The door slammed hard on the muscle car market in 1972. A combination of soaring insurance rates, the reduction of compression ratios in preparation for unleaded regular gasoline, and the calculation of engine horsepower in net figures all hit performance cars hard.

Reflecting the fading of the muscle car market, 1972 Dodge Chargers were cut to only a few models. The six-cylinder was the base motor and a 318 cid V-8 was offered. Any model was available with a Charger Rallye option, which added sport suspension, front and rear sway bars, an instrument package, louvered taillights and deluxe interior. The SE kept the hidden headlights, and added a landau vinyl roof and a 280 bhp 440 V-8. Charger sales held up quite well, considering the offerings.

In theory, the Charger Rallye option could include a 330 bhp, 440 cid “six-pack” option for $306.45, but only two hard tops with this extra and the number of two-door coupes is unknown.

A 3-speed manual was the base gearbox, but a 3-speed automatic was a popular option, as was a 4-speed manual. Other options included power steering, power disc brakes, power seats, power windows, tinted glass, air conditioning, two-tone paint, AM radio, AM/FM 8-track, limited-slip, vinyl roof and wire wheel covers.

Dodge offered nearly 30 exterior colors for the 1972 Charger, including Light Gunmetal, Silver Frost, Powder Blue, Blue Streak, Super Blue, Brite Blue, Midnight Blue, Regal Blue, Bright Red, Mist Green, Fiesta Green, Bright Yellow, Dark Green, Forest Green, Summer Sand, Turquoise, Doeskin, Dark Tan, Hemi Orange, Dover White, Black Diamond, Top Banana, Yellow, Honey Gold, Light Gold, Golden Haze, Gold, Dark/Tahitian Gold, Bahama Yellow, Orange, and Rally Green.

Dodge sold 577,870 cars for the 1972 model year and remained in seventh place, where they would spend most of the 1970s. From this point on, performance figures were seldom quoted.