Car Model History

Fourth generation · Personal-luxury B-body · 1975–1978

1976Dodge Charger

Repositioned as a personal-luxury coupe — sharing its body with the Chrysler Cordoba — with formal styling, opera windows, and plush trim rather than performance. The B-body Charger ended after 1978.

Fourth generation · Personal-luxury B-body

1976 Dodge Charger — personal-luxury B-body coupe, front three-quarter view

Photo: “'76 Dodge Charger (Rassemblement Mopar Valleyfield '10)” by Bull-Doser / Wikimedia Commons — Public domain. Cropped to 16:9.

Quick facts

Engines
7offered225 cu in Slant Six, 1-barrel → 400 cu in high-performance V8, 4-barrel
Top output
240hp400 cu in high-performance V8, 4-barrel

Body styles2-door hardtop (Charger and Sport) · 2-door pillared hardtop (SE and Daytona)

Start here

What do you need to know?

This page covers the whole 1976 Dodge Charger model year. Choose your task first; exact trims and engines are separated where the factory offered different versions.

Documented lineup

Find your exact 1976 Charger

Start with a family, body style, or engine. Every card opens the facts and maintenance information for that factory version.

23factory configurations
Exact factory pairings documentedHow this lineup was verified

These source-backed records identify published body, engine, and transmission combinations. Exact pairings do not by themselves assert that every factory option or special edition is represented.

23versions shown
Two-door hardtop

Dodge Charger 225 Slant Six

Body
Two-door hardtop
Engine
225 cu in Slant Six, 1-barrel carburetor (100 net hp / 170 lb-ft)
Gearbox
3-speed manual or TorqueFlite automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-door hardtop

Dodge Charger 318 V8

Body
Two-door hardtop
Engine
318 cu in LA V8, 2-barrel carburetor (150 net hp / 255 lb-ft)
Gearbox
3-speed manual or TorqueFlite automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-door hardtop

Dodge Charger 360 2-barrel V8

Body
Two-door hardtop
Engine
360 cu in LA V8, 2-barrel carburetor (170 net hp / 280 lb-ft)
Gearbox
TorqueFlite automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-door hardtop

Dodge Charger 360 4-barrel V8

Body
Two-door hardtop
Engine
360 cu in LA V8, 4-barrel carburetor (175 net hp / 270 lb-ft)
Gearbox
TorqueFlite automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-door hardtop

Dodge Charger Sport 225 Slant Six

Body
Two-door hardtop
Engine
225 cu in Slant Six, 1-barrel carburetor (100 net hp / 170 lb-ft)
Gearbox
3-speed manual or TorqueFlite automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-door hardtop

Dodge Charger Sport 318 V8

Body
Two-door hardtop
Engine
318 cu in LA V8, 2-barrel carburetor (150 net hp / 255 lb-ft)
Gearbox
3-speed manual or TorqueFlite automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-door hardtop

Dodge Charger Sport 360 2-barrel V8

Body
Two-door hardtop
Engine
360 cu in LA V8, 2-barrel carburetor (170 net hp / 280 lb-ft)
Gearbox
TorqueFlite automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-door hardtop

Dodge Charger Sport 360 4-barrel V8

Body
Two-door hardtop
Engine
360 cu in LA V8, 4-barrel carburetor (175 net hp / 270 lb-ft)
Gearbox
TorqueFlite automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-door hardtop

Dodge Charger Sport 400 2-barrel V8

Body
Two-door hardtop
Engine
400 cu in B-series V8, 2-barrel carburetor (175 net hp / 300 lb-ft)
Gearbox
TorqueFlite automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-door hardtop

Dodge Charger Sport 400 4-barrel V8

Body
Two-door hardtop
Engine
400 cu in B-series V8, 4-barrel carburetor (210 net hp / 305 lb-ft)
Gearbox
TorqueFlite automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-door hardtop

Dodge Charger Sport 400 High Performance V8

Body
Two-door hardtop
Engine
400 cu in high-performance V8, 4-barrel carburetor with dual exhaust (240 net hp / 325 lb-ft)
Gearbox
TorqueFlite automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-door pillared hardtop

Dodge Charger SE 318 V8

Body
Two-door pillared hardtop
Engine
318 cu in LA V8, 2-barrel carburetor (150 net hp / 255 lb-ft)
Gearbox
TorqueFlite automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-door pillared hardtop

Dodge Charger SE 360 2-barrel V8

Body
Two-door pillared hardtop
Engine
360 cu in LA V8, 2-barrel carburetor (170 net hp / 280 lb-ft)
Gearbox
TorqueFlite automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-door pillared hardtop

Dodge Charger SE 360 4-barrel V8

Body
Two-door pillared hardtop
Engine
360 cu in LA V8, 4-barrel carburetor (175 net hp / 270 lb-ft)
Gearbox
TorqueFlite automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-door pillared hardtop

Dodge Charger SE 400 2-barrel V8

Body
Two-door pillared hardtop
Engine
400 cu in B-series V8, 2-barrel carburetor (175 net hp / 300 lb-ft)
Gearbox
TorqueFlite automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-door pillared hardtop

Dodge Charger SE 400 4-barrel V8

Body
Two-door pillared hardtop
Engine
400 cu in B-series V8, 4-barrel carburetor (210 net hp / 305 lb-ft)
Gearbox
TorqueFlite automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-door pillared hardtop

Dodge Charger SE 400 High Performance V8

Body
Two-door pillared hardtop
Engine
400 cu in high-performance V8, 4-barrel carburetor with dual exhaust (240 net hp / 325 lb-ft)
Gearbox
TorqueFlite automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-door pillared hardtopA57 Daytona package

Dodge Charger Daytona 318 V8

Body
Two-door pillared hardtop
Engine
318 cu in LA V8, 2-barrel carburetor (150 net hp / 255 lb-ft)
Gearbox
TorqueFlite automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-door pillared hardtopA57 Daytona package

Dodge Charger Daytona 360 2-barrel V8

Body
Two-door pillared hardtop
Engine
360 cu in LA V8, 2-barrel carburetor (170 net hp / 280 lb-ft)
Gearbox
TorqueFlite automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-door pillared hardtopA57 Daytona package

Dodge Charger Daytona 360 4-barrel V8

Body
Two-door pillared hardtop
Engine
360 cu in LA V8, 4-barrel carburetor (175 net hp / 270 lb-ft)
Gearbox
TorqueFlite automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-door pillared hardtopA57 Daytona package

Dodge Charger Daytona 400 2-barrel V8

Body
Two-door pillared hardtop
Engine
400 cu in B-series V8, 2-barrel carburetor (175 net hp / 300 lb-ft)
Gearbox
TorqueFlite automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-door pillared hardtopA57 Daytona package

Dodge Charger Daytona 400 4-barrel V8

Body
Two-door pillared hardtop
Engine
400 cu in B-series V8, 4-barrel carburetor (210 net hp / 305 lb-ft)
Gearbox
TorqueFlite automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Two-door pillared hardtopA57 Daytona package

Dodge Charger Daytona 400 High Performance V8

Body
Two-door pillared hardtop
Engine
400 cu in high-performance V8, 4-barrel carburetor with dual exhaust (240 net hp / 325 lb-ft)
Gearbox
TorqueFlite automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version

The 1976 model year

Overview

Dodge expanded the Charger into four lines for 1976. The lowest-priced Charger and plusher Charger Sport were rebadged descendants of the 1975 Coronet two-door and offered six-cylinder or V8 power. The Cordoba-related Charger SE continued as the personal-luxury model, while the two-tone A57 Daytona package added a rear sway bar, radial tires, graphics, and sport trim. Engine availability depended on body line.

Specifications

Engines
  • 225 cu in Slant Six, 1-barrel100 hp
  • 318 cu in LA V8, 2-barrel150 hp
  • 360 cu in LA V8, 2-barrel170 hp
  • 360 cu in LA V8, 4-barrel175 hp
  • 400 cu in B V8, 2-barrel175 hp
  • 400 cu in B V8, 4-barrel210 hp
  • 400 cu in high-performance V8, 4-barrel240 hp
Transmissions
3-speed manual, TorqueFlite 3-speed automatic
Body styles
2-door hardtop (Charger and Sport), 2-door pillared hardtop (SE and Daytona)
Dimensions
Charger/Sport length 213.7 in · SE/Daytona length 215.3 in · Wheelbase 115 in

Year over year

What changed

  • The former Coronet two-door returned under the Charger and Charger Sport names alongside the differently styled SE.
  • The Daytona became a full-year A57 appearance and handling package with two-tone paint, graphics, radial tires, and a rear sway bar.
  • The 318 became standard in both SE and Daytona; the 225 was confined to the regular Charger and Sport bodies.
  • Dodge listed three 400 calibrations for Sport, SE, and Daytona, topped by a 240-hp dual-exhaust version.
  • Electronic Lean Burn appeared on applicable 360 and 400 engines.

Worth knowing

Notable

  • The 1976 catalog is the first to advertise Charger, Charger Sport, Charger SE, and Charger Daytona together.
  • Dodge explicitly described the Daytona's 318 as standard and its 360 and 400 V8s as optional.
  • The 240-net-hp dual-exhaust 400 was the highest-rated factory Charger engine for 1976.

Living with it

Reliability & ownership notes

  • Identify the body series before ordering sheet metal, glass, trim, suspension, or weatherstripping: Charger/Sport and SE/Daytona share a wheelbase but not the same roof and body treatment.
  • Decode the exact engine code and carburetion because the two 360s and three 400s differ in induction, exhaust, output, emissions equipment, and service parts.
  • The factory brochure pairs SE and Daytona exclusively with TorqueFlite; manual claims belong only to the 225/318 regular-body roster and require matching drivetrain evidence.

Maintenance & service parts

Keep your 1976 Charger on the road

Start with the service interval, then match the engine or exact version you own. Order links appear only when a catalog-backed part number is available, and every listing still needs a fitment check.

Service desk

What this car needs & when

Use this as a service-planning checklist for 1976 Dodge Charger. Start with the interval, confirm which engine or configuration you have, then use an exact ordering reference when one is verified.

Service topics
4
Factory intervals
0
Fitment-scoped
4
Exact references
4

Before orderingIdentify your engine, options and build date.Part numbers and sizes can change within one model year. Shopping links appear only for catalog-backed references; still verify the listing against your vehicle before ordering.

Collect

Bring this model year home

Find a scale model using the exact year, make, and model—not a generic generation search.

Sources

  1. Dodge — 1976 Charger, Sport, SE, and Daytona factory brochure (81-205-6005)
  2. Dodge — 1976 dealership Pocket Secretary engine-availability and specification tables
  3. Mopar Muscle — Dodge Charger model history and 1974 body/engine range

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