The First Dodge Challenger Came Out in 1959, Not 1970

"ptak appreciates old racecars" (racecarptak) 04/17/2014 at 05:23 • Filed to: car history

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The story of the first "Dodge Challenger".

Much like the Ford Mustang, the Dodge Challenger had its roots before the mid-1960s. The so-called Silver Challenger was produced only for the 1959 model year in a limited edition based on the two-door version of Dodge's Coronet model (which itself goes back to 1949). The Silver Challenger, like all Chrysler Corporation passenger cars, sported Virgil Exner's flashy but elegant "Forward Look" design philosophy.

Even in 1959, the car was marketed towards performance nerds: a three-speed manual was standard (though an automatic was optional), it was offered with two large engines and it was available in only one color: silver. If you want your car to say "high performance", you should offer it either in an overabundance of colors or hardly any at all.

jkm7680 > ptak appreciates old racecars 04/17/2014 at 06:32

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Good article! I enjoyed the read.

JR1 > ptak appreciates old racecars 04/17/2014 at 09:36

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Nothing beats Detroit Iron from the the 1950s. Looks more futuristic than cars from today.

472CID > ptak appreciates old racecars 04/17/2014 at 09:47

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I believe the first stand alone model of the Charger was the often forgotten '66 model.

4 cam torino > ptak appreciates old racecars 04/17/2014 at 09:54

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Much better than this mostly forgotten usage of the Challenger name plate

http://www.allpar.com/model/sapparo.…

Hectic > ptak appreciates old racecars 04/17/2014 at 09:55

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Looks pretty hot from the back, but the front...not so much, (like a few women I know)

cretony38 > ptak appreciates old racecars 04/17/2014 at 09:56

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How could such an awesome car be so rare? I guess they had beige back then too.

Garland - Last Top Comment on Splinter > 472CID 04/17/2014 at 09:58

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People also tend to forget about the first Barracuda, too.

It's a shame the E-bodies were never offered with a fastback.

472CID > Garland - Last Top Comment on Splinter 04/17/2014 at 10:02

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While we're on the topic of forgotten fastbacks there's the AMC Marlin.

'70dime > 472CID 04/17/2014 at 10:06

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This is one of my dream cars.

Earl Snake Hips Tucker > 472CID 04/17/2014 at 10:10

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Oh my God! That fastback is so FASTBACK!!

dogisbadob > Garland - Last Top Comment on Splinter 04/17/2014 at 10:15

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I love that Barracuda!

dogisbadob > ptak appreciates old racecars 04/17/2014 at 10:16

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People forget about the 78 too :(

McPherson > ptak appreciates old racecars 04/17/2014 at 10:17

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Single exhaust? Otherwise, perfect.

Jagvar > 472CID 04/17/2014 at 10:19

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There's a yellow-and-black Marlin that lives on Martha's Vineyard. It's well-known to the locals, and always makes an impression.

4age20vsilvertop > 472CID 04/17/2014 at 10:21

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I believe the Marlin was still sold as a Rambler

madmark2 > McPherson 04/17/2014 at 10:28

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single because of the six banger under hood

TurboGoose > ptak appreciates old racecars 04/17/2014 at 10:37

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Interesting read. I don't think I've ever heard or seen a 59' Challenger in Canada, but I've seen these pop up here and then:

The Mayfair and Viscount were essentially the Canadian versions of the Plymouth Fury and Belvedere; I personally like the Dodges even more because they incorporate some of that beefier look from the Desoto Firedome/Fireflite/Firesweep:

TwinTurbosOfJustice > ptak appreciates old racecars 04/17/2014 at 11:01

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ME ANGRY.

TwinTurbosOfJustice > Earl Snake Hips Tucker 04/17/2014 at 11:02

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Because fastback?

billy-quizboy > ptak appreciates old racecars 04/17/2014 at 11:02

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Anything but anecdotes on the number of people maimed on those tailfins?

From ages ago (before the internet), I remember something about a police horse and a 59 Cadillac.

McPherson > ptak appreciates old racecars 04/17/2014 at 11:03

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A few more pics.

FCV-8311 > ptak appreciates old racecars 04/17/2014 at 11:19

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The front-end styling is just as angry as the refreshed Charger!

IDriveASaabAndNobodyIsToBlame > 472CID 04/17/2014 at 12:44

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That looks nice.

David muscleguy > FCV-8311 04/17/2014 at 12:53

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do you mean this shit?? that ruined my whole day thinking about it:( yes it looks good and i liked it at first but then i was like...why should a charger look like this why??????????

JaredTheGeek > 472CID 04/17/2014 at 12:54

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These are the ones that I love.

JaredTheGeek > Garland - Last Top Comment on Splinter 04/17/2014 at 12:54

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Something about a Barracuda with a slant 6 makes people want to forget.

FCV-8311 > David muscleguy 04/17/2014 at 12:58

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I'm not sure if my previous photograph worked or not, but I actually meant the angry-looking 2006-2010 model.

DagwoodTSRW > 472CID 04/17/2014 at 13:01

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forgotten...and best left there.

Xentron Holy Reaper of Worlds > 4 cam torino 04/17/2014 at 13:05

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YOU SHUT YOUR WHORE MOUTH

That thing was so bad it's amazing.

4 cam torino > Xentron Holy Reaper of Worlds 04/17/2014 at 16:52

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I think more people should be swapping them with old school Chrysler V8s. This also applies to Conquests.

turbo-prius > Garland - Last Top Comment on Splinter 04/17/2014 at 19:25

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I'd like to forget about that.

John Pierce > Hectic 04/18/2014 at 14:02

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1959 Dodge Silver Challenger: business in the front, party in the back!