Sweet First-Gen Hemi! 1966 Dodge Charger
When it decided to build a fastback, Dodge had no interest in copying Plymouth’s compact first-generation Barracuda. Instead, the mid-sized Coronet underwent a transformation to become a sporty new Charger. This 1966 Dodge Charger near Silverdale, Washington comes to market in show-ready condition unless your show is located at Pebble Beach. Those “426 HEMI” fender callouts will draw enthusiasts from a mile away. Mind the drool, please. Word of caution to the new owner… Don’t be surprised when Hemi fans whip around and stalk you to your destination with questions and requests to pop the hood. Who can resist showing off the mighty Elephant? A vague listing here on craigslist.org asks $38,750, and suggests this Charger features a correct 1966 street Hemi despite being born with an unspecified non-Hemi engine. A correct Hemi can run $17,000 or more, so you’re getting the car for a little more than twice that. Thanks to reader David R. for spotting this Mopar masterpiece.
During a time when no U.S. manufacturer listed an engine with more than 425 HP, the 426 cid (7.0L) V8 utilized hemispherical combustion chambers and other tricks to make… 425 HP, on paper anyway. Hemmings.com and others have found real-world horsepower nearer to 500. Your combination had better be stout if your planning on hunting Elephants.
While the metal stamping and right half of the dash resembles my ’66 Coronet, the Charger gains sportier circular gauges and a fancy center console.
The front differs from the Coronet mainly thanks to hidden headlights, but this fastback treatment departs radically from any previous Dodge. Though not a hatchback, the Charger’s folding rear seats made for a sizable cargo area.
That shiny center console continues from the dashboard aft to divide the rear seats as well. If you like this continuous console, ’66 is your year; Dodge excised the portion of the console above the rear passengers’ feet for ’67. At one time any factory Hemi car was a guaranteed $100,000+, and I’ve seen Hemi cars that began life with a straight six sell for over $60k, but these are different times. If your budget or sensibilities put an immaculate stock Hemi car out of reach, who cares? Here’s one you can get for the cost of an SUV, and the latter will lose $6000 the minute you drive it off the lot. Is this Hemi Charger calling your name?
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Comments
1st time we saw this car was on the TV show “The Man from UNCLE”. I don’t think it had a hemi, tho. Pretty big flop, from what I remember.
https://www.imcdb.org/v540203.html
The car or the show ?
This thing pegs the needle of my “want meter”.
I like the looks of the 66 Charger. Has some European flare to it. Electroluminescent lighting how cool is that! Chrysler was always known for their engineering prowess. I think the price makes this a good bargain for a car that would otherwise be unobtainable for the average guy. And would you feel comfortable driving the real deal with today’s idiot drivers?
I agree with alphasud. Great looking car. I really like the ’65-’70 Chrysler products. I have never driven a hemi-powered car, but I would like to. I think it will sell easily.
One of my first cars…a dark green 66 with white interior.
Most had all black dashes.
Being a green fanatic justs moves it up on the wish list. Fantastic car. GLWTS.
Back in ’66, my Dad really wanted to get a new dark green Charger. Of course, Dad would have opted for a black interior, as he kept a new car that he would buy for 10 years. But he just couldn’t get one at the price he limited himself to. He always paid in full. In ’67, he bought the newly styled Mustang fastback. He did special order it to be painted in the dark green used on the ’66 Mustangs (it was more of a pure green, and less blue green than the ’67 color). Only glitch was the car arrived at the dealer painted in the ’66 color except for the two straked vents on the right side – they were the ’67 color). Dad was upset and had to wait a day while the dealership repainted those vents to match.
Great deal and Hemi’s have been way overpriced for quite some time. Awesome body lines too.
Lovely color both out and inside. Beautiful car.
After more than quarter of a century with a wide variety of European classics, I desperately want a ‘66 Charger to become my first taste of owning a US classic. I’ve obviously drooled over tons of other cool Stateside classics over the years, but I always end up coming back to the ‘66 Charger. The allure is simply too strong!
With the Hemi in this one, it’s sadly out of reach for me. But WHOOOAAR it’s just so delicious….
Mark my words, the day will come where I have a Charger in my garage – even if I’ll have to settle for a more mundane powerplant.
Beautiful car but, IMHO, Hemi’s were, and are, over rated.
Gimme a dialed in 440 or an LS6 454.
Either way, this thing was a zoomy-looking space craft!
It took me until now to appreciate this sled.Sometimes it takes 5 decades for a design aesthetic to grow on you.
I agree with @Detroit Land Yacht, only recently have these early Chargers caught my eye. I couldn’t see past the 68-70’s, but this one here looks even better than those.
One million times better looking than a new Charger, which are full of problems. I remember these brand new in 66. What a great design. Yes, the 68 to 70 is far better, but you never see these at car shows, let alone on a road. I agree with the one comment here, can you really actually drive something so beautiful with all the idiots on the road, doing 140 mph in a souped up import with a $2,000 phone glued to their face? NO
George, I love this generation of Charger, but I also love the Charger I bought in 2013.
140,000 miles later, the only “problems” and the only times it has been to a dealer is the several recalls.
I’ve been know to get rid of a car after 3 – 4 years because I get tired on them. 7 years on with this one and I can’t think of another car I’d rather have.
Is that code for “your stuck with it” ?
Morley – Why don’t you help us out and “decode” exactly what that’s supposed to mean.
I have a ’66 charger as well as a ’14 Charger I bought new. I will and would never willingly part with either of them. And yes, that is in the pre-nup. Both have their strengths, but between the two, I have the best of both worlds.
TCOPPS: Great combination. And so I’m not completely copying you, I’ll get a ’67 Charger to go with my ’13!
Was mid 40’s last week and was advertised as non original engine then. . Car is near where I live. Do your homework.
Looks like a very good car, but not a four speed, why would you change the motor and not put in a four speed!!!! Too bad, I pass this on.
i’m not a mopar person or amc but this charger and the marlin have the style that really makes my heart beat. just love the roof lines and back ends on these cars
I love it too! I always thought that the ’66 Charger copied the ’65 Marlin.
Back in time I had the opportunity to work on a couple of these but not the HEMI powered ones. I was and still am a 55 to 57 Pontiac guy and always thought that I’d buy one once they started appearing on the used car lot and I could afford one.
Of all the MOPAR family this style is my favorite – wouldn’t much care about drive train combo if I had one.
They don’t turn out at car events often. The Chrysler dealer in Nelson BC has one fully restored which I saw at the car show there either last year or year before – – it was awesome and drew lotsa people tp look at it and photo ops.
I was a 19 yr old with a new house payment when one – a silver 426 – showed up on the bank’s lot where it sat for what seemed way to long….really should have asked about it as it was appeared to be a repo…..about 1976….still kick myself in the ass over that one……..
The 66 Dodge B-body cars were the first new cars I remember watching being unloaded at the dealerships with excitement. Their chiseled styling captivated me, their open interiors were awesome, and the go-fast potential was thrilling. Finally a car that looked as fast as it was advertised to be ! I was 5.
In high school, a girlfriend’s Dad had a silver Charger with a Hemi and a 4-speed. I got to drive it, but did not dare push it. I remember brisk acceleration, and a “touchy” gearbox that was not very smooth to operate.
A few years later I would have a Coronet 440 convertible drop in my lap, followed by a super-wrecked 67 R/T. The convertible picked up a lot of R/T performance goodies. It drives like a dream and looks like a million bucks. Everything I thought about them in 1966 was true.
I remember riding my bicycle down to the dealership to see the first one of these in town white with a 318 and automatic. Always thought it was cool! I really like the fastbacks from the ’60’s.
like the Marlin, Torino, others a H U G E rear deck. I like the straight lines on these B4 the “humps” over the wheels came into most cars.
Nice find Todd, thanks !
The price had dropped a tad, but there is a hardship sale happening and he wants offers.
Iam a proud owner of a 66 dodge charger all original all matching numbers with a 361 engine,I also have the original owners manual and the original certification card that came with the car,and the original keys,she us my pride and joy,I fell in love with these cars in 1975 when my neighbors cousin stopped over with a black 66 charger 426 hemi,and took us for a ride,I swore on that day that I would own one someday,even though I didn’t have my license yet,and my dream finally came true