After taking this weekend's walk down memory lane with the Ricardo Montalban ad for the Chrysler Cordoba, we now bring you the flipside of that particular spot. When the Cordoba was released, Dodge got a rebadged version that took over the Charger nameplate from the sporty muscle machines that preceded it. In print campaigns, Dodge touted the car as the "first luxury Charger." I'm guessing that Charger fans felt completely betrayed by this one. And who can really blame them.
Why anyone would choose this warmed-over Cordoba over the real thing -- with its tour de force marketing campaign (still memorable 30 years later), and Chrysler's established luxury creds -- is a complete mystery.
Compare the Cordoba ad to the less-than-scintillating TV spot for the 1975 Charger starring actress Jennifer O'Neill. (Fun stuff: Note the rotating turntable the car's sitting on, made to look like it's grass.) This is a Dodge Charger?
The slogan was "You'll love the change we made." Yeah, right. The Cordoba was the introduction of something new, whereas the '75 Charger represented the demise of a storied name.
Watch it after the jump, and while you're there, check out a copy of one of the car's print ads.
1975 Charger Special Edition photo via NZ Mopar Registry.
[Source: YouTube]
1975 Dodge Charger Special Edition print campaign:
Click to enlarge
'75 Charger print ad via Lee Herman's Mopar Page.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Dr. Woo @ Oct 23rd 2006 11:58AM
Makes the present-model Charger seem absolutely genuine, doesn't it?
Ryan @ Oct 23rd 2006 12:13PM
"I'm guessing that Charger fans felt completely betrayed by this one. And who can really blame them."
-Well history repetes itself at Dodge apparantly.
"The new Charger might be fast, but it certainly needs it because it is no beauty, in fact it’s downright ugly"
-Car AND Driver TV-2005
Tool @ Oct 23rd 2006 12:22PM
Wow, look at that crazy paint job. It looks like it is glowing. Too bad it doesn't have corinthian leather.
piglet @ Oct 23rd 2006 12:30PM
...still, it's better than the mid 80's steaming pile of @#$%. How 'bout the Mitsu-built Challenger too?
WillTheThrill @ Oct 23rd 2006 12:31PM
I LOVE GOOOOOOOOLD!!!
tbss_in_the_D @ Oct 23rd 2006 12:39PM
Fine American steel! What a great car!
Christopher Groves @ Oct 23rd 2006 1:01PM
Then again in 77 they changed the name of this car to "magnum" new grill and see through hide away headlights packed with a 4bbl 360 this car was awsome for its time!
Rocket Punch @ Oct 23rd 2006 1:18PM
Can you say retro celebrity death match?
Seabass @ Oct 23rd 2006 1:23PM
IT EVEN HAS A DIGITAL CLOCK.
epp_b @ Oct 23rd 2006 1:29PM
I couldn't even watch that ad, it was just too lame.
Andrew Chatman @ Oct 23rd 2006 1:44PM
Slutty flat-chested chicks and a butt-ugly car!!!!
What a deal!!!!
Snot @ Oct 23rd 2006 2:14PM
The "Cordoba Charger" is about as authentic to the real Charger as the current model is... I.e. not at all.
Rich @ Oct 23rd 2006 3:44PM
The '75 and the current car are still ALOT better than the Chargers of the 80's. Even Shelby couldnt make the Omni cool!
Andy @ Oct 23rd 2006 5:33PM
1975 was the year the Charger died...up there with the '73 GTO.
Snot @ Oct 23rd 2006 10:28PM
Rich, have to disagree on the Omni. The Omni GLH is a pocket rocket that still scares the hell out of people. Current "Charger" could give it a run for the money, but this frickin' Cordoba P.O.S. couldn't even get out of the gates. What a turd.
The Chrysler turbo-4 is legendary among speed freaks (hi). Just google "12-second minivan".
BOB @ Oct 24th 2006 2:32AM
,,,,the '75 Charger represented the demise of a storied name. NO THEY HAD KILLED IT ALREADY WITH BAD MODELS, AND YOU ARE FORGETTING THAT EMISSIONS CONTROLS MADE ALMOST ALL CARS GUTLESS, SO SELLING LUXURY WAS MORE AVAILABLE THAN SELLING PERFORMANCE.
DudeinDetroit @ Oct 24th 2006 9:45AM
HAAAAAAAAAAAAA! What a cheesy ass ad! The flat chested babe was hot though. Fake grass turntable. I thought this was a Saturday Nite Live spoof!
By the way, I still hate Dodge products.