Surely the very archetype of the American muscle car, the Dodge Charger burst onto the scene midway through 1966 as the “Leader of the Dodge Rebellion.” The sharp and stylish first generation gave way in 1968 to the more aggressive second generation, which was immediately immortalised in the villains’ car in the Steve McQueen film Bullitt .

Other starring rôles followed in Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry (1974) and the television series The Dukes of Hazzard (1979-85).

Less well-remembered, but by no means less worthy, the third generation took over for 1971, with its distinctive “fuselage” body shell further exaggerating the Charger’s sinewy styling.

What the three generations all had in common was access to some of the largest, most prodigious and rip-roaring engines ever inserted into a production automobile.

Since 1968, the Charger’s performance flagship had been the R/T model, but increasing insurance costs affected its sales, and 1971 was its last year.

At the same time, federal legi...