The 1971 Charger was completely restyled thus making it more distinguishable from the coronet. They had a new 115 in. wheelbase, was available as a coupe or a hardtop and you had three different series to choose from. They had full width bumpers, a grille split in the center by a large vertical divider, small trunk spoiler, and six square taillights. You could get a standard Charger, a Charger 500, and a Charger R/T. New was the Charger Super Bee which was a low cost high-performance package. It had all of the standard Charger features plus heavy-duty brakes, heavy-duty shock absorbers, Rallye suspensions, Rallye instrumentation, 3-Speed manual transmission, and a 383-cid V-8 engine.
Dodge Charger SE - SE stands for Special Edition and it's the top-line Charger. All Chargers keep the familiar wedge shape but SEs, 500s and -RTs have tilted taillights. The Dodge Charger features a common 115-in. wheelbase and have a sleeker, rounder look due to more side-glass curvature.
Interesting features on some of the Chrysler cars are a built-in cassette tape player, recorder (with mic) and a headlamp washer.
1971 Dodge Charger Factory Specifications & Production
Model Number
Body/Style Number
Body Type & Seating
Factory Price
Shipping Weight
Total Production
Charger - Six-Cyl
WL
21
2 Dr Coupe
$2,707
3,215 lbs
Note 1
WH
23
2 Dr Hardtop
$2,975
3,325 lbs
Note 1
Charger - V-8
WL
21
2 Dr Coupe
$2,802
3,240 lbs
Note 1
WH
23
2 Dr Hardtop
$3,070
3,350 lbs
Note 1
Charger 500
WP
23
2 Dr Hardtop
$3,223
3,350 lbs
11,948
WP
23
2 Dr Super Bee Hardtop
$3,271
3,640 lbs
5,054
WP
29
2 Dr SE Hardtop
$3,422
3,375 lbs
15,811
Charger R/T
WS
23
2 Dr Hardtop
$3,777
3,685 lbs
3,118
Notes:
The combined production of Models WL21 and WH23 was 46,183.
Additional Charger Super Bee & R/T Information: The "HEMI"
engine was installed into 22 hardtop Super Bees and 63 hardtop
R/Ts. The "440 Six-Pak" was installed into 99 hardtop
Super Bees and 178 hardtop R/Ts.
Chassis Specifications
From 1966 to 1974, the Charger was based on the Chrysler B platform.
Model
Wheelbase
Overall Length
Width
Front Tread
Rear Tread
Tires
Charger 6-Cyl/V-8
115 in
205.4 in
79.1 in
60.1 in
62 in
E78 x 14
Charger R/T & Super Bee
115 in
205.4 in
79.1 in
60.1 in
62 in
F70 x 14
VIN Decoding
Serial Numbers were on the instrument panel, visible thru the windshield, and on the bottom line of a separate plate(fender tag) under the hood.
First Symbol - Car Line
D - Dodge 122"
W - Dodge 117/118"
L - Dart
W - Charger/Coronet
J - Challenger
X - Charger
Second Symbol - Price Class
E - Economy
S - Special
L - Low
X - Fast Top
M - Medium
K - Police
H - High
O - Superstock
P - Premium
T - Taxi
Third & Fourth Symbol - Body Type
21 - 2 Dr. Sedan
41 - 4 Dr. Sedan
23 - 2 Dr. Hardtop
43 - 4 Dr. Hardtop
27 - 2 Dr. Convertible
45 - Station Wagon 2-Seat
29 - 2 Dr. Sports Hardtop
46 - Station Wagon 3-Seat
Fifth Symbol - Engine
(B) 6-198
(N) 8-383
(C) 6-225
(N) 8-383
(E) 6-Special Order
(R) 8-426 HEMI
(G) 8-318
(T) 8-440
(H) 8-340
(U) 8-440
(J) 8-340
(V) 8-440
(L) 8-383
(Z) 8-Special Order
Sixth Symbol - Model Year
6 - 1966
1 - 1971
7 - 1967
2 - 1972
8 - 1968
3 - 1973
9 - 1969
4 - 1974
0 - 1970
5 - 1975
Seventh Symbol - Assembly Plant
(A) Lynch Road, Michigan
(E) Los Angeles, California
(B) Hamtramck, Michigan
(F) Newark, Deleware
(C) Jefferson, Michigan
(G) St. Louis, Missouri
(D) Belvedere, Illinois
(R) Windsor, Ontario, Canada
Last Six Symbols - Production Sequence
Started at 100001
Options & Accessories
Description
Description
Performance Axle Package
4-Speed Manual Transmission
High Performance Axle Package
TorqueFlite Transmission
Track Pak
Air Conditioning
Super Track Pak
Cassette Tape Player & Recorder
440-cid "Six Pack"
Automatic Speed Control
426-cid "HEMI"
Tilt Steering Wheel
Body Color Bumpers
Sun Roof
Power Disc Brakes
Headlight Washers
"TUFF" Steering Wheel
6-Way Bucket Seats
Front & Rear Spoiler
Concealed Headlights
Rear Spoiler
Rear Window Defogger
Ram Charger Hood
Variable Speed Windshield Wipers
Chrome Exhaust Tips
Headlight Delay
Rallye Wheels
AM/FM Stereo Radio
Road Wheels
Upper Level Fresh-Air Ventilation
Wire Wheel Covers
Fender Mounted Turn Signals
Raised White Letter Tires
Music Master Radio
Power Steering
Hood Hold Down Pins
Power Windows
Urethane Painted Bumper Package
Engine Options
Location Of Engine Code: 6-Cyl - Right front of block, below cylinder
head. Small-Block V-8 - Left front of block, below cylinder head. Big-Block
V-8 - Left rear of block, near oil pan flange.
Letter Code
Engine
Horsepower
Torque
Transmission
Carburetor
B
6-198
125
180
TorqueFlite, 3-Speed Manual
1 BC
C
6-225
145
215
TorqueFlite, 3-Speed Manual
1 BC
E
6-Special Order
Not Available
Not Available
TorqueFlite, 3-Speed Manual
Not Available
G
8-318
230
320
TorqueFlite, 3 & 4-Speed Manual
2 BC
H
8-340
275
340
TorqueFlite, 3 & 4-Speed Manual
4 BC
J
8-340
290
345
TorqueFlite, 3 & 4-Speed Manual
3 - 2 BC
K
8-360
255
360
TorqueFlite, 3 & 4-Speed Manual
2 BC
L
8-383
290
390
TorqueFlite
2 BC
N
8-383
330
425
TorqueFlite, 3 & 4-Speed Manual
4 BC
N
8-383 *
335
425
TorqueFlite, 3 & 4-Speed Manual
4 BC
R
8-426 HEMI
425
490
TorqueFlite, 3 & 4-Speed Manual
4 BC
T
8-440
350
480
TorqueFlite, 3 & 4-Speed Manual
4 BC
U
8-440 *
375
480
TorqueFlite, 3 & 4-Speed Manual
4 BC
V
8-440
390
480
TorqueFlite, 3 & 4-Speed Manual
3 - 2 BC
Z
8-Special Order
Not Available
Not Available
TorqueFlite, 3 & 4-Speed Manual
Not Available
Available Transmissions
Transmission
Location
TorqueFlite
Stamped on the transmission oil pan rail.
3-Speed Manual
Not Available
4-Speed Manual
Not Available
Identification Number
Transmission Type
3535804
TorqueFlite
3515806
TorqueFlite
3515841
TorqueFlite
3515842
TorqueFlite
3515843
TorqueFlite
3515844
TorqueFlite
3515845
TorqueFlite
3515846
TorqueFlite
3515847
TorqueFlite
3515848
TorqueFlite
3515849
TorqueFlite
3515850
TorqueFlite
3515851
TorqueFlite
3515852
TorqueFlite
Axle Decoding
Location Of Axle Codes: A metal tag is bolted to the assembly, giving the axle ratio or tooth count (if tooth count - divide the larger number by the smaller number, this is the ratio.) Locking axles have a metal tag with the letter "S" on it.
Note: Since tags can easily be missing, the approximate ratio can be determined by marking both the a wheel and the driveshaft; turn the wheel one complete turn and the number of times the driveshaft rotates is the ratio. Locking axles can be identified by raising the complete axle assembly and turning one wheel; if the other wheel turns the the same direction it is a locking axle and if it turns the opposite direction it is a non-locking axle.
Charger Axle Ratios
Engine
6-225
8-318
8-340
8-383
8-426
8-440
Locking / Non-Locking
L
NL
L
NL
L
NL
L
NL
L
NL
L
NL
Ratio
2.45
x
2.71
x
2.76
x
x
x
2.93
x
2.94
x
x
x
x
x
x
3.21
x
3.23
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
3.54
x
x
3.55
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
3.91
x
x
4.10
x
x
x
Interior and Exterior Paint Chips
1971 Dodge Exterior Paint Codes.
The first Paint Code identifies the roof or accent color. The second
Paint Code identifies the body color. (For example, the combination
X9-B2 on a Dodge would indicate the roof or accent area is in Black
and the body is finished in Light Blue Metallic.) Paint code plates
are located in the engine compartment on the left wheel housing,
the fender side shield, or the radiator yoke.
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