Why was 1971 the only year?

[amcmike]

Since I finally have a source that may know the answer here it goes...

Why did they switch to a quad lamp system in 1971 for Cudas, and then go back?  Personally I am a little partial to the front ends, so I have always wondered what drove the return of the dual lamp system?

[bb71challenger]

I think it is a general consensus that they got way too busy with the grille, the quad lamps, the gills, the huge billboard stripe and sales suffered severely compared to 70 although insurance premiums can be blamed for some of the sales decline. The same reason they didnt sell then is the reason they are so sought after today, ironic isnt it?

[willhaven]

I used to hate the quad lights, grille and gills... now I love them.

I think it's because I used to like the no grille look of the 68 Charger, and liked the 70 AAR Cuda because the grille was black and looked like it wasn't there.

Now I really think the 71 grille looks very aggressive with the right color combo.

[MEK-Dangerfield]

They went to the quad lamps, because they knew Challenger's ruled.     



  Mike

[Mt.St.BigBlock]

Hi, MEK is not too far off from what I've read. The quad lamp barracuda was
killed off by management because the boys on the Dodge side of the Mopar house
didn't like that the 71 Cuda's were looking too much like the Challenger. Thought
it was causing confusion among the buying public. So back to dual lamps for 72!
True?   Jeff

[Jacksboys]

They went to the quad lamps, because they knew Challenger's ruled.     



  Mike

[amcmike]

Ut oh.  What did I start here?   

[Jacksboys]

Ut oh.  What did I start here?  

It is all in good fun.   

Just to let you know, everyone usually picks on MEK, he loves the attention.

[HP2]

They went to quad lamp set up to mix the look up to create a more unified look in the line up in E bodies. The press shredded it on reviews ands sales tanked compared to 70. Even the public hated the 71 cuda as cartoonish and over done. It was this backlash that has made them so rare, and combined with the termination of the big block line up for 72, has made them highly desireable now, despite STILL being ugly.

[FM3V6M]

The styling changes were not well recieved by the public, in particular they hated the gills, made them look like a Buick; only Buicks had gills back then.

[6pkrunner]

I've read quite a few articles over the years and the consensus that it was too busy. The cheese grater grill with the quad lamps and fender gills and the billboards were not well received in 1971. Quite a change from today's point of view.

[4Cruizn]

I think they are SSSSHHHAAAWWEEEEEEEEEEEETT!!                       

[willhaven]

Yeah, the 71 definitely tells subtlety to go F itself.

[72Chall77Doba]

I was around back then and my second new car was a 71 chally, blue with a white top and interior AND a powered sunroof.
When I traded it in back in 1977, to me it was a 6 year old piece of crapola.
What an idiot I am.
But I remember it, the quads, as strictly a new year model freshening up, as some thing had to change to distinguish it from the 70 model. Detroit always made some year to year changes or why buy a new model when it's the same as a previous years model.

HP2 posted a reference to being cartoonish.
Back then I remember thinking that very thing about the daytona's towel rack spoiler.

[DoNotChallengeHer]

They went to the quad lamps, because they knew Challenger's ruled.     



  Mike

OMG, for once I agree with MEK.