Remember this concept from 1999? Probably the only version of a 4-door Dodge Charger purists would accept.

The year was 1999 and the place was the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan. It was here that Chrysler choose to lift the veil on its muscle car for the future, the Dodge Charger R/T Concept. Bearing significant resemblance to the Charger’s most iconic years (1968-1970) – at least from the grille back – it was an instant hit. From its sleek styling to its uniquely odd supercharged compressed natural gas (CNG) engine, the proposed Charger was a pipe dream it seemed. Yet six years later, the production car that bore the name Charger bore no resemblance to the concept.

Flash forward to today, where Allpar is reporting that the final fifth-generation Dodge Charger has been built at the Brampton Assembly Plant, in Ontario, Canada. We decided to give it a proper sendoff with a brief history of Chrysler’s LX-based four-door muscle sedan.

The 2006 Charger bore no resemblance to the 1999 concept, despite sharing a similar platform

The 1999 Charger R/T concept was shown on many auto show circuits all the way up until 2004, just before the new 2006 Charger was unveiled. Both cars shared the Chrysler LX platform, which wasn’t actually a new platform itself but an upgrade from the old LH platform that underpinned cars like the Chrysler Concorde and Dodge Intrepid. Chrysler borrowed many bits from the Mercedes parts pin like the lower control arms, five-speed automatic transmission, and rear differential for the new line of LX-based cars that included the 2006 Charger. Rather than build the coupe the brand desperately needed, Dodge instead replaced its full-size offering with a four-door Charger.

Models like the Charger SRT8 helped breathe new life into Dodge's full-size sedan

The 2006 Charger’s initial reception was, at best, lukewarm. Many enthusiast appreciated the R/T’s 340-horsepower 5.7 liter HEMI engine and optional all-wheel drive, as many others could not get over the fact that the new Charger could only be had with four doors. This wasn’t the first bastardization of the Charger name, considering the mid-80’s front-wheel drive hatchback also called Charger, but it was close enough to the mark to strike a sensitive nerve.

Marketed initially towards the Charger-loyals, Dodge soon targeted a new crowd, the career-minded young adult male. The Charger’s in-your-face styling, bevy of options and lower price tag over like-marketed machines like BMW’s 3-Series and E-Class Mercedes. It took some time to overcome the four doors of the new Charger, but fair chunk of Charger purists soon warmed up to the full-size sedan. But by that time, the Dodges were already selling.

The 2011 Charger has mostly cosmetic upgrades that really make the Charger look meaner

Soon police departments began outfitting their patrols with new Charger pursuit cars. A plethora of special editions, like the Daytona, SRT8, Super Bee, and DUB Edition also helped sales. Yet since debuting, the Charger has not received any meaningful updates until the announcement of the refreshed 2011 Charger. The Brampton assembly plant will soon retool for these new Chargers, with the last one rolling off the line yesterday during the day shift being an R/T model with a 5.7 liter HEMI V8.

It marks the end of an era as Chrysler is no longer in the hands of Mercedes, but rather Fiat. Will the new Charger lead the way into a new era of prosperity for the Pentastar?