LEADING THE CHARGE

MANY thanks for the great cover story on Mario Ciarrocchi’s beautiful Charger (SM, Sep ’19). Great to read that Mario actually contacted the Charger’s chief exterior stylist, Bob Hubbach, who gave the car his approval. Bob would have certainly appreciated the clean lines of Mario’s VH, in keeping with the original Charger design he penned in Detroit back in 1970.

While Bob is quick to point out that the Charger’s phenomenal success was a combination of factors with many people involved, without his inspired design the Charger may well have become just another also-ran. Bob also styled many other famous Mopars during his long career with Chrysler, including the Dodge Viper GTS, the Chrysler Atlantic and Dodge Copperhead concepts and the 2005 Chrysler 300C.

Bob is now retired and living in Michigan, USA. We are indeed fortunate that he styled the Australian Charger, which nearly 50 years later is still considered one of the best-looking Aussie cars ever produced.

Here is Bob’s original 1:1 tape drawing, dated 26 January 1970.

Gary Bridger, co-author of Hey Charger,

Auckland, New Zealand