Authenticity can be a vital consideration for many enthusiasts hunting for a classic to park in their garage. If you fall into that category, this 1969 Dodge Coronet 440 Sedan could be right up your street. The odometer reading of 32,000 is said to be original, a trait shared with its paint and the 383ci V8 under the hood. Its presentation suggests it has been cherished, allowing somebody to slip behind the wheel of a wonderful survivor. The seller listed the Coronet here on eBay in Forest Hills, New York. Bidding sits below the seller’s reserve at $5,200, with time remaining on the auction.
Dodge marketed its Fifth Generation Coronet range from 1965 until 1970, although the badge received a major redesign in 1968 to maintain a fresh appearance. Our featured Coronet 440 Sedan rolled off the line in 1968, ordered by its first owner in Dark Green Metallic. The seller purchased the car from the original owner a decade ago, and its condition confirms the sheltered life it has led. The paint is original, exhibiting none of the patchiness or age-related deterioration you might expect from a classic with over five decades of service under its belt. It retains a warm shine, the panels are straight as an arrow, and there is no evidence of rust. The trim looks impressive for a survivor-grade vehicle, and the tinted glass is spotless.
This Coronet might not be a muscle car, but it promises a pretty energetic driving experience. The engine bay houses a 383ci V8, and although it is the 2-barrel version, the Sales Brochure confirms that it should deliver 290hp and 390 ft/lbs of torque. Applying the ponies to the pavement should be child’s play, thanks to the three-speed TorqueFlite transmission and Sure Grip rear end. The seller’s claim that the car has 32,000 original miles on the clock must be taken at face value without documentary evidence. However, the overall condition makes the figure plausible. It is refreshing to find a classic of this vintage with an engine bay that looks “honest.” Nobody has attacked the motor with rattle cans or sprayed gallons of detailing fluid across everything. It looks clean, with no evidence of fluid leaks or long-term problems. Although not stated specifically, the impression conveyed is that the Coronet is a turnkey proposition.
The Coronet’s interior isn’t the most luxurious on the planet, but it features some welcome options. The first owner selected the Code A01 Light Group, delivering illumination to the ashtray, glovebox, and trunk, dome and map lights, a “lamp on” reminder, and an ignition light with timer delay. The A04 Radio Group included a pushbutton radio, three-speed wipers, and a remote exterior mirror. Trimmed in a Green cloth-and-vinyl combination, the presentation is first-rate. The dash and pad are excellent, with no visible wear on the upholstered surfaces. The front seat is super impressive, and I doubt that the back seat has seen much action. If the interior accurately reflects the life this Coronet has led, it is safe to say it has been treated respectfully since Day One.
Within the classic world, the 4-Door Sedan is considered the least desirable version of the 1969 Dodge Coronet 440. As a result, values aren’t stratospheric, making examples like our featured car potentially quite affordable. I have never hidden the fact that I like 4-Door variants, because they offer excellent practicality and easy passenger access. This Coronet has received six bids, but that figure could climb as enthusiasts seek their slice of Mopar magic. That said, I would be surprised if the bidding climbed past $20,000. Of course, this is the classic market, and it can be unpredictable. Do you agree with my assessment, or do you have another figure in mind?
I’d like to thank the staff for featuring cars that we can relate to. Currently, I’m looking for a cheap car( as if) for a neighbor, the choices today range from horrific to you must be kidding. What does inundate the “for sale” sites, are all Asian vehicles with 287,000 miles, and a stern warning, “this vehicle will need work”. It’s a joke, really, bamboozling people into thinking an Asian car is “just getting broken in ” at 300K. Poppycock, while the pistons might still go up and down, they become a literal service nightmares. And $200/hr. is unacceptable to me.
Where am I going with this? Right here. If I could find something like this, and not on t’other side of the world, it would be mine. Trouble is, these Richie rich folks here want 5 figures, unlike the sane people selling this. 200 viewers and at least some bids, I truly believe people will have had enough of the “info screen” hogwash, and will want something like this, just not enough to go around. Great find.
In a somewhat related rant, I read today, a well known car collector in Ohio( I think) is closing because,,,,get this, the shop mechanic retired and the owner can’t find anyone to work on carburetors,,,,see?
I hope your neighbour doesn’t drive too much, if they are going to daily drive a big 383 sedan with today’s gas prices.
Looks nice, but being a life long North East car it would have been a good idea to have close up pictures of rust prone areas.
I would expect the sellers reserve is high, not sure if there exist many potential buyers for this car that will pay $20,000.
It’s often suggested a lot of cars featured on this site were special order, might this be the case based on one of the last lines on the window sticker?
Steve R