Re: 1971 B bodies were supposed to be 1970?
[Re: demon]
#2458673
02/28/18 01:11 AM
02/28/18 01:11 AM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 18,159 Mass
DAYCLONA
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I Live Here
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Many years ago I recall reading somewhere that the 1971 B bodies were intended to be introduced for 1970, but were put back a year because of a labour strike. As I recall, they had to revamp the 69's for 70 year instead of Introducing the all new B body because there wasn't time to get the new car developed in time. Does anyone have any information about this? I recall hearing/reading something like this many years ago...if true?, 1970 was the best model year for B bodies in terms of options, styling, etc, esp the 70 Charger, because 71 was a big let down styling wise for the Dodge B body camp
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Re: 1971 B bodies were supposed to be 1970?
[Re: fastmark]
#2458778
02/28/18 12:08 PM
02/28/18 12:08 PM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,584 Motor City
6PKRTSE
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master
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Motor City
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I am glad they held off. Somehow, I wound up with now owning (4) 1970 cars over the years & have owned many more. My favorite year for most all Mopar & even most brand X musclecars also
1963 Belvedere 440 Max Wedge Tribute 1970 Charger R/T S.E. 440 Six Pack 1970 Challenger R/T, 528 Hemi 1970 Charger 500 S.E. 440 4 BBL 1970 Plymouth Road Runner 383 1974 Chrysler New Yorker 440 1996 2500 RAM 488 V-10 4X4 2004 3500 Dually Cummins 4x4 2012 Challenger R/T Classic.
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Re: 1971 B bodies were supposed to be 1970?
[Re: demon]
#2458790
02/28/18 12:32 PM
02/28/18 12:32 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 12,277 Benton, IL.
DaveRS23
Special needs idiot
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Special needs idiot
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Benton, IL.
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You can see the soon-to-be 71 influences in the RR/GTX grill. It has the same basic outline as the 71's front bumper. And then you have the one-year-only pistol grip shifters.
Master, again and still
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Re: 1971 B bodies were supposed to be 1970?
[Re: DAYCLONA]
#2458857
02/28/18 02:04 PM
02/28/18 02:04 PM
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,179 Canada
demon
OP
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OP
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Many years ago I recall reading somewhere that the 1971 B bodies were intended to be introduced for 1970, but were put back a year because of a labour strike. As I recall, they had to revamp the 69's for 70 year instead of Introducing the all new B body because there wasn't time to get the new car developed in time. Does anyone have any information about this? I recall hearing/reading something like this many years ago...if true?, 1970 was the best model year for B bodies in terms of options, styling, etc, esp the 70 Charger, because 71 was a big let down styling wise for the Dodge B body camp Considering the 71 Charger out sold the 70 Charger by a wide margin, I'm not sure this is real accurate. While I agree that 1970 was a fantastic year for all Mopar styling, at the time, buyers wanted the brand new styling of the 71's
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Re: 1971 B bodies were supposed to be 1970?
[Re: fastmark]
#2458862
02/28/18 02:09 PM
02/28/18 02:09 PM
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Joined: Feb 2006
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demon
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Hmm. Interesting article written by someone with a preference for the 71 body style. Needless to say, the sales of the day and the popularity today say otherwise. 68-70 Chargers are way more popular and valuable than 71-74. 71 Chargers out sold the 70 Chargers, and the 73 Chargers were a huge sales success. ever look at the production figures for Cordobas? Massive. Sales then, don't reflect values and desirability now. Personally, I love the 70 Chargers and 71 Chargers equally. Both awesome cars, with totally different styling. The pinnacle of the two series.
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Re: 1971 B bodies were supposed to be 1970?
[Re: demon]
#2458970
02/28/18 05:22 PM
02/28/18 05:22 PM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 8,346 fredericksburg,va
cudaman1969
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fredericksburg,va
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IMO 70 year b-bodys where a let down from the 68-69 models, Charger was ok, Plymouth, ugg and Dodge was hideous. Trying to spruce up an already great look and failing. 71 and up just went the wrong way too, took a few years to grow on you. Working at the Dodge dealership I was able to see these cars before they came out each September, most all my car buddy's and salesman felt the same way, they felt they had really push to sell them whereas the 68-69 sold themselves. After 72 when the engines went away, just got worse each year, sticker and decal time.
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Re: 1971 B bodies were supposed to be 1970?
[Re: DaytonaTurbo]
#2459016
02/28/18 07:00 PM
02/28/18 07:00 PM
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Joined: Apr 2012
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RSNOMO
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All-in-all still better looking than the 71+ stuff. That is certainly debatable... '71 styling cues FAR ahead of its time... Still present today...
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Re: 1971 B bodies were supposed to be 1970?
[Re: DaveRS23]
#2459064
02/28/18 09:00 PM
02/28/18 09:00 PM
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,356 Kentucky
dfsmopars
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top fuel
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Kentucky
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You can see the soon-to-be 71 influences in the RR/GTX grill. It has the same basic outline as the 71's front bumper. And then you have the one-year-only pistol grip shifters. Sorry, but what years and trim was the pistol grip available in the b body?
‘72 Charger, 5.9 Magnum, Tremec 5 spd., Pro-Touring ‘14 Big Horn, Quad Cab, 4x4, 1500
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Re: 1971 B bodies were supposed to be 1970?
[Re: dfsmopars]
#2459071
02/28/18 09:20 PM
02/28/18 09:20 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 12,277 Benton, IL.
DaveRS23
Special needs idiot
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Special needs idiot
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Benton, IL.
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The pistol grip arrived for the 1970 model year in the performance B bodies. The pistol grips for '70 were a one year only style. For '71, the bucket seat B Body performance cars got the same handle that the E bodies had. Plus, they got a unique handle for the bench seat B body cars. I am not sure what the last year of the pistol grip was. The B body as we know it ended in 1975. Did the pistol grip make it that far? If any of this is inaccurate or incomplete, I am sure it will be corrected.
Master, again and still
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Re: 1971 B bodies were supposed to be 1970?
[Re: DaveRS23]
#2459165
02/28/18 11:56 PM
02/28/18 11:56 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,408 Highland, MI.
Sunroofcuda
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Highland, MI.
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The pistol grip arrived for the 1970 model year in the performance B bodies. The pistol grips for '70 were a one year only style. For '71, the bucket seat B Body performance cars got the same handle that the E bodies had. Plus, they got a unique handle for the bench seat B body cars. I am not sure what the last year of the pistol grip was. The B body as we know it ended in 1975. Did the pistol grip make it that far? If any of this is inaccurate or incomplete, I am sure it will be corrected. Yep - pistol grips 70-74. B&E bodies.
No Man With A Good Car Needs To Be Justified
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Re: 1971 B bodies were supposed to be 1970?
[Re: Sunroofcuda]
#2459224
03/01/18 01:56 AM
03/01/18 01:56 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,976 Chilliwack B.C. Canada
RUNCHARGER
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71's are my favorite. I am glad they delayed them and if you're ever driven a 71-72 you know how solid they feel, quiet they are and how well they handle. I think the extra year made them a much better car than the rushed to market 70 E-bodies. This way we got the 70 B-bodies with the long in the tooth body style but with the cool goodies like 15X7's and pistol grips and then we got the 71's as well. Sort of a bonus gift as it were. I was there in the fall of 70 and the 71 B-bodies were huge news at the time, people were very excited about them.
Sheldon
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Re: 1971 B bodies were supposed to be 1970?
[Re: RSNOMO]
#2459240
03/01/18 03:07 AM
03/01/18 03:07 AM
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,179 Canada
demon
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OP
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Pinnacle???
Pinnacle, you say??? Pretty hard to top that! Gorgeous
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Re: 1971 B bodies were supposed to be 1970?
[Re: demon]
#2459247
03/01/18 03:45 AM
03/01/18 03:45 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 17,524 Las Vegas, NV
6bblgt
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I Live Here
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while it had a "performance" image, the pistol grip shifter was STANDARD (or included) in every 1970-1974 B & E-body with the D21 - 4-speed manual transmission 318 2bbl to HEMI (2 door - 4 door - convertible - station wagon).
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