Anyone else dream of E-Body ownership?
I love my Challenger. Definitely a more iconic car than the A bodies. Better recognized as well, and I get more comments when I drive it than I do in my Duster, even though my Duster is in much better condition.
As far as handling and ride, I can see how stock to stock the E bodies might not handle as well as the a-bodies, just because of their size. But really, they just need the same exact things as the A-bodies do to handle well- frame connectors, much bigger torsion bars, sway bars, and better tires. Do those things and the E-bodies handle just as well as any A body, my Challenger does.
As far as the 72-74 cars, I think they're great. They can be bought for less because they didn't have any of the factory packages that people pay big bucks for. And really, they changed MUCH less in appearance from the 70-71 cars than the A bodies did with the 73-76 cars. Much less. The E bodies only got new grilles, side markers and tail lights, all of the body lines remained exactly the same. The A bodies got all of that but also changed hoods, bumper design and appearance, and then there were the beaks...
But yeah, I love my '72 Challenger. I also drive the crap out of it, over 10k miles a year.