VIDEO: Rebadge-O-Rama - The '75 Dodge Charger
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.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Dr. Woo 11:58AM (10/23/2006)
Makes the present-model Charger seem absolutely genuine, doesn't it?
Reply
Ryan 12:13PM (10/23/2006)
"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
Reply
Tool 12:22PM (10/23/2006)
Wow, look at that crazy paint job. It looks like it is glowing. Too bad it doesn't have corinthian leather.
Reply
WillTheThrill 12:31PM (10/23/2006)
I LOVE GOOOOOOOOLD!!!
Reply
piglet 12:30PM (10/23/2006)
...still, it's better than the mid 80's steaming pile of @#$%. How 'bout the Mitsu-built Challenger too?
Reply
tbss_in_the_D 12:39PM (10/23/2006)
Fine American steel! What a great car!
Reply
Christopher Groves 1:01PM (10/23/2006)
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!
Reply
Rocket Punch 1:18PM (10/23/2006)
Can you say retro celebrity death match?
Reply
Seabass 1:23PM (10/23/2006)
IT EVEN HAS A DIGITAL CLOCK.
Reply
epp_b 1:29PM (10/23/2006)
I couldn't even watch that ad, it was just too lame.
Reply
Andrew Chatman 1:44PM (10/23/2006)
Slutty flat-chested chicks and a butt-ugly car!!!!
What a deal!!!!
Reply
Snot 2:14PM (10/23/2006)
The "Cordoba Charger" is about as authentic to the real Charger as the current model is... I.e. not at all.
Reply
Rich 3:44PM (10/23/2006)
The '75 and the current car are still ALOT better than the Chargers of the 80's. Even Shelby couldnt make the Omni cool!
Reply
Andy 5:33PM (10/23/2006)
1975 was the year the Charger died...up there with the '73 GTO.
Reply
DudeinDetroit 9:45AM (10/24/2006)
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.
Reply
Snot 10:28PM (10/23/2006)
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".
Reply
BOB 2:32AM (10/24/2006)
,,,,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.
Reply