Behind the Wheel: 1971 Chrysler E38 Charger RT

Рет қаралды 5,468

Күн бұрын

Chrysler created the Valiant Charger in 1971 with the E38 series, and the 'Big Three' of Australian car production all competed on the country's biggest stage - Bathurst - with the models that would define an era: Ford's Phase III Falcon GTHO, Holden's LC Torana GTR XU-1 and Chrysler's Charger R/T. Ford dominated that race (with Moffatt taking the win), but Geoghegan's run with the Charger finished with a respectable 7th place (just in front of a certain Peter Brock).
This exact vehicle was one of 4 prepared for the race but not used at Bathurst. It was crashed at the Phillip Island 500 later in the year and thankfully fixed and converted for road use rather than be crushed (a common fate for motorsports cars that suffered bad crashes). The National Motor Museum acquired it by purchase in the 1990s and it is now one of our rarest and most admired collection objects. Nostalgic for the 70s Australian Touring Car Championship now?

Пікірлер: 31

@RaiderX948 4 ай бұрын

Love the Aussie Muscle, great cars.

@petergiourelas3753 2 жыл бұрын

Best car of the 7os

@rosskelly8268 8 ай бұрын

Amazing interior! By the way, the triple carbs were actually standard equipment on the E38. And the 4-speed manual is almost standard.... Yes, the VH series R/T had a 3-speed at the start of the model run, but a 4-speed became available in the later stages of the VH series. And even that cam sounds A LOT like real cam of a Bathurst-spec Charger. In other words, that car is the real deal and in spectacular condition - despite not having matching numbers after being recycled from spares after a race crash by none other than the works Chrysler team.

@garymcphee8284 2 жыл бұрын

The E38 R/T (road and track) came out with Weber carbies from the factory. It was called the 6 pack.

@ldnwholesale8552 9 ай бұрын

RT was the basis of the six packs. Engine progression was 218hp 2bbl[std 265 was about 200hp] , then the E37 with webers, then the E38 and at the end the E48 with 4 speed

@petergiourelas3753 2 жыл бұрын

Good to see this old charger is being looked after

@timx3680 2 жыл бұрын

Not Charger-specific but don’t forget on VG there was also an ex-factory overbored 250 cid Hemi variant available on the Track Pack Pacers

@ldnwholesale8552 9 ай бұрын

Some 6 packs were 272!

@GSO-Rob 8 ай бұрын

Love it we had an all black Royal growing up, I had a VJ 318 charger 1973 sky blue which was stolen after a few years and never seen again

@darryllspalding9680 9 ай бұрын

245?

@ldnwholesale8552 9 ай бұрын

IF this is the car I think it is it is a replica of the factory racecar. 71VH 6 pack was the E37 engine, a Pacer/ 770/ base RT engine with the 45s.And the headers. People seem to forget the 'normal' RT, 218hp all the stripes etc. A half decent and cheap sporty car. With more expensive insurance! And do not forget the most common hemi, the 245, used in a LOT of family cars, utes and trucks.By VJ they also got 2bbl carbs The E38 was a far better [and expensive] engine with handpicked blocks, good pistons [for the period] better balancer plus some headwork and a cam to suit. Plus the 45s with bigger chokes and jetted accordingly. They were never rumpy lumpy. Around 275hp. These were coupled with an improved clutch and a close ratio THREE speed gearbox. When you are number 3 number two [Ford] gets the 4 speeds first!!. The VH E49 was 302hp, the engine was more developed and finally got a semi close ratio 4 speed. Different ratios to any Ford gearbox. The Charger owed nothing the Chrysler by Chrysler coupe which was not released until 72. Entirely different Valiant with the Charger only short wheelbase. Different from the firewall back. And it had nothing to do with VGs either. The test mules were a VG ute with a special short wheelbase. Back wheels well forward in the wheel wells. I saw these vehicles in period

@coolhand1964 Ай бұрын

I owned several Chargers (VH, VJ, CL etc) and Pacers back in the day. 6's, V8's as well as Regal Hardtops and later a 4spd CM GLX. One of the VH Chargers was ex-police with the 'K12' engine option and a 727 transmission hooked up to the 265 engine instead of the standard 904. Opinion is divided on what was actually done to these engines, but I firmly believe that the car had an E38 optioned engine with a 2 barrel carter carburettor, because compared to every other 6 cylinder I owned, this car went like stink!

@jimmartin9704 3 ай бұрын

About the only thing that represents the 1971 race car is the paint work and stickers

@karlklein9557 2 жыл бұрын

Are U kidding, he's trying to say the hemi 6 came in to versions- the 215 & the 265?!? The most common hemi was actually the 245 hemi. He's put a 4speed into a 3speed car & claims it's a RT E38 Track Pack?!! I'm a Mopar enthusiast & worked at Todd Motors Auckland NZ & I know this bloke has thrown a replica at best & all I can say is - any enthusiast would acknowledge that this guy is talking from not the mouth. . Deadset?!?!

@Eric-kn4yn Ай бұрын

215 hemi in VJ 1974 sedan underpowered horrible.

@7s29 Жыл бұрын

This charger is a coupe, not a hardtop. The difference being, a hardtop has wind down rear passenger windows, a coupe has fixed or pivot windows.

@rossbrumby1957 2 жыл бұрын

Nobody ever called them road track. Couldn't have had 2 guys less informed about aussie chryslers do a video on them.

@karlklein9557 2 жыл бұрын

Dead right bro, these guys (who did the video) couldn't be more less informed than anyone. I'm an enthusiast & I find that offensive...

@darryllspalding9680 9 ай бұрын

so what does r/t mean according to you two professors?

@johnmellon379 8 ай бұрын

Road/track. The 2 professors are typical cynics. Pick everyone else's mistakes ...

@coolhand1964 3 ай бұрын

He was incorrect referring to it as the only 2 door, there was a 2 door saloon released on the 4 door wheelbase. Very rare to see one today, but plenty of pics on the interweb. There was also a short lived 4 door 'Pacer' that had a lot of the R/T's go fast parts on it, however the interest in the Chargers was so great production did not last long. I owned them all in my youthful years back in the day, when they were known as 'wog chariots' and everyone made fun of me. I wish I owned them all now. I cry when I see the prices they command. Fun fact: I sold a CM GLX 4 speed manual to Leo Geohagan in the early 90's. We had a long chat about the development of the Charger, racing at Bathurst, and I had just purchased a newly released book called 'Spotlight on Valiant Charger' which he took the time to go through and provide anecdotes on a lot of the pictures it contained. He truly was one of natures gentlemen to give so much of his time to a wide eyed 25 yr old and became quite humble when I said he had been my racing hero since my earliest memories from the late 60's of the Australian Touring Car Championship TV telecasts. He was adamant that he should have won Bathurst in 1972, but coupled with a faulty earth cable to the starter motor, stated that Ford and Holden cheated and used bigger than factory brakes. I have no reason to doubt that claim, after all, he was there. 👍🇦🇺

@phillipstout3494 9 ай бұрын

A real collector item.... Equal to a GTHO....

@ldnwholesale8552 9 ай бұрын

E49, faster over the quarter. But not near as good for road racing. And with near a 100hp less it would never be. Though they did a decent job and those wide? 14x7 ROH wheels were better than what Ford had in 71

@Eric-kn4yn Ай бұрын

VJ sedan 1974 215 hemi underpowered horrible

@Eric-kn4yn 10 ай бұрын

VH charger had power brake booster ??

@coolhand1964 Ай бұрын

The booster was not used in the VH race Chargers, they believed that the brakes had a better 'feel' without it. On earlier models of Valiant the booster was remotely located on the passenger side of the engine bay, due to the US heritage of the car bodies. Then by the VG this was overcome with a bracket that placed the booster well to the right away from the V8 engines, with the non slant 215 and 245 Hemi it was no longer an issue. I owned them all back in the day.

@Eric-kn4yn Ай бұрын

@@coolhand1964 yes guy who raced pacers VG bathurst said no pwr booster minimized lockup of brakes before ABS.