The name “Scat Pack” may not be too familiar to anyone these days, even if they are Dodge lovers or, at least drivers. However, this catchy sounding title is a very nostalgic one for Dodge, as well as for people who have lived through the late 60s and/or early 70s. The Scat Pack, itself probably a shout out to the even earlier “Rat Pack” (which, of course, was not a group of cars but rather a group of celebrities which included Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr., Dean Martin, and others) was a group of muscle cars made by Dodge between 1968 and 1971. These cars sported logos that pictured bumble bees wearing helmets as well as stripes. Joining the scat pack club was a way of feeling a sense of belonging that went above and beyond simple Dodge ownership. Buying a Scat Pack car signified a kind of membership in the Scat Pack club.
There was no actual change in the Scat Pack cars, only the addition of the logo, but it gave muscle car fans a sense of togetherness, and put the cars in an easy-to-relate-to category. The original 1968 Scat Pack cars were the Dart GTS, The Charger R/T, the Coronet R/T, the Super Bee, and the Swinger 340. Added to the simple logo and concept were an actual membership in a national club, clothing, decals, literature and advertising. This program was successful enough that Plymouth copied it with it’s own muscle car club – the Rapid Transit System. Browsing the used car inventory at Caitlin Dodge it’s not as if you will find an original Scat Pack vehicle, however at least Dodge has brought back the Dart and Charger, and they are readily available at showrooms such as the Philly base Caitlin Dodge dealership.
With all this history to build on, Dodge may be toying with the idea of cashing in on the good old days and creating some modern Scat Pack cars. While it’s too early to tell if this is just speculation or not, there is significant reason to believe it may be than this. For one thing, Dodge has just recently renewed its trademark on the Scat Pack name. Why bring back ownership of more a name unless you’re planning to do something with it? Furthermore, The CEO of Dodge, Tim Kuniskis, saying: “We like the whole idea of having a Scat Pack of cars,” and that the Scat Pack name is a very important part of Dodge’s history. It is a bit tricky to tell, but by the looks of it, a whole new 21st century Scat Pack may be brewing.