Hey Charger TV ads

Various Australian TV ads for the Chrysler Valiant and Charger. Who could resist the "Hey Charger" call? Watch for Graeme Blundell and Geoffrey Rush.

[@bustergonad69]

this must have been a great add campain as i still cop the "hey charger" and the two fingered salute from people from that generation while out and about in my own charger

[@germanshepherdlover2613]

What a great Aussie car, still as good looking today!

[@warhorse38]

God these adds bring back some memories ! The most successful car advertising campaign in Australian history !

[@freeagent8225]

Remember as a child going to the 1972 motor show in Melbourne, there was a real buzz & excitement about the Charger. It stole the show.

[@zacandmillie]

My first car was a red Charger 265 Hemi. I still love the look of them all these years later.

[@mikeperth8027]

I am a seventies child and I loved these ads and the look of the Charger!

[@BatMan-xr8gg]

I am a 60's child and gave the Charger the V sign and yell Hey Charger whenever one went past. Then I bought one. Nice looking car, fantastic engine, but a real pig to drive. Cheers

[@Geekman333]

Epic. Me and my mate Dean used to give the Charger driver down the road the 'V' sign and yell 'Hey Charger' when he came home from work every day in 1972, East St Kilda, Melbourne. Unbelieveable!

[@helios1912]

Good on ya

[@hsvclb5434]

The days when Australia was Australia

[@kjn777]

so true , petrol 20c per litre , 1aud equalled 1.40 US. average, Sydney house price was$25,000.00, they were the days

[@mickc.5889]

Mate your a few years ahead of your self there. 1971 Charger came out and petrol was cheaper then 20c per liter If I remember RIGHT .... When the Charger came out 1971 Petrol was about 9c per liter and about 20c per liter in 1978 when it was last made.

[@mickc.5889]

Footballs , meat pies , Kangaroos and Holden cars. Yes I remember the ` Good Ol days` . Before this country went to shit.

[@OnceWasRStrathfield]

I'm glad that its change and evolved. Why would we want to live in a country that still wears nappies?

[@hirdy6]

Yes, motor industry rooted, people being bashed in their homes, yes, great that we've evolved so well.

[@therighthonourabletimothy5448]

Back when cars had character.

[@Fortnite87463]

I was born in 03 but this is still the greatest thing I have ever seen

[@vinorob]

I remember these ads. I was about six yours old. Thought the Charger was the best car ever. Dad came home with one in '73. Lime green...oh well.

[@jamesjames3525]

THE DAYS WHEN AUSTRALIAN MANUFACTURING WAS NOT A DIRTY WORD!!

[@BatMan-xr8gg]

True, but the cars were still pretty crappy. I drove them all, Fords, Holden's and Valliant's from a 1963 Ford XL, 1966 Holden5 HD, 1969 Pacer and so on. All were pigs to drive.

[@jamesjames3525]

@@BatMan-xr8gg I know guy i know but in later years GM and Ford came up with some cool creations.

[@BatMan-xr8gg]

@@jamesjames3525 Oh I know. I have always driven Fords or Holden's. To me from the early 70's onwards the cars got better. I still drive a VU SS Ute and will never get rid of it. And when I was young, I just put decent suspension, tires and brakes on the cars and they were great to drive then. Cheers mate.

[@jamesjames3525]

@@BatMan-xr8gg God Bless your kind words. The loss of car industry was a tragic event that starved our nation of innovation and know how! I suspect that we will live to regret this terrible saga. However it was exciting while it lasted.

[@BatMan-xr8gg]

@@jamesjames3525 😊👍

[@nicbered2367]

We had a charger back in the 70's, it would have been awesome to still have it now! Who woulda thunk

[@ajenstini]

$2795 ? There is a nice VJ Charger on ebay now for $28,000 ferfucksake. If I knew that back in the eighties when they were going for around a grand I'd have bought a warehouse full of 'em. They looked like sex on wheels,went like the clappers and you could'nt break 'em. Hats off to the boys from Chrysler Australia.

[@drcmac]

🔹️ I was alive then. Remember seeing those ads in the evening after school 👀👍❕Early 1970s

[@Djr67]

This is cool, thanks so much for posting these old ads, great to see them cheers Dean

[@coyoteartist]

one of the finest cars ever made!

[@502belinda]

I still say that when I see one!

[@joh2]

Hmm, the instrumental in this is the "Chrysler-Plymouth" theme tune used in Chrysler US TV adverts in the early 70s! As for the Charger itself, they at one point (though they did not go ahead on cost grounds) planned a 3-door hatchback, and 3-door wagon (similar in concept to the Reliant Scimitar) on its wheelbase Chrysler also had another 2-door VH Valiant in its ranks, the hardtop - which did not sell in high numbers ("Hey... Hardtop" did not have the same ring to it)

[@warhorse38]

God these adds bring back some memories ! The most successful car add campaign of all time.

[@blownflatheaddeuce]

Still got mine....40 yrs !

[@kipbrown1549]

Smart ////////////

[@LisaShannon1]

My dad had a red one, all black interior, i remembering him arriving home with it.. To this day, I don't think I've felt a 'cooler' moment as my 1sr ride in that car waving back to people who'd do the "hey charger' salute.

[@kitwalker2968]

Yeah we all used to do the Charger sign to them on the road as kids back in the day.

[@dallasdorrington7449]

Wow and to think that's the baby. The later E49 265 Charger went a lot harder than the E38 and to hear those 3 Weber Carb's open was just music to the ears. I owned one loved it wish I had never sold it. Best car I ever owned. The 265 Hemi was a beast and still is.

[@petergoodwin2465]

265 was the best 6 ever made, they rave about the barra but that's got a turbo. I knew a guy with a turbo 265 in a centura that did under 9 seconds. Those old 265s even stock would blow most cars away to this day.

[@chargin48]

Gee they look so cool, from front to back

[@fjbutch]

Mate had one years ago. Went like F**K....awesome!

[@e30316]

These ads are amazing - GrumpyOldMan2, you're a legend & your blood's worth bottling!!

[@Stevemackactor]

Helps to be Alvin Purple ;)

[@columbo169]

as a kid i hey chargered , as a teenager had my first drive of a 360 v8 charger that went like a bat out of a china shop. awesome

[@grantharrismusic]

The saying probably needs to be updated now: “like a bat virus out of a wuhan lab”

[@kipbrown1549]

@@grantharrismusic No that is what they want you to think ////// They made it. It had nothing to do with bats //////////////////////////

[@MontrealMan1970]

great ads. cool car.

[@coolhand1964]

I saw these ads and the Chrysler Precision Driving Team in Armidale, NSW in 1972 at 7 yrs old. I have been mesmerised by them ever since. I owned 3 at one stage, they could be bought for $500, nobody wanted a 70's dinosaur in the late 80's. They looked better than they drove, but Fords and Holdens of the same era handled no better. But they were the most bad ass looking thing l had ever seen. Only rivalled by the Ford XC Cobra.

[@karenieraci4462]

Loved these ads.

[@wildthing3241]

Wish I could buy one now for $2,795...you need $60k plus now

[@kramrollin69]

No, I dont believe the actor driving the last Charger is Geoffrey Rush. A quick search reveals, He is an Aussie actor called Gary Down. He Appeared on Many TV shows, like Matlock, Homicide, No96, etc. Also remember seeing him in the Movie Don's Party From memory. Yes he looks much like Geoffrey Rush, but I dont think Mr. Rush was doing TV things back then. Yes they look similar, and just happen to be in the same profession. Perhaps someone should ask these fellows?

[@frederickherring4550]

Oh god I remember this. I'm old

[@johndavid3474]

The two finger salute was part of the 60's charger mandate. I remember back in 1969 at 6 years of age yelling out "HEY CHARGER" at the cars on Parramatta road Concord, Then receiving a two finger salute, from cooperative drivers,

[@peterpiper831]

Except the Charger wasn't available until 1971.

[@johndavid3474]

@@peterpiper831 Okay! My bad lol

[@peterpiper831]

@@johndavid3474 No worries. It's a long time ago now.

[@johndavid3474]

@@peterpiper831 Yeah! True, I must of been 8 years old then. I was close lol

[@Aquaboy11]

My dad bought one in willow green with a white vinyl top…. We were the coolest kids on the block😎

[@likasumbooodi]

Great cars

[@mickcarson8504]

I still shed a tear on the day Chrysler went. The Charger made a lot of women jealous.

[@mrlahey5600]

if only valiant still made cars

[@CarnThePies2010]

My dad has a charger and all he ever says in it is Hey Charger!!

[@highoctanefiend]

almost died when he said economical

[@DoctorBrodski]

Have you ever driven one? The Hemi sixes were cheaper to run than Holden and Ford's smaller sixes.

[@desbox5396]

highoctanefiend At the time fuel was 50 cents a gallon thats 50 cents for 4 and a half liters which at the time probably would have been more economical than running a small 4 cylinder car now at todays prices.

[@kylesoler4139]

Different times. There are cars these days that have similar performance but have double if not quadruple fuel economy.

[@Rick-Jangle]

Kyle Soler so they Should! We’re only 48 years down the track.

[@pauldashwood2897]

I had a 72 Chrysler charger 318 …….good days

[@angekattts22]

The price for a brand new Charger in 1972 was $ 2795 compered to $160.000 for a second hand one 50 years later in 2022, had I bought 6 back then I would've been a millionaire

[@violinoscar]

They were an awesome car. I really miss the days when power meant cubic inches and not some screaming 4 cylinder banshee. There is nothing like the rumble of a V8 with a hot cam.

[@every1665]

In 1984 I bought a well worn 1971 'VH' Charger - 4 liter Hemi 6 mated with a 3 speed box (wanted the 4 speed 4.3 liter but was too broke!). For a dinosaur engine it gave surprisingly good economy if you drove her gently but when you put your foot down she flew. Rather a light rear end, I almost lost it a few times when taking corners a bit too quick. Out on a country road it was by far the best, most comfortable car I've ever been in. Loads of leg room up front. Modern cars all have the stupid center console that takes up so much space.

[@MrGoblin60]

The SA Police Force used Chargers in the early '70's as pursuit cars. They were "decorated" with a pattern of three highly reflective stripes running the full length of each side (two pink and one dark blue from memory) and were known as "candy cars". I recall seeing a fleet of these in Port Lincoln one weekend when a couple of hundred bikies invaded the place for the Tunaramma Festival.

[@blissy1]

And only $2795, I want one

[@TRXfiend]

now I know why they say "hey charger" lol :)

[@barsixful]

Man…did I have traction problems in my old charger!

[@Muffinrider]

Peter Brock in that 70's wig is a classic.

[@cliftonmanley3882]

Not a wig

[@darrenjray]

Where was Peter Brock in all that?

[@Stevemackactor]

They went like stink too! :)

[@Dallas-Nyberg]

$2795!....How times have changed....they were a great car 'though...

[@timpriddy73]

HEY PRIUS, DOUBTFUL HUH!

[@BetteTwain]

My mum just told me about this ad 😂 it's so funny. 😂

[@raindogred]

tewantin in the 70s..some kids mum showed up in a charger....50 kids standing there..hey charger..jeez i'm old...

[@haddles2000]

I used to own a 1972 770 with the 318 v8. Bought it in 1983 with 60,000 km and destroyed it. Was young and stupid. Wish I didn't now :(

[@jamesfrench7299]

I had people give me the sign in my four door CL sedan!

[@geraldselvey7687]

I sold mine for ….$600. Yep who would have thought they would end up worth a fortune now

[@racecar06]

i owned a mustard yellow 3 speed charger. 1 day the gear lever came off in my hand while i was still driving..... 1st gear fast 2nd gear faster 3rd gear very fast :)

[@ThePaulv12]

R for Race and Boom then whole thing blow up! Remember that ad. It had an Italian guy who intentionally portrayed as being as dumb as dog shit. I think it was an ad for auto transmission rebuilds, though I may be wrong.

[@Rick-Jangle]

racecar06 the exact same thing happened to me in my VF Pacer. Ended up with the stick in my hand. Problem is I was just starting out on a 3 hour drive back home. I still have the gear stick. And the Pacer.

[@redwandennaoui4508]

$2,795…… unbelievable, one was recently sold in Melbourne , just needed to add a couple more zeros to that figure 😊

[@johnd8892]

That price was for the stripped down base model. Once in the showroom they could up sell you to something more impressive at near twice the price that they had for sale for immediate delivery rather than ordering in the base model.

[@hiropater4038]

Charger IS expensive but that is not the only attraction!

[@MrAuslander25]

Amazing to think that all cars were that price once upon a time.

[@kdegraa]

That’s central banking for you.

[@peterpiper831]

How were wages back then ?

[@KeeepinItReal]

I wish I could buy one now for $2795.

[@jimclarke1108]

Hey charger!

[@joeys5429]

what i believe about those slant engines were the best and still are

[@victorpetroff830]

Not slant HEMI 6

[@johnd8892]

I think the $2795 base price was the cheapest six cylinder sedan on the market then. Part of the reason they outsold the four door Valiants for a while. But that price was a stripped down 215 with 140 HP not the triple Weber 300+ HP 265.

[@adammoffatt3832]

Very hard to find a 215 in new zealand they just didnt come here much at all just 245 or 265.

[@johnd8892]

@@adammoffatt3832 the 215 was rare in Australia too. Eventually dropped. Mainly to keep advertised prices low. Once in the showroom most caved in for the higher priced 245 model that was in stock rather than wait for a 215. Now a bit prized as they are more suitable for high power turbocharged conversions.

[@adammoffatt3832]

@@johnd8892 didnt know that about the turbo....interesting I would just add a holley and extractors and the hemi would fly and sound amazing.

[@johnd8892]

@@adammoffatt3832 turbo not factory standard but an aftermarket mod to make the lighter Centura six do ten second quarter miles : kzbin.info/www/bejne/fGXJqKdspL2hpq8

[@Eric-kn4yn]

@@adammoffatt3832 thank gosh I had 2q5 auto underpowered and spoiled a good car

[@thomas1055213]

I wish I could pick up a charger for 2785$ nowadays

[@kylesoler4139]

thomas west closer to 30 grand today. The going rate for a regular one in 2018.

[@yuritarded8608]

If your lucky :(

[@mrsgritoli1]

Rod Mullinar used to drive one in "RYAN"

[@BatMan-xr8gg]

Nice looking car with a great engine, but a pig to drive. I know as I owned one. And good to See Alvin again, loved all of thee Alvin Purple Movies back in the day.

[@uhtred7860]

They were the dominant car in NZ Touring car racing for years, the rules in NZ were much tighter than in Aussie, when Moffat in an XY Falcon GTHO was beaten, he proclaimed the Charger that beat him, "The Fastest Charger he'd ever raced against".

[@ebf1957]

Reminds me of the AMC Javelin commercial in the U.S. that had that tag.

[@paspax]

Around the time these ads came out my dad had an HT Monaro. We got really sick of people flashing the Charger salute at a Holden, lol

[@Antifaith29]

3:05 The add that starts about there. I think thats Geoffrey Rush. Will look into it.

[@pathdaly]

Wow, great old ads. Where/how did you manage yo keep these? On video??

[@petertucker524]

A better time for australia!!

[@GrumpyOldMan2]

Thanks for your comment. I was just going on what was in the media years ago. If my statement is incorrect I shall remove it.

[@dflf]

Very similar to the commercials in the US selling AMC Javelins

[@johnd8892]

And later the US trying to sell a hated version of their Charger : kzbin.info/www/bejne/gnPKiIB_nbR3oqs

[@davidewhite69]

I remember seeing the last one

[@timpriddy349]

Hey .......wish I had a "4 speed"

[@johnd8892]

Had one 4 speed but too late in the piece.

[@wildwoodbine5149]

Was that Geoffrey Rush in the last commercial? I think it was.

[@darylparker9028]

mopar or no car.

[@GrumpyOldMan2]

1971- 1978 if you search wikipedia Chrysler Charger, there is a lot good info there.

[@Neville60001]

It's too bad these Aussie Chargers were never sold in North America.

[@blownflatheaddeuce]

MoPar or NO CAR !! Ive had mine for ver 30 years - will NEVER sell her !!

[@asd36f]

@Muffinrider, I am surprised that Holden would let Brock do an add for the "opposition". Is that the reason why he is wearing a wig as a disguise?

[@thomasraftery409]

Was that Phil Brock who raced E38s and E49s out of Melbourne early 70s and had some wins.

[@jimclarke1108]

Hey charger ))

[@joeys5429]

once i saw one of these supped up and written on windshield powered by the gods in yellow

[@ronanrogers4127]

Alvin Purple/Graeme Blundell

[@babuzzard6470]

Still a bloody looking car 53 years later, and went like a shower is $4iT.✌️✌️

[@cliftonmanley3882]

@1:19 love the bouncy suspension

[@Steven_Rowe]

Was that the same planet i live on now???? It cant be

[@blur1ss]

@mrsgritoli1 and rod drove the car up bible st eltham for that very series. i watched them film it when i was walking to school (primary).

[@darrenharbutt1543]

Did you notice in i think it was the 2nd add that the driver had a glove on when he does the charger sign? Does anyone know why?

[@JohnJ469]

If you mean at the 30 second mark, I did read somewhere that he was missing at least one finger (the index IIRC) the glove was to hide that. I have no idea if the story is true.

[@idak12]

@jojojr2 This looks better than US Charger mate.

[@GrumpyOldMan2]

Hey Alby! Sorry but the old VHS is the best I could do.

[@martincarroll5405]

Toyota tried really hard to copy this car with the '73 corona 2 door coupe. Both beautiful cars

[@gustavobro2484]

Cops had em highway patrol......

[@johnny8914]

Great car a good friend has charger first time I drove I couldn't work the parking brake was floor operated next to the clutch

[@victorpetroff830]

???? Parking brake on floor next to drivers seat maybe your thinking of Holden Torana

[@wildwoodbine5149]

@@victorpetroff830, yes with a hand release near the choke.

[@victorpetroff830]

Parking brake on floor next to drivers seat all Australian chryslers had that set up since 71

[@wildwoodbine5149]

@@victorpetroff830, I was talking about the park brake release for the Torana.

[@Eric-kn4yn]

Long doors heavy hard to close so you want a coupe

[@gragrn]

Hmmm, looks like him. Didn't know he was in the Charger add. Well spotted!