72 and 73 Charger Differences

What are some main visual differences between a 72 and 73 Charger? Are there differences in body lines, grilles, or rear tail panels?

My dad and I were driving down route 66 today and out of the corner of my eye I saw a Charger parked at a gas station that usually has some old muscle cars for sale. When I saw it, I called it out to be a 73 Charger because I thought I saw an Opera Window (it may have been a half vinyl top). My dad said he saw the car before and talked to the owner who said it was a 72 Charger. Anyway, I might drive back tomorrow to go look at it just to see. It was a light metallic green with a white top and retractable headlights.

There are a few differences, one being no more hideaways after 72, I'm fairly certain.

vin will tell you.

71/2 chargers have the upswept rear 1/4 windows like this one:



All other rear window styles are 73/4. They came with the opera rear 1/4 windows or the downswept ones that look more like the rear 1/4 windows on a 68-70 charger.

There are many subtle difference between the two years in addition to what's been mentioned:

- tail lights are slightly different between 72 and 73-74
- grill inserts are different between 72 73-74
- fender radius is slightly smaller on 72 than 73-74
- inner fenders are drastically different from 72 than 73+ due to the suspension overhaul Chargers got that year
- if the car still has bumperettes, the 73-74 will have much larger (and uglier -- usually taken off) bumperettes than the 71-72
- firewall on 73+ will have more emissions "stuff" on it than 72 such as OSAC valve
- 72 had hideaway headlights as an option - 73+ did NOT

This is by far not an all-inclusive list but covers most of what you could easily spot to know if its a 72 or 73 Charger. Keep in mind some of the parts can be swapped between the two. For example the 72 front end can be swapped on to a 73/74 to give it the hideaway headlights.

As said before, if the car as the triple "opera" windows, its a 73/74. I am pretty much certain that no others years had them.

If you are still not sure, post a pic of some of the parts I mentioned above and I am sure somebody will chime in and tell you for certain.

Body line difference too.73-74 doors and fenders won't interchange. Each year has it's own hood ,bulge or not. Jack slots are different. 74 ralley dash is different.Still lots of stuff will fit other years.

Well, I went back and as my first instinct proved, it was a 73. It had the white opera window and the lights were not retractable. I tried to get a picture of the VIN, but it was faded and hard to read (It was also raining today). All I can make out was 7P29M361XXXXX. I think there is a digit missing in the beginning. It was a nice overall car, but it really didn't fit my tastes. It was light green, white opera window, with some cragars, white interior (with a hint of black), a grant steering wheel, etc.

Quote:

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Well, I went back and as my first instinct proved, it was a 73. It had the white opera window and the lights were not retractable. I tried to get a picture of the VIN, but it was faded and hard to read (It was also raining today). All I can make out was 7P29M36XXXXX . I think there is a digit missing in the beginning. It was a nice overall car, but it really didn't fit my tastes. It was light green, white opera window, with some cragars, white interior (with a hint of black), a grant steering wheel, etc.

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That probably should read WP29M3Gxxxxxx. A 73 SE with a 400 2bbl.