2nd generation Charger praise

"By 1968, the entire lineup of Chrysler's mid-size cars was restyled. But the Charger, Dodge's 'sport coupe' of the time, was the year's clear hit. Making almost as much noise as today's PT Cruiser, it was a smashing success."
Mopar Now! #14, "Dodge's R/T: Not as New as You Think!", 2000, p. 78
The 1969 Dodge Charger clocked in at #4 on this list:
"Thanks to its starring role outrunning dimwit cops on The Dukes of Hazzard and in great car chase movies like Bullitt, the Dodge Charger came to epitomize masculinity for a generation of teens. It wasn't the first muscle car, but it remains undeniably one of the best."
Stuff, "The 25 Greatest Cars of All Time", November/December 1998, p.86
"Automotive historians have labeled the 1968 to 1970 Charger as one the best designs ever offered from a Detroit auto manufacturer."
MoPerformance, "Classic Chariot 1969 Dodge Charger RT-SE", p. 49
"No matter what power combination the 1968 Charger had, the fact remains that its striking appearance epitomizes the muscle car era and, in '60s jargon, 'tells it like it is.' Like an artist who conveys an impression on canvas, the Charger makes its statement as a rolling sculpture. As an artistic expression of its times, the 1968 Charger has no equal."
Chrysler Power, "The Clean Machine", p. 9
"Writers and reviewers have always waxed eloquently about the 1968 to 1970 Chargers. There is no arguing that the design is one of the best embodiments of the performance image."
Muscle Cars of the '60s/'70s, "Coke Bottle Charger", p. 62
"It's safe to say that Dodge was right on the money with the restyled 1968 Charger. The styling was not just great, but exciting. Without a doubt, it was the best thing to come out of Chrysler styling studios during the 1960s."
Muscle Cars, "Red Elephant", January 1991, p. 40
"After only two years, the first-generation Charger was put out to pasture. In its place, a styling benchmark for Chrysler appeared. From the conservatives at Chrysler came a looker like no other."
High Performance Mopar, "Feverish", January 1993, p. 38
"With its distinctive 'double diamond' shape, aggressive stance and sensuous beltline, the 1968 Dodge Charger grew out of Chrysler's Dodge design studio early in 1965 and emerged as one of the decade's most successful automobiles. Not only was it successful as a design statement, it astounded Chrysler executives with sales nearly five times those of previous model years. Even today, the Charger not only remains one of the most sought-after additions to many significant collections, but it still stirs the hearts of contemporary high school kids and backyard restoration hobbyists. The fact that the Charger has maintained this wide appeal decades after its introduction is a tribute to a team of designers, modelers, and managers who were willing to take a chance."
High Performance Mopar, "Designing a Legend", January 1993, p. 43
"When the name 'Charger' is ever brought up in the auto enthusiast's circle, it is the second generation design that is etched in their minds. It is probably the most recognizable intermediate car design ever offered by a Detroit auto manufacturer. The second generation Dodge Charger is truly a classic design, that still looks as fresh today as the day it first rolled off the designers' pen and the assembly line."
MoPerformance, "Gen II Charger Design", p. 26
"For '68, the Dodge Charger received a total restyle, resulting in one of the best looking cars to come down the pike."
Car Craft, "Mo-Power", July 1984, p. 34
"1968 Charger R/T: A great looking car today. I couldn't believe it was a Dodge. Coke-bottle, tunnel-back styling is fabulous."
Collectible Automobile, "Ten Best Cars of the Sixties", p. 34
"The Charger now slipped on the road with a new, low shape. As a totally new car, the Charger shed its fastback concept and looked more like a Mach 2 jet on wheels."
Charger: a Source Book, Samuel A. Shields, p. 31
"1968 external changes were major, resulting in a completely restyled Charger which was among the best-looking Dodge cars of the entire decade."
Muscle Cars, Richard Nichols, p. 98
"Most significant was the redesigned Dodge Charger, debuting in 1968. This was the best-looking car to come out of the Chrysler styling studios in the 1960s, and was, arguably, the quintessential muscle car."
Muscle Car Greats, Peter Sessler, p. 29
"Completely restyled for 1968, the new Charger went from a fastback body style to a semi-fastback style, which produced one of the best looking Dodge models ever built."
Standard Catalog of American Cars 1946-1975, John A. Gunnell, p. 295

or this:

"The 1969 Charger contiued to use the beautifully styled body introduced with the 1968 models. "
Standard Catalog of American Cars 1946-1975, John A. Gunnell, p. 297

"Imagine, therefore, our surprise--again pleasant--when we saw Dodge's new Charger. The designers that we'd imagined were worn out have not only achieved far more than a face-lift, they have easily surpassed the mark of excellence set less than a year ago (by the '67 Plymouth Barracuda).
"The only 1968 car which comes close to challenging the new Charger for styling accolades is the new Corvette, which is remarkably similar to the Charger, particularly when viewed from the rear quarter. But, we give the honors to the Charger for several reasons. First, the Corvette, being a smaller car in both seating capacity and wheelbase, has a much easier time attaining the desired sporty image. ... While the Charger is a vast improvement over its predecessor, the 1968 Corvette is anticlimatic after the Mako Shark show cars which proceeded it."
Car and Driver, November 1967
"The 1968 Charger remains a splendid performance styling statement--one of the best-looking muscle cars of the sixties."
Mighty Mopars 1960-1974, Anthony Young, p. 58

or this:

"The result of this unbridled enthusiasm and attention to detail was and still is an aesthetic triumph. It was successful because the original design platform was adhered to. There were no abrupt changes in the sheetmetal. The design was literally smooth and consistent from nose to tail. Car and Driver has this to say about the '68 Charger: '...the new Charger is beautiful. It looks like a real racer. It's all guts and purpose, and--unlike the Mako Shark-inspired '68 Corvette, it's completely fresh and unexpected.' Bill Brownlie was right on the money."
Mighty Mopars 1960-1974, Anthony Young, p. 60

Couldn't've said it better myself.

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