Get the Best Priced Dodge Neon Parts

The Dodge Charger is a muscular and speedy vehicle that is favored by state patrol agencies for just those reasons. The most recent models come with a choice of three high-powered V8 engines, ranging in size from 5.7 liters to 6.4 - including a supercharged version that puts out a whopping 707 horses. Combine that with an 8-speed automatic, and you have a latter-day muscle car that will take nearly anything on the road.

The Dodge Charger's beginnings were inauspicious. The model came out in 1966 in response to the Ford Mustang and the Chevrolet Camaro. Although the early Dodge Charger is a sought-after collector car these days, it wasn't a particularly big seller when it first came out. Admittedly, it was a bit limited; althoughthe base model featured a 318 cubic inch V8, the only transmission available was a three-speed manual. After some redesigning for the 1968 model year, the vehicle began to catch on with the public. However, the power train remained unchanged from the previous generation. It didn't do well at NASCAR and other stock racing events.

The next major change came in the mid-1970s, when Dodge's quintessential "muscle car" was transformed into a personal luxury two-door. Gone was much of the sleek, speedy styling; Chargers built between 1975 and 1978 looked more like something a high-paid business executive (or an organized crime boss) would drive. Nonetheless, it had a certain appeal for those in the luxury car market.

In the 1980s, the Charger shrunk to a subcompact - essentially, a Dodge Omni with a slightly larger engine. That engine was a 2.2 liter four-banger with a five-speed manual or three-speed automatic trans (the manual shift model had a turbocharger). It was economical, but that "muscle car" thrill was gone.

The Dodge Charger started getting back to its roots in the 21st Century. Since 2006, the Charger has again gotten larger and more powerful, resembling its competitors, the Mustang and Camaro. The R/T ("Road/Track") edition came with a massive 5.7 liter V8 hemi and five-speed automatic transmission. When cruising at highway speeds, a multiple-displacement system shuts down four of the cylinders in order to save on fuel. Other options included a 322-watt stereo, built-in GPS, sunroof and a DVD video system for back seat passengers.

The seventh-generation Charger, introduced in 2011, has a newer exterior design and several interior upgrades. One complaint about past models that has been addressed in the most recent models is visibility, which has been improved by 33%. Lighting has been improved with LED headlights and a single taillight that stretches almost the entire length of the rear bumper.

Situations that may have one looking through the Dodge Charge parts catalog are alternator failure at around 53,000 miles, and engine failure at between 80,000 and 94,000 miles. Engine failures are most common with the 2006 and 2008 models. Those who are thinking about purchasing a vintage Dodge Charger from the 1960s will be glad to know that Dodge Charger restoration parts are easily available.