Many people believe that the end of the 1960s also heralded the end of the psychedelic era. However, that wasn’t the case when it came to vehicle graphics and stripes. We have seen plenty of examples of this over the years here at Barn Finds, and this 1967 Dodge Coronet R/T is a case in point. The laser stripes that grace the hood and trunk of this classic were applied in 1976 when events like Woodstock were nothing but a distant memory. Their appearance still manages to hark back to those wilder days. When you look beyond those stripes, what you find is a Coronet that is mostly original and would represent a straightforward restoration project. Located in Glendale, Arizona, you will find the Dodge listed for sale here on eBay. The auction has been set to open at $32,000 in what is a No Reserve listing. There have been no bids submitted up to this point.
The news with this Coronet seems to be good. There is some deterioration of the original Bronze paint, but this is confined to the horizontal surfaces. That means that if the buyer chooses to remove those distinctive stripes, then they could repaint the faded areas at the same time. The Dodge is also fitted with a Black vinyl top. This remains in good condition, with none of the bubbling that might suggest a nasty surprise hiding beneath. The panels are straight, and the gaps appear to be consistent. There are no signs of any rust problems, with the floors looking extremely clean. The chrome, trim, and the glass all appear to be in good order. The Coronet rolls on a set of Rally wheels and these look to be perfect.
The owner states that the Coronet’s interior is original. If this is true, then it has survived remarkably well. The carpet is showing some wear, and the carpeted inserts on the door trims have faded. But those are about the only soft-fitting issues that I can spot. The door trims have been cut to accommodate aftermarket speakers, and I would assume that these are attached to the 8-track player hanging under the dash. The only other aftermarket addition is a Sun Tach attached to the steering column. Removing all of these components would not be a big deal, although doing so would also entail handing over $370 for a set of replacement door trims. The only other item that might require attention is the steering wheel. It has a substantial crack in the rim. If this is something that bothers the buyer, then they could potentially have the existing wheel restored. Alternatively, an investment of $500 will secure a high-quality reproduction wheel.
When the current owner purchased the Coronet, it had been sitting in a barn for many years. He decided to work through reviving the vehicle, and it appears that he has been successful at this. Occupying the engine bay is the original 440ci V8, which is backed by the original 4-speed manual transmission and Sure Grip rear end. This engine should be pumping out 375hp when it is in good health. That sort of power would allow the R/T to storm through the ¼ mile in 14.1 seconds. When the owner purchased the Dodge, it wasn’t running, but he soon fixed that. The fuel system was flushed, and he fitted a new fuel pump, intake, and carburetor. A fresh distributor was installed, along with new plugs and wires. The brakes came in for some attention. The master cylinder was replaced, as were all of the wheel cylinders. Topping things off was the installation of a 3½” exhaust. The car is said to now run and drive exceptionally well. The seller purchased the vehicle off the original owner, and it seems that the R/T might have received some updates when it was under his care. The owner states that the engine appears to have a more aggressive camshaft, which means that it might also have unleashed a few additional ponies. The only issue that the owner notes is a slight leak from the power steering system.
If you look beyond the stripes and the areas of faded paint, this 1967 Coronet R/T appears to be a clean and tidy survivor. Addressing the paint issues would seem to be a straightforward process, as would fixing the few interior faults. From my perspective, I would hope that the owner had retained all of the original components that he removed from the engine when he revived the car. They may very well be beyond salvation now, but I think that the buyer deserves the right to determine that for themselves. With classics like this one, originality is a crucial requirement if they will command top dollar. If the Coronet is to be treated as a long-term investment, then having access to those original items will be an advantage in the future. I’m surprised that there haven’t been any bids on this classic up to this point. Are you?
Better lose those red lights in the front. I believe that’s illegal. Before cheapie Road Runners, Super Bee’s, and such, these were the hottest Mopars. I thought these were much better cars. Again, with a setup like this, getting this monster to hook up will be your biggest problem. Nice find.
Ditch the wheels, air cleaner and any other current performance equipment. Replace those items with vintage mags and other speed equipment, then buff out the paint and be done with it. Once someone returns the car to stock it becomes just another car parked in a row of cars at a local show. Much of what made the car unique will be gone. These sorts of modifications were the norm in the 70’s and 80’s, yet buyers often rush to wipe the slate clean and return them to the they left the dealership, even though many owners were quick modify them. Not all cars need to be restored, sometimes buffing the paint and a little elbow grease goes a long way. It’s cheaper too.
Steve R
Since when is it cost effective to do a full restoration on a presentable, running and driving car, that could be cleaned up with some car care products and a weekend of work? How does that make financial sense?
Steve R
@Quintin Torsen III – Take it down a notch, man. This isn’t facebook.
CC Fisher, thanks, this guy has been a PIA for years. He specializes in complaining about rusty or expensive Mopars, Porsche and successful people. This is a new user name, his last one was that of a prolific Jeopardy champion. In a few months, maybe sooner, he’ll get tired of this one and move on to another. That’s what he does.
Steve R
I 100% agree with you i would rather have an old car like this one the way it is rather than the same model but put back to factory. In my opinion when you get rid of that kinda stuff you get rid of history.
That hood is one of the best things I’ve seen on this webpage.
Dont know why the reference to a 440-6, as it’s not a six pack car. The ad is written 440 66, 200 blah blah miles. If it isn’t being referred to as a 440 6 (pack) then I’m sorry.
Big hairy looking car, like the ’67 GTX Plymouth, these aren’t vastly seen on the road then or now, at least not the ’67’s. Like everything but the far out paint scheme on the hood. It’s gone now, no activity. Bye bye.
It’s….just….a….car
Nearly identical to my car. Fun car to drive. Horrific fuel consumption. Did I mention, fun car to drive ?
And gone ! A buddy has a 1967 500 in the same color and I have my 1967 Plymouth Satellite in the same color …..can’t wait to get them together.