The Charger 500 was a limited-edition production Charger that Dodge produced in an attempt to compete with the Ford Torino and Ford Talladega models that were cleaning up in the NASCAR circuits. The first prototype Charger 500 was a 1968 Charger R/T with a 426 Hemi under the hood mated to a Torqueflite transmission. Production numbers for the standard 1969 Charger totaled 89,200, of which only 500 were the special Charger 500. Most of them came standard with the 440 Magnum engine with the 426 Hemi available as an upgraded option (only 67 of 500). The Charger 500 was designed to be a little more are dynamic than the standard Charger and had a flush-mounted front grille proudly displaying exposed headlights and a slightly modified rear window which was mounted flush with the trailing edge of the roof.
For the 1970 production model, the Charger 500 nameplate no longer signified a limited production special edition Charger; it became the name of the trim package between the standard equipped Charger and the high performance Charger R/T. Total production of all Chargers in 1970 totaled 46,576 with 27,264 of them wearing the Charger 500 nameplate.
1971 would be the last year that the Charger model would be offered with the 500 badging. This third generation body styling (1971-1974) would be less popular than the second generation style (1968-1970). 82,681 Chargers were the production numbers for the 1971 model, of which 32,813 were Charger 500s. Increased scrutiny from government regulations about emissions and the beginning of the declining sales for muscle cars industry wide contributed to the Charger 500 being dropped to from the 1972 lineup.
If you’re lucky enough to be an owner of an original equipped with the 426, the 1969 models are worth $132K on average.
29 Comments
John Bagley
my 66 charger hemi would kick any stangs ass…along with most others lol good race with Eleanor (+:
Bob Easter
The important visual cues, the ones that made it a 500 (for Daytona 500) are the flush grill and headlights (recessed on all other
Chargers) and rear glass. Aerodynamic modifications that make it immediately identifiable and unique.
eric
There were only 392 1969 Charger 500’s produced. Not 500. The Daytona demonstrated such progress that the 500 option was no longer needed so production was ceased.
David Snell
I’ve only ever ridden in one Charger in my life. A 69 500. I don’t remember the owner’s name, nor the town he lived in (early 2000s), all I remember is that I went with my dad and his girlfriend to Florida to visit her family. While there she talked to her dad’s friend and asked him to take me for a ride in his Charger. A white 500 that he told me was originally a 383/auto but is now a 426 wedge with a 4 speed and a pistol grip.
We visited Wauchula, but I cannot remember if he (the guy with the Charger) lived in Wauchula, Avon Park, or a different town like Sebring.
Since these are pretty rare cars, anyone here maybe know who this guy was? I believe his first name is Bob…I know that really narrows it down but he’s probably the only Bob with a white 69 Charger 500 with a little bondo on the rear quarter in central Florida.