The mid-1960's were certainly a great time for muscle cars as the public seemed to be fully under the spell of these truly wicked vehicles. Back in those days, faster, bigger and meaner was the era's mantra when it came to cars. The year was 1966 and the automobile market was dominated by classics such as the Ford Mustang and the Plymouth Barracuda. Out of the fierce competition in between some of the biggest names in automobile manufacturing came the 1966 Dodge Charger, which was designed to be a powerhouse with its 318 V-8 power plant in its base models.
Buyers had a few engine options to choose from which included the 383 and the famous 426 Hemi. We at Leland West Insurance believes that the 1966 version of the 424 Hemi engine was one of the best any average guy could dream of. It could pump out about 500 horsepower thus allowing the driver to really put some serious power when racing down the roads. The 426 Hemi also helped further the muscle car boom which lasted until the remainder of the decade.
Despite the fact that the 66 Dodge Charger resembled a Coronet with a fastback, the Charger actually took its design cues from the concept car, Charger II. When it came to its interiors, the Charger had found individual seats and had a full length console that went from front to rear. The rear seats as well as the console pad could be folded down thus creating more space for luggage and other cargo. The vehicle itself was very different from anything else that was on the road during that time and with the Hemi installed in it, the 66' Charger was also one of the fastest.
How fast, you ask? Well, equipped with the Hemi, the Charger had the ability to go from zero to sixty in less than 7 seconds and complete the quarter mile in about 14 seconds. It was a radical, totally deviant and fast vehicle that people simply couldn't help but covet. After all, speed is the language that people talk when it comes to muscle cars. The 1966 Charger certainly delivered that and so much more thus making it an icon.
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