Mopar cars quickly became history in the making. And their impact, well, that’s bound to last a lifetime. Many would agree the OG Mopars shaped the way we approach high-performance vehicles and American racing entirely. Although the term Mopar is rarely used by drivers nowadays, auto enthusiasts still admire this friendly moniker. Even modern muscle cars carry on the legacy of this iconic brand name. With over 80 years of history, it’s no wonder why these models remain coveted by automotive collectors nationwide. For these reasons, we’ll take our best shot at naming the most beloved Mopar cars ever made.
The most iconic Mopar cars
Before we jump into what the Headlights Depot team considers the creme de la crop of Mopar cars, here are some important facts to know about this emblematic brand:
- Mopar cars are high-performance models developed by the original Chrysler Corporation brands — including Plymouth, Dodge, DeSoto, Ram, Chrysler, and Imperial.
- The term originated from the blending of two words, “Motor” and “Parts”.
- Established in 1937, the Mopar brand was first an antifreeze product company
- Modern Mopar cars fall under the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram lineups
- The Mopar brand continues to develop novel parts for a range of vehicles on the automotive market today.
Here are the Mopar cars that auto enthusiasts, collectors, and racing aficionados can’t get enough of:
1966 Dodge Charger
Haply known as one of the most nostalgic muscle cars in automotive history, the 1966 Dodge Charger is often dubbed as “the car that started it all”. The Charger was first introduced as a fancier counterpart to the already popular Coronet model at the time. Skip to a few years later and the Charger totally took the automotive market by storm. It soon became a flagship Mopar muscle car thanks to its four engine options, bucket seating, and full-length center console from front to rear.
1970 Plymouth Roadrunner
The Plymouth Roadrunner became the ultimate Mopar car for practical reasons. Perhaps there is no other model that rose in popularity quite as quickly during the Mopar era. Upon its release in 1968, the Roadrunner received favorable remarks for its strong performance and complementary price point in comparison to the GTX. Packed with a V-8 engine and top speeds of 131 mph, the 1970 edition brought a refreshed front and rear appearance and cloth and vinyl seating to the interior.
1970 Plymouth Superbird
The Superbird is well liked among auto enthusiasts and professional motorsport competitors. Not to mention, its signature winged back feature has become a collectors keepsake in recent years. With Chrysler’s Hemi V8 engine in tow and a rich history in NASCAR racing, the 1970 Plymouth Superbird remains one of the rarer finds within the automotive market. What’s more, it was the only production year for this Mopar classic.
Want to learn more about the 1970 Plymouth Superbird? Watch Jay Leno take an in-depth look at this Mopar model’s vibrant history.
1955 Chrysler C-300
The Chrysler C-300 had humble beginnings as one of the fastest Mopar cars in production. In its day, the C-300 was the paradigm of luxury and performance in America, offering a 5.4-liter V-8 with up to 300 horsepower. With help of a race-spec camshaft and twin four-barrel carburetors, the 1955 Chrysler C-300 earned its title as one of the first muscle cars to take on the automotive market. As a result, collectors continually search for C-300s in tip-top condition to add to their garage.
1970 Dodge Challenger
Though we barely reference modern muscle cars with the Mopar namesake, the Dodge Challenger remains a timeless component of automotive history. The most distinctive edition to date happens to be the very first: the 1970 Dodge Challenger T/A. Facing tough competition with the Ford Mustang and Chevy Camaro, the 1970 Dodge Challenger had trouble living up to its initial hype. Even with its notorious 340 Six Pack engine. Now, however, most collectors would love to get their hands on an early edition of this Mopar classic. Nothing screams collector item like remembering where it all began.
What is the rarest of Mopar cars?
According to Motortrend, the 1971 Plymouth Hemi ‘Cuda four-speed convertible is the rarest breed of Mopar cars in existence. Apparently only three four-speed manual transmission models were ever made, boosting a 7.0-liter Hemi 426 V-8 engine, 425 horsepower, and remarkable 490 lb-ft of torque. Today, you’ll find it difficult to spend less than a million dollars for a pristine original of any 1971 Plymouth Hemi Cuda vehicle. At car auctions, most sell for well over $1 million dollars, and that’s on the cheap end. It just goes to show how in demand this Mopar classic really is.
Final thoughts on Mopar cars
The Mopar brand continues to innovate the automotive industry. It has evolved into a parts, service, and customer car organization under the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) group, now owned by Stellantis. Under new ownership, the Mopar eponym is ready to take on a new form. Basically, the past has shown us what high-performance vehicles can do. Even more so how they can evolve. Our bet— the trend toward electromobility will soon take Mopar cars into the next century.
Did we miss one of your favorite Mopar cars? Tell us what make or model stole your heart below.