The Six Pack Interior Layout and Seating

The Dodge Charger Six Pack came with a standard bench seat in front and a full bench seat in back, giving you room for six passengers total — three across the front and three across the rear. The front bench had a column-mounted shifter, which freed up floor space and made it easier to slide across the seat. The steering wheel was a thick, padded design typical of early 1970s muscle cars, with a horn pad in the center.

The back seat folded down in some models, though this was not standard across all Six Pack years. Legroom in the rear was tight by modern standards, and the bench design meant middle passengers sat over the transmission hump with limited comfort on longer drives. The interior color options varied by model year, but common choices were black, tan, and dark brown vinyl.

Key Takeaways

  • The Six Pack interior seated six people across two bench seats — three in front and three in back — with a column-mounted shifter.
  • Dashboard design was straightforward and horizontal, with the speedometer and fuel gauge as the main instruments, and the radio mounted low on the console.
  • Steering wheels were thick and padded, and the horn pad was centered rather than split into sections like modern designs.
  • Vinyl was the standard upholstery material, and rear legroom was limited because the middle passenger sat directly over the transmission hump.

Dashboard and Instrument Cluster

The Six Pack dashboard was a wide, horizontal design with a straightforward layout. The speedometer and fuel gauge sat in the center of the instrument cluster, with warning lights arranged around them. There was no tachometer in base models, though some versions included one. The dashboard itself was padded vinyl, which was standard for safety reasons in that era.

The radio was mounted low on the center console, below the dashboard line. Climate controls — usually just heating and defrost, with air conditioning as an option — were straightforward rotary knobs. The glove box was large and opened downward, typical of 1970s design. Visibility was good because the windshield was large and the side windows rolled down fully rather than sliding.

Console and Storage Options

Most Six Pack models had a center console that ran between the front seats. This console held the shifter area, a small storage compartment, and sometimes an ashtray. The console was not deep, so storage space was minimal. Cup holders did not exist in Six Pack interiors — that feature would not become standard until decades later.

The door panels were straightforward vinyl with a single pull handle and a manual window crank. Some models included a small map pocket on the driver's side door, but this was not universal. The trunk was accessed from the rear, and there was no pass-through from the cabin to the trunk, so you could not fold down the rear seat to extend cargo space in most versions.

Steering Wheel and Controls

The steering wheel on a Six Pack was a thick, two-spoke or three-spoke design with a large padded horn pad in the center. The horn pad was a single piece rather than split into sections, so you pressed anywhere in the middle to sound the horn. The wheel itself was not adjustable — it did not tilt or telescope — so drivers had to adjust the seat position to find a comfortable driving position.

Turn signal and wiper controls were mounted on stalks on either side of the steering column. The turn signal stalk was on the left, and the wiper stalk was on the right. These were straightforward mechanical switches with no electronic features. The headlight switch was a rotary knob on the dashboard to the left of the steering wheel, and high beams were controlled by pulling the turn signal stalk toward you.

Upholstery and Interior Materials

Vinyl was the standard upholstery material for all Six Pack interiors. Cloth was not offered as an option in most years. The vinyl came in several colors — black, tan, and dark brown were the most common — and the pattern was usually a straightforward weave or a ribbed texture. Vinyl was chosen for durability and ease of cleaning, not for comfort, and it could become hot in summer and cold in winter.

The headliner — the fabric covering the ceiling — was typically a light color, usually tan or gray. The floor was covered with rubber mats or a thin carpet, depending on the model year and trim level. The door panels, dashboard, and steering wheel were all padded vinyl as well, which was a safety requirement at the time. Over time, this vinyl could crack and fade, especially if the car was parked in direct sunlight.

Air Conditioning and Climate Control

Air conditioning was an optional feature on the Six Pack, not standard equipment. If ordered, the A/C system used a straightforward rotary control on the dashboard with settings for off, low, medium, and high. The compressor was belt-driven from the engine, which meant running the A/C reduced engine power slightly — a noticeable effect on a muscle car.

Heating was standard and used engine coolant to warm the cabin. The heater control was a separate rotary knob that adjusted the temperature by mixing hot and cold air. Defrost was a separate setting that directed air to the windshield. There was no automatic climate control or digital temperature display. The system was entirely mechanical, so adjustments had to be made manually while driving.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did the Six Pack come with air conditioning?

Air conditioning was optional, not standard. If you ordered it, the system was straightforward — a rotary knob on the dashboard controlled the temperature. Running the A/C did reduce engine power noticeably because the compressor was belt-driven from the engine.

Could you fold down the rear seat for extra cargo space?

Most Six Pack models did not have a folding rear seat. The trunk was separate from the cabin, and there was no pass-through. Some later versions may have offered this feature, but it was not common on early Six Packs.

What was the steering wheel like?

The steering wheel was thick and padded with a large horn pad in the center. It was not adjustable — it did not tilt or telescope — so you had to move the seat to find a comfortable driving position. The wheel was usually a two-spoke or three-spoke design.

How many people could sit in a Six Pack?

Six people total — three across the front bench seat and three across the rear bench seat. The middle passenger in back sat over the transmission hump, which made that position uncomfortable on longer drives.

What materials were used for the seats and interior?

Vinyl was the standard material for all upholstery, door panels, and the dashboard. Cloth was not offered as an option. The vinyl came in colors like black, tan, and dark brown, and it could crack and fade over time, especially in direct sunlight.