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1977-1978 Dodge Charger

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1978 Dodge Charger SE

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1977  The body style was basically the same (classic Cordoba), although the front grill was changed to include two horizontal lines running through it. The models were once again shuffled around, with most standard and optional equipment carried over. The Charger Hardtop and Charger Sport were gone, leaving the Charger SE and Daytona models. The 225 slant six was also gone, along with all manual transmissions. The 400 cid V-8 now included an electronic "Lean Burn" system. However, this system usually caused the engine to run so poorly that most people just removed it from the engine anyway. Raised white letter tires also became an option for the first time on all Chargers. A new leather-wrapped steering wheel was now optional.

 

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1977 Dodge Charger Daytona

 

The Charger SE once again came standard with the 318 V-8. The front and rear sway bars came back as standard equipment. Along with a new Landau roof, T-Tops were now available on all Chargers. The T-Tops were made of tinted glass and could be stored in the trunk.

 

The two-tone color treatment on the Charger Daytonas were now even more striking than last year's, with the darker colors covering the front and rear thirds of each side of the car, separated in the middle. A blue Charger Daytona with T-Tops, center console, raised white letters tires on Ralleye wheels, and the 400 V-8 would have been a very awesome machine.

 

In terms of styling, and options, 1977 was probably the highlight year for the Cordoba based Chargers. Unfortunately, sales slid this year by 45%.

 

Engine

Standard Rear Axle Ratio

Optional Rear Axle Ratios
318 V-8 2.7 2.9, 3.2, 2.7 Sure Grip, 3.2 Sure Grip
360 V-8, 400 V-8 2.4 2.7, 3.2, 2.4 Sure Grip, 2.7 Sure Grip, 3.2 Sure Grip

   

1977 Engine Specifications 318 cid V-8 360 cid V-8 400 cid V-8
compression ratio 8.5:1 8.4:1 8.2:1
horsepower 145 @ 4,000 155 @ 3,600 190 @ 3,600
torque 245 @ 1,600 275 @ 2,000 305 @ 3,200
carburetor 2-barrel 2-barrel 4-barrel

 

1977 Powertrain

 Options

Charger

318 V-8

Standard
360 V-8 Optional
400 V-8 Optional
Automatic transmission was the only transmission available

               

1977 Charger Color Availability
Charger SE, Charger Daytona Vintage Red Sunfire, Jade Green Metallic, Burnished Copper Metallic, Forest Green Sunfire Metallic, Russet Sunfire Metallic, Claret Red, Coffee Sunfire Metallic, Light Chestnut Metallic, Jasmine Yellow, Caramel Tan Metallic, Black Sunfire Metallic, Eggshell White, Silver Cloud Metallic, Golden Fawn, Cadet Blue Metallic, Inca Gold Metallic, Spanish Gold Metallic, Starlight Blue Sunfire Metallic
2-tone colors
Charger Daytona		 Silver Cloud Metallic/Black Sunfire Metallic, Jasmine Yellow/Caramel Tan Metallic, Cadet Blue Metallic/Starlight Blue Sunfire Metallic

1978  The 1978 Charger was reduced to just one model, the SE. Gone was the gorgeous Daytona model, which was being replaced by the new for 78 Dodge Magnum. The Charger SE carried over with few changes from 1977. The 3-speed automatic now had a lock-up torque converter, increasing gas mileage and reducing the temperature of the transmission. The "Tuff" steering wheel and Ralleye wheels were no longer available, although bucket seats, center console with floor shifter, and T-Tops were still on the options list. The 318 and 360 cid V-8 engines now included the electronic lean burn system.

 

1978 would be the last year for the Cordoba bodied Charger. The name would appear again in the mid-eighties on front-wheel drive performance cars. It is ironic that the 75-78 Chargers never received the runaway sales success that the Chrysler Cordoba did, despite the fact that they shared the same body. It was most likely due to the fact that the Cordoba name visualized a car of luxury and comfort, which the Cordoba could deliver. The Charger name, however, brought to mind the monster muscle cars of the 1960's, which this Charger unfortunately could not begin to compare itself to. However, this Charger did have many great qualities of its own - sexy styling, engines that could be awesome performers with the right tuning, and advanced engineering, such as electronic ignition and lock-up torque converters. It remains to be seen if the 75-78 Chargers will become collector's items in their own right.

 

Engine

Standard Rear Axle Ratio

Optional Rear Axle Ratios
318 V-8 2.7 2.7, 2.7 Sure Grip
360 V-8, 400 V-8 2.4 2.4, 2.4 Sure Grip
400 V-8 heavy duty 3.2 3.2 Sure Grip

  

1978 Engine Specifications 318 cid V-8 360 cid V-8 400 cid V-8
compression ratio 8.5:1 8.4:1 8.2:1
horsepower 140 @ 4,000 155 @ 3,600 190 @ 3,600
torque 245 @ 1,600 270 @ 2,400 305 @ 3,200
carburetor 2-barrel 2-barrel 4-barrel

 

1978 Powertrain

 Options

Charger

318 V-8

Standard
360 V-8 Optional
400 V-8 Optional
Automatic transmission was the only transmission available

                    

1978 Charger Color Availability
Charger SE Black, Charcoal Gray Sunfire Metallic, Pewter Gray Metallic, Dove Gray, Eggshell White, Starlight Blue Sunfire Metallic, Cadet Blue Metallic, Mint Green Metallic, Augusta Green Sunfire Metallic, Classic Cream, Sable Tan Sunfire Metallic, Caramel Tan Metallic, Tapestry Red Sunfire Metallic

 

Charger Production

Charger SE

Charger Daytona

Total

% Production Change

1977

 30,979 5,225

36,204

-45.73%
1978 2,735 N/A 2,735 -92.45%

              

Specifications   Charger
Length (inches) 215.3
Width (inches)
77.1
Height (inches) 77 52.6
78 52.9
Curb Weight 3,895
Wheelbase (inches) 77 115
78 114.9
Fuel Capacity (gallons) 25.5