a luxury car, but the uniqueness of this Charger makes us think you won’t find another like this for $32,500.
Click here to view this Pick of the Day on ClassicCars.com
