1969 Dodge Charger

Description

1969 was the second year of the second version of the Dodge Charger.

For 1969 the body remained the same, but there was a new divided grill and new rectangular tail lights. The backup lights were now located below the rear bumper.

The 318 cubic inch V-8 was standard (230 hp and 340 ft-lbs of torque), though a 225 cid slant-six (145 hp and 215 ft-lbs of torque) could also be ordered. Also optional were a 383 two-barrel (290 hp and 390 ft-lbs of torque), a 383 four-barrel (330 hp and 425 ft-lbs of torque), a 440 Magnum (375 horsepower 480 ft-lbs of torque), and the 425 horsepower 426 Hemi with 490 ft-lbs of torque.

The rear Bumble-Bee stripes were slightly changed, but still came standard with the R/T package. The stripes could be deleted for no cost.

The SE (Special Edition) option package added some luxury features such as leather inserts for the front seats and a wood-grained dash face. The SE package could be ordered with both the regular and R/T Chargers.

The Charger 500 was introduced, which had a new grill with fixed headlights and a flush rear window, both for better aerodynamics. It was designed to help make the Charger more competitive on the NASCAR circuit but didn't help as much as hoped.

More R&D produced the Charger Daytona, which was much more successful in NASCAR races. It had an 18 inch fiberglass nose extension and a huge rear wing mounted 23 inches above the trunk. Both modifications improved the car's aerodynamics substantially, and a race version of the Daytona had a top speed of 205 mph. A little over 500 Charger Daytonas were sold.

The General Lee, an orange 1969 Charger featured on The Dukes of Hazzard TV show (1979–1985), popularized the car a decade after it left the factory.

1969 Charger Key Differences

A 1969 Dodge Charger has a split front grill which was the only year of this version to do so. Long, rectangular tail lights were used in ‘69 and ‘70, but the 1970 Charger had a front bumper that encircled the grill (which was not divided).

Similar Years

1968 - 1970 Chargers were very similar and used the same body, however differences in their grills and tail lights make it easy to tell them apart.

How to Identify a 1969 Dodge Charger

Overview

• Second year of the second version of the Dodge Charger (1969)
• The 2-door coupe was the only body style made (1968 - 1974)

1969 Charger Grill

• The grill had a central divider which made this year unique (1969)
• Hidden headlights were again standard (1968 - 1970)

1969 Charger Front Bumper

• The chrome front bumper was mounted under the grill (1968 - 1969)

1969 Charger Grill Emblem

• The standard Charger had this emblem mounted on the left side of the front grill (1969)

1969 Charger Grill R/T Emblem

• R/T Chargers had the R/T badge added to the front grill (1968-1970)

1969 Charger Front Side Marker Light

• Front marker lights were now rectangular (1969 - 1970)

1969 Charger Rear Side Marker Light

• Rear marker lights also became rectanbular this year (1969 - 1970)

1969 Charger Rear

• All Dodge Chargers had a blacked-out rear panel (1968 - 1970)
• Rear stripes were optional (1968 - 1970)

1969 Charger Tail Light

• The round tail lights of 1968 were replaced with long, thin rectangular units (1969 - 1970)

1969 Charger Back Up Lights

• Back-up lights were now round and were moved to the valence panel below the rear bumper (1969 - 1970)

1969 Charger Rear Emblem

• Regular Chargers had this emblem on the rear panel (1965-68)

1969 Charger Rear R/T Emblem

• R/T Chargers had only the "R/T" emblem mounted on the rear panel

1969 Charger Vinyl Roof

• A vinyl roof was optional on Chargers (1968 - 1974)

1969 Charger Dash

• The dash was unchanged from the previous year (1968 - 1970)

1969 Charger Seats

• Most Chargers had front bucket seats, though a bench seat was also available (1968 - 1970)

1969 Charger C-Pillar Emblem

• The "Charger" name-plate was mounted on the C-pillar (1968 - 1970)

1969 Charger Fuel Cap

• The pop-open fuel cap now had "FUEL" stamped onto its center (1969 - 1970)

1969 Charger 440 Magnum Engine

• The optional 440 cid Magnum V-8 engine produced 375 horsepower and 480 ft-lbs of torque

1969 Charger Hood Vent

• Turn signal indicators were set into the hood vents (1968 - 1970)

1969 Charger Rear Stripe

• The rear Bumble-Bee stripes were optional
• The stripes were changed to one wide stripe and two narrow stripes (1969 - 1970)

1969 Charger Rear R/T Stripe

• The Bumble-Bee stripes were standard on R/T Chargers but could be deleted (1968 - 1970)
• R/T Chargers had the "R/T" cut out on the side of the stripe (1969)

1969 Charger Rim

• Standard body-colored steel rim with center hubcap

1969 Charger Magnum 500 Wheel

• Optional Magnum 500 wheels in satin finish with trim ring

General Lee Charger

• Probably the most famous 1969 Dodge Charger was the General Lee, the automotive star of the The Dukes of Hazzard TV show from 1979 - 1985

More 1969 Charger Pictures

For more photos of vintage 1969 Chargers, visit the Dodge Charger Gallery at the Muscle Car Jungle.

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