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1-Of-1: 1968 Dodge Coronet R/T Hemi

It is one thing for an owner to believe that the classic car parked in their garage is unique, but it is another thing altogether when they hold the documentation that proves it as a fact. That is the case with this 1968 Dodge Coronet R/T. The company built it as a show car, and it was the only one to feature its combination of drivetrain, paint color, and interior trim. The Coronet has been part of a private collection for many years, but the owner has decided that it is time to part with this unique classic. Located in Suffern, New York, you will find the desirable Dodge listed for sale here on eBay. Desirability and rarity will always come at a cost, and the owner has recognized this by setting the BIN at $169,000. If that’s too rich for you, there is also the option to make an offer. I have to say a huge thank you to Barn Finder Boot for referring this unique muscle car to us.

The story behind this Coronet is an interesting one. In days of old, manufacturers used to produce a number of examples of a particular model designed to do the rounds of car shows. Those cars tended to represent the pinnacle of a specific model and usually came loaded with optional extras. Companies also finished these cars in their premium paint colors, intending to draw potential customers to their stands at shows. This practice has largely ceased today, although manufacturers will produce one-off builds for major motor shows. In 1968, Dodge made 100 examples of the Coronet R/T for show duty, and these were painted in various colors. Only two of those cars wore the company’s Code B Black, and this is one of those cars. It isn’t clear whether it is original or has undergone some restoration form in the past. Regardless of which scenario is the truth, the Coronet still presents superbly. That Black paint holds a fantastic depth of color and shine. It has been laid over panels that are as straight as an arrow, with no hints of blemishes or defects. The Red stripes offer a striking contrast, and these are as impressive as the rest of the exterior. The beauty is more than skin deep with the R/T. If you look at the gallery located at the bottom of this article, you will find a shot of the Dodge’s underside. It isn’t just clean; it is close to perfect. The chrome and trim are just as impressive as every other aspect of this classic, and I can spot no problems with the original tinted glass.

If you were Dodge in 1968 and you were producing a premium show car, it made sense to slot the best engine available under the hood. To that end, this R/T is fitted with the 426ci Hemi V8. This monster should be pumping out 425hp, which finds its way to the 3.54 Sure Grip rear end via a 4-speed manual transmission. At 3,935lbs, the Coronet R/T was not the lightest car on the planet. However, all of that power made this a potent piece of equipment. Point it at a ¼ mile, and the journey would be a distant memory in 13.4 seconds. If the driver were brave enough to keep the pedal to the metal, the Coronet would wind its way to 131mph. It doesn’t matter which way you cut it, a Hemi R/T was not a car to be underestimated. Originality is crucial to the value of a vehicle like this, and once again, this vehicle delivers on that front. It is a full numbers-matching classic, and the engine bay also presents superbly. The owner claims that this classic has a genuine 42,000 miles showing on its odometer, and judging by the raft of documentation he holds, I suspect that he will be able to verify this. It includes the original Build Sheet, Trim Tag, VIN plate, and a Galen Govier Report that verifies both the authenticity and uniqueness of the Coronet. It may have been built as a show car, but the Dodge is more than just a pretty face. The owner says that the vehicle runs and drives like new, so the buyer will be able to hit the road for some classic muscle motoring the moment they take delivery of the Dodge.

I’ve been sitting here admiring this photo and trying to decide whether it is possible to become bored with the sight of a dual-quad setup. I’ve concluded that the answer to that question is a resounding no. There were undoubtedly engine bays that provided more glitz and the promise of high-tech horsepower in 1968, but these just offered raw muscle in its purest form. It’s easy to see why owners can be inclined to remove the air cleaner at the drop of a hat. What’s not to like?

Opening the doors reveals the final piece of the puzzle regarding the rarity of this Coronet. Dodge built two show cars wearing Black paint, but only one of those cars featured Red interior trim. This is that car, and the condition looks factory fresh. There is no evidence of defects, and the protective plastic covers on the carpet suggest that this owner is willing to go the extra mile to protect his investment. It is easy to understand this approach when you realize that the interior trim is original and has never been restored. The upholstered surfaces are spotlessly clean, as are the unmolested dash and console. The factory gauge cluster with tach looks clear and crisp, while the AM radio and optional rear speaker remain intact. Everybody who has owned the Coronet over the last 53-years has resisted the temptation to fit aftermarket components, which has helped to protect the integrity of this unique classic.

If you are a Mopar enthusiast, I suspect that you are probably looking at this car and licking your lips. Hey, I love my blue-oval products, but I’d happily park this Coronet R/T in my garage. It offers potential buyers an ownership experience that is guaranteed to be unique. It is a long way from being a cheap vehicle, and the pool of potential buyers will be pretty small. However, I wouldn’t be surprised if the owner finds a buyer. It has so much to offer that I’m sure that there is someone out there who will yield to temptation on this one. Would you like to be that person?

Comments

  1. Avatar Moparman Member

    WOW! Just WOW!!! GLWTA!! :-)

    Like 30
  2. Avatar RoughDiamond

    I second what “Moparman”said. I envision a drag race on the dark streets of Detroit in 1970 between the driver of this ’68 Dodge Cornet R/T Hemi 4-speed and Godfrey Qualls driving “The Black Ghost” 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T SE Hemi 4-speed. Never happened, but cool to think about what might have been.

    Like 32
    • Avatar Dave

      “Beyond the Palace Hemi-powered drones scream down the boulevard…”

      Like 20
    • Avatar Charlie C.

      Hey, Rough Diamond. Just the mention of TWO black Hemi ghosts made my 67 year old skin get all goose-bumpy.Those were the days.

      In the late 60’s,early 70’s, I was guilty of many a street race in Brooklyn ,N.Y. With a light blue 69 RoadRunner. Hemi, Torgueflite, 4.10 Dana…LOTS of fun. Thanks for churning it back up ! !

      Like 11
      • Avatar Johnny Dee

        Street racing in Brooklyn in the mid 60’s was my life!

        Like 6
    • Avatar Yooper Mike

      That was me on Woodward in my black 68 Roadrunner.

      Like 1
  3. Avatar nycbjr Member

    What a gorgeous car! 170k is eye watering lol good luck on the auction!

    Like 6
  4. Avatar John M Cervini

    I can concieveably buy it..trouble is I’d never be able to retire,but what a piece to show up at work with!!

    Like 14
    • Avatar 8banger Member

      Well I can too, after selling the house, of course. Not sure the wifey would approve tho…

      Like 4
  5. Avatar stillrunners

    Back when black on red was a choice across all makes – nice.

    Like 6
  6. Avatar Nash Bridges

    Why does the negative battery cable appear to have orange over spray on it ?

    Like 12
    • Avatar sYc

      That orange spray is correct, as the battery cable was hanging off the block when it was painted at the factory. A little disturbing to look at but 100% factory correct.

      Like 16
    • Avatar Don Eladio

      Because that’s the way the factory did it, and that is absolutely correct.

      Like 15
    • Avatar Cd Luke

      Also, did I read this wrong? Build date- January 1968 but block cast date June 1968?

      Like 1
  7. Avatar Don Eladio

    lol…okay there, Hoss, settle down. I mean, I understand your grieving that loss but, as they say, “Hindsight is 20/20”. I know that it’s no consolation but, you could always buy this lowly Coronet to replace it…although, I know it would pale in comparison.

    Like 7
  8. Avatar its1969ok

    Just about as perfect as a Mopar gets!

    Like 9
  9. Avatar CraigR

    That’s a Holy Grail car. Good Lord!

    Like 5
  10. Avatar JoeNYWF64

    I guess no power steering – battery loc/size may preclude ps?
    Could be 4 wheel drum brakes here.
    Surprised there is a radio.

    Like 2
    • Avatar Ralph

      These were 4 wheel drum brakes. My 69 Super Bee also had drums, no power brakes, no power steering.
      The brakes were down right scary, even on a good day.
      This car looks to be almost unreal in it’s appearance, congrats and respect for whoever took such care of this for all these years.
      If money was no object would grab this today.

      Like 5
      • Avatar John S Dressler

        Drove a 1972 Plymouth Fury that was the standard police cruizer as a rookie on my police department in 1974 with drum brakes. One of the first things your Field Training Officer taught you when you started working out of the car to do your job is the limitations of that car in a car chase, which happened periodically back in those days.

        I can remember vividly, like it was yesterday, chasing two holdup men in a black 69 TransAm (with front disc brakes) down the expressway at over a hundred miles per hour. My FTO, sitting beside me in the front seat yelling at the top of his lungs to be heard over the din of the siren and the sound of a bored out and newly rebuilt 383 engine running almost wide open said: “Remember, you only have about two or three hot stabs on these brakes before you get to the point that you won’t have any brakes left!”

        I knew he was right, I had already learned from the mistakes of other officers who had pressed that rule of drum brakes beyond it’s limit and slammed into another car or fixed object because the drum brakes would no longer stop the car. The 1974 Plymouth Fury solve that problem.

        Like 11
      • Avatar Dave

        My 71 Fury 440 cop car had power front disc brakes but rapid stops at much over 65 or 70 were far from confidence inspiring.

        Like 5
      • Avatar vintagehotrods

        John, what I want to know is “Did you catch the holdup men?”

        And yes I’d love to have this one but I’d have to rob a bank (or two) first!

        Like 5
  11. Avatar Hemi Joel

    If ever a car was crying out for a set of nice wheels, this is it!

    Like 6
    • Avatar Cycle Salvage Kevin

      Huh, Hemi Joel? Those wheels are perfect! People who install oversized wheels on their classic or ANY car for that matter need their freakin’ heads examined. They don’t look even remotely good on any vehicle. Had this been a plain jane Coronet an era set of 15″ Cragars would have looked great. To each their own I guess.

      Like 6
      • Avatar Dave

        Truth be told, those wheels would be right at home on a Super Bee, but the R/T was supposed to be Dodge’s trim equal to the Plymouth GTX. Magnum 500s were the usual wheels found on the higher trim levels.

        Like 2
  12. Avatar Skorzeny

    This is a dream (lottery) car right here…

    Like 5
    • Avatar Tony Primo

      Check between the couch cushions for some loose change to buy some lottery tickets.

      Like 1
  13. Avatar gaspumpchas

    Woo doggies, what a Mopar. These would rotate the earth 1/4 mile at the drag strip. I’m near suffern, NY so if you would like me to check it out I will.
    ecoair9798@aol.com, 845-635-3662, Charlie. Like Bogey said- the stuff that dreams are made of.
    Cheers
    GPC

    Like 5
  14. Avatar cd Luke

    Did I read it wrong? Build date = January 1968. Block cast date = June 1968?

    Like 1
  15. Avatar Robert White

    Spiffy.

    Pricey too!

    Bob

    Like 1
  16. Avatar Jimmy R

    Would make a good lowrider with flat black paint and traditional wire wheels.

    Like 9
    • Avatar Hoss Cartwright

      Don’t forget the hydraulics !

      Like 8
  17. Avatar Curt Lemay

    My old man had a 56 Savoy. Reliable, but not very exciting.

    Like 2
  18. Avatar John S Dressler

    vintagehotrods, the answer to your question is yes, I did catch them. They drove south on the expressway for several miles in excess of 100 miles per hour into an adjoining county to the south of our city. At one point we had to go through a tollbooth at about 90 miles per hour. I chose a different lane to go through than the Firebird so I wouldn’t pancake into the back of the car at 90 miles per hour in case he missed the lane and collided with the toll booth. The Firebird clipped one of the coin baskets hanging from the side of the toll booth in his lane and knocked it to the ground behind him as he passed through. That tollbooth maneuver scared the hell out of my FTO.

    They made a quick exit to an off-ramp South of the tollbooth that I nearly missed, locking up and smoking all four tires (first hot brake stab) and we wound up on a major thoroughfare of a city in that southern county. The holdup men, driving West right in front of me, made a quick left turn off the thoroughfare onto a side street that the car wouldn’t handle as it slid sideways onto the side street. I mashed on the brakes of my police car at that point (second hot brake stab) and the rear of the police car swapped ends with the front and I began sliding backward in the westbound lane of the thoroughfare. I watched the Firebird slide into the curb of the street they had turned on and flip up on it’s side as I slid backward down the street.

    The Firebird came to rest on the passenger side of the car against the side of a building right next to the street with the driver side of the car sticking up in the air and the left front wheel still spinning. My FTO got out of the car with his shotgun and pointed it at the rear windshield which was shattered and ordered the two holdup men out of the car. Once I determined that they were unarmed as they raised their hands above their head out of the driver’s door window that was now in the air, I holstered my Colt and grabbed the hand of the first and then the second holdup man one at a time, dragging them out of the car onto the ground, cuffing them both before I searched them for guns and money.

    We were able to confiscate the revolver they used in the holdup as well as all the money they stole from inside the Firebird after the tow truck arrived and pulled the Firebird down so that all four wheels were on the ground again. They each got 5 to 10 in the State Penitentiary. All in a days work!

    Like 8
  19. Avatar Burger

    Stunning car. The blackout wheels and dog dishies look always reminded me of old men at the beach, wearing sandals with black dress socks …. just not a good look on either, even if it could be an OEM option on the cars.

    Used to go down to look at the new arrivals at B.C. Hawk Dodge from 1966 to 71, when Detroit quit building cool cars. Dodge really built a good looking car with the B-body in the 66-69 years. Equipped right, they were hard to beat as excellent cars. I love my 66. Just a great car in every respect. The 68 was a real good looker too. I would just swap on some Magnums to lose the black socks look. LOL

    Like 0
  20. Avatar dwcisme

    Love that car but there’s a few changes I’d make: Put a nice aftermarket flip-up sun roof in, a set of 32″ chromies, swap out that shiny vinyl for black alcantara and a sweet sound system with 10″ speakers and a 15′ OLCD display sliced into that boring dashboard. Then I’d change my name and move to another continent because thousands of Mopar fans would be out for blood.

    Of course, I’m kidding. That car is perfect. Always preferred the R/T’s over Chargers.

    Like 1

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