Dodge initially had a different spin on the “pony car” craze that took the market by storm in the mid-1960s. Instead of another compact like the Mustang, they went up in size, opting to go for the same concept in a bigger package. Thus, the Charger was born on the B-body used by the Coronet and Plymouth Belvedere. It took off slowly, but that changed when the B’s were redesigned for 1968-70. The seller’s car is one of those second-generation models but looks to have spent a long time in a barn. It’s going to need a lot of mechanical and cosmetic work to be in service once again. Located in Camby, Indiana, this Dodge is available here on eBay where the bidding has reached $8,100 without triggering the reserve.
Charger sales jumped from 15,788 units in 1967 to 92,590 in 1968, so the redesigned 1968 editions were popular. A great many of the cars were sold with a 318 or 383-2V V8, but only a handful are said to have been built with a 383 Hi-Perf V8 that used Magnum heads, camshaft, and exhaust manifolds from the bigger 440 to squeeze out 335 hp. The seller’s data says that just 259 Chargers were produced in 1968 with that engine and a 4-speed manual transmission.
By his estimates, the seller believes he’s the third owner of the car. The first owner had kept it in a barn for ages (from 1989, we think), which is reflected by some of the photos. Other pics see it on a trailer getting a bath in a DIY car wash. And yet another series of images show it inside a garage, up on a lift at times being worked on. The Charger’s fender tag has rotted away, but we’re told the engine and transmission stampings have numbers that match the VIN. The seller says the engine turns free although two exhaust valves are either sticking or stuck.
While this Charger is a 1968 model, it contains some 1969 parts, although we don’t know what they are. The car was involved in an accident in 1970 and – rather than wait on ’68 back-ordered parts – ’69 parts were used instead. A lot of rust has materialized from its years of dormancy, and the seller acknowledges that most of the lower sheet metal is going to need replacing. Add to that the floor and trunk pans which have also been bitten by the tin worm. This Charger once had a vinyl top, but most of that has peeled away.
The interior is not immune to problems either, with the upholstery, carpeting, and headliner all needing replacements. In short, there is a lot wrong with this car and it will take time, effort, and a fair amount of coin to rectify matters. But a ’68 Charger with the basic 318 can fetch $45,000 in prime condition, according to Hagerty, so a more rare car like this should be worth considerably more at today’s crazy prices.
Definitely the L front fender…
LOL! Photos of cell phone photos. You are doing it wrong!
Yeah, what a weird mix of pictures.
While in high school and early college, four classmates had these. Two were B5 Blue metallic with white buckets (one a 440 – 4speed and the other a Hemi – 4 speed. One was bronze and a 318 – auto, black buckets and the other was a black R/T – 440 with red stripes and red buckets, 4 speed, and no vinyl top.
I wish all 4 were alive and well today, but sadly all were used and abused to death. The Hemi was replaced to a 440 and the rest were trashed within a few years of new. (what happens when wealthy Dads buy undeserving children a great car and lessons of life have yet to be learned)
This maroon car has a great color combo not normally seen back in the day. The seats appear to be ’69 specific as the pleats are different and the side marker on the left fender show at least that item to be ’69 as well.
I hope it gets the proper restoration it deserves. The Tic-Toc rev counter may well be worth more than the rest of the car as it sits to many, but it needs and deserves a second life. 12 grand and counting looks to me that will happen
Touching story, however, it’s a bit too convenient. That many undeserving classmates with nearly identical cars, is a stretch even for this site. There have been far too many people on this site over the years that have fabricated similar stories, with tales of “rich dads” and spoiled kids, all of whom have performance cars meanwhile only the one driving the base engine car is worthy and somehow virtuous. This seems like a story more interested in pushing an agenda, as demonstrated by the unnecessary injection of social commentary.
Steve R
Whether or not rich kids have fancy cars is not even in question. Here in Minneapolis when I travel to nearby richer suburbs and go by some of the HS, I see plenty of late model high end performance cars, mostly Bimmers. But that is really not the heart of your post, is it? If MrGreenJeans wants to express himself, who is of you to police his comments, is that not the job of the site operators? I am starting to see a pattern here. MRGJ will soon leave a rebuttal, and you will have a smug snarky reply hot on his heels., The exchange will go on and you will seemingly come out on top. GreenJeans, seems like the cutsie type of avatar that you seem to rail against. Soon you will accuse him of being all sorts of people, presumably the same person who is your nemesis. But is he really a real person, or are you both he and you? It is a form of Muchausens via Proxy if you ask me. Sir (if that is what you are), you need to get out of Moms basement and get some fresh air. I come here to read about cars, not listen to you attack others, or yourself. For what reasons, I do not know. Does anyone else feel this way?
Sorry to burst your bubble Steve; no agenda here to push, just an observation. No offense intended nor ax to grind. All of it is truth. My farm neighbor to this day owned the B5 blue 440 and now drives a black S500 M/B. My classmate Dave had the bronze 318 car and died of cancer at 32. The black and red 440 owner is retired and lives in AZ; his brother and I rode Hondas in the late 60s, early 70s. Dean had a successful life as an attorney and is still looking for a Charger like that R/T. And my good friend Craig with the B5 blue Hemi (with swapped 440) laments at every car show we attend, he wishes he never sold it.
How is it certain automotive memories seem to spell disbelief among certain readers ? My school was small yet very well repped by Muscle cars of the era. Four ’69-’70 Mach 1s, a Talladega, a 427 Impala, Four Chargers, one ’67 RS Camaro, two ’58 Impalas with 348, a ’68 Impala convertible, a ’66 Caprice, a ’69 SS Chevelle, and a ’56 and ’57 Chevy 2 door hardtop come instantly to mind. There were other not so well admired 4 door sedans which were usually bought for several hundred dollars by the students themselves, but in EVERY case the new muscle was bought by wealthy local businessmen for their sons. These were cars which were seldom higher than $ 4-5,000 new but still not attainable by a high school kid working for $1.50 – $2.00 an hour after class.
Thanks for your opinion but your attempt at making this something more than it is maybe flies a bit off target. I hold no grudge nor animosity for your thoughts, but hope you enjoy other’s thoughts and memories with a bit of enjoyment instead of negative conjecture …. it’s all good when solid memories are shared, spurred to the moment by a set of photos
Gary:
mrgreenjeans was a favorite of mine as a child on Captain Kangaroo. I adopted this moniker out of respect for my Grandfather, (a farmer) who I thought looked alot like the TV character. I was also the owner of one of those ’58 Impalas. I only sold it after decades of ownership to buy land, but wish I still owned it. I have a very diverse interest and ownership in vintage bikes, trucks, and sports cars. Everything from an early Honda to modern Harley bagger; Buell to Triumph Sport Bikes. Early Dodge pickups to a 45 year old White Construcktor; early Porsche 914s to 911s and M/B 500 Roadster and S600. My personal appearance may well be described as ‘biker-esque’ with torn, greasy blue jeans, long hair, HD t-shirts; nothing cutsie here. Owing to my Scottish heritage, nothing has been bought with privilege, just hard earned and thrifty spending. If it can float on water, drives on land, or flies in the air I have an interest. Enjoy the ride as we only get one chance at doing it right on this great orb ……
When I was in High school. There was a group of guys that had Challengers a group of guys/girls that had cameros. And a group of guys/girls that had Honda motorcycles. Not to mention the tri 5’s so, unless you know for a fact. Please refrain from trashing people’s comments based on your opinion.
Hey, haven’t you guys figured out by now that Steve R is the absolute authority on all things automotive?
Must be a lot of fun at parties…
Steve R,
In every other instance I’ve enjoyed your comments, they are usually right-on and factual. Your commentaries are almost always accurate for the times.
But my friend, this must not be your day. Perhaps someone else gained access to your BF account?
Mrgreenjeans, I enjoyed reading your posts. Brought back a lot of memories from my old high school parking lot.
Bill, No, that comment is classic Steve R. Looks like quite a few people have been paying attention to the bullying. Let us hope that in the future he sticks with his usually spot on observations and leaves the name calling out of it. After all, we are all entitled to our opinions. A little slightly off topic commentary is also acceptable as long as it doesn’t get too off topic. The original poster made an economic observation many of us share, Why is it needed to pounce on so rapidly? How about a simple comment that you disagree and move on? We get it, he is never going to join the Peace Corps, but how about at least behaving civily?
Grille is from a ‘69 too.
I noticed that too. I owned a ’69.
Had a Charger of this vintage. Pretty car, got lots of compliments. Just a 318 auto, but it was more then I needed to get me around. Mine was white with a blue interior. Had wheel covers because the dealer wanted gold for the Magnums.
There is literally nothing left of this heap. You could not do a good job on this for less than 50k…and all Mopars are rare as there were thousands of potential combinations on the option sheet
It’s got the right H-code for the 383 high performance engine but I find it hard to believe that not many ordered the engine. IIRC, G was a 383 2 barrel rated at 270 hp, the H was the 330 horse Road Runner engine.
383 1969 4 barrel Chargers, 19,013 made.
259 were 4-speeds.
Not unusual to see TorqueFlites instead of 4-speeds in high performance Mopars back in the day once The Ramchargers started winning quarter mile matches with 413/426/Hemis with them.
All the new owner needs is a winning Powerball or MegaMillions ticket and a 7 year appointment with Mark Worman…
Not worth what Worman would charge. Why is it every 68 and 69 Charger look like crap and ready to be made into the next POS Kia?
Doubtful the car was wrecked in 1970 and 1968 parts needed were on backorder so they put 69 parts on it , more than likely it was wrecked in the early 1980s and that’s all they could find in a junkyard or they were cheaper than buying the correct parts.
A lot of the same cars in one town isn’t that much of a stretch. there is a small town in Ok (Licust Grove) where 3 people all own 1969 super bees so it’s always possible.
Especially if the neighboring town 8 miles to the west has a Chrysler/Dodge/Plymouth dealership. And the father-son ownership is also a national Sprint car Champion known throughout the midwest. The son Doug had sold my Dad a Dodge pickup, a new Plymouth, a well cared for Mpls. Moline GVI diesel, and was known in the area for tuning and building Hemis. A local bought a new ’68 RoadRunner Hemi 4 speed coupe and blew up 5 of them before 40,000 miles drag racing, but Doug always stood behind the Warranty and got him a new one. He ordered quite a few very desirable MOPARS over the years including a number of Hemi and 440 Cudas….. they sold all over the U.S. The guy was truly ‘connected’
You know a car has rust problems when “the fender tag has rotted away” (!)
good parts car not worth restoring the cluster gage is worth 1200