It’s funny how you look at some classic cars and can picture exactly where they would look most at home. For me, this 1968 Dodge Coronet 500 Convertible should be cruising along an oceanfront boulevarde on a sunny summer’s day. It would make a strong visual impact and undoubtedly draw envious looks from those on foot who wish to swap places with you. Located in Pompano Beach, Florida, you will find the Dodge listed for sale here on eBay. The bidding action has pushed the price to $23,900, but this remains short of the reserve. I have to say a big thank you to Barn Finder Larry D for spotting another gem for us.
Finished in Code S Yellow, this Coronet presents nicely for its age. The paint shines impressively, with no immediately visible faults. It isn’t clear whether this is the car’s original shade or whether it may have undergone a color change. I feel sure someone has treated the Coronet to a repaint because there appears to be evidence of overspray in a couple of spots on the inner parts of the driver’s door. The scrapes in that area also suggest that the panel alignment may have been out at some point, allowing the door to rub against the lock mechanism. The panels look as straight as an arrow, and I can spot no evidence of rust issues. The Black power top fits tightly, and like the rest of the glass, the rear window is clear and flawless. The trim looks excellent for a driver-quality classic, while the Magnum 500 wheels add a perfect finishing touch to this classy classic.
The VIN for this Coronet indicates it rolled out of the factory equipped with the 318ci V8 that produced 230hp. If backed by a three-speed TorqueFlite transmission, it would have allowed the car to cover the ¼ mile in 16.7 seconds. The vehicle is no longer numbers-matching, but it holds the promise of breathtaking performance. The drivetrain now consists of a 440ci “Magnum” V8, a TorqueFlite transmission, and power steering. While the performance may have been acceptable in stock form, the 375hp churned out by this brute should allow the Convertible to slash the ¼-mile ET to 14.4 seconds. If you’re in this baby and wearing a wig, you’d better make sure it’s nailed down tight, or it will make a serious bid for freedom! The owner of thirty years has recently renewed the brakes, including bolting in a new master cylinder. The engine bay presents well, and it doesn’t flatter to deceive. The car runs and drives perfectly, making it a turnkey proposition for its next owner.
The generally tidy impression continues when we examine the Coronet’s interior. The original owner ordered it upholstered in Black vinyl, with bucket seats, a console, and an AM radio. These features remain intact, and apart from a column-mounted tach, there appear to be no aftermarket additions. The console lid doesn’t fit perfectly, but tweaking and adjusting should fix that. The upholstered surfaces are free from wear and physical damage, while the same appears true of the dash, pad, and carpet. I’m slightly surprised that the original owner didn’t select air conditioning, but with the top down, who needs it? The next owner will be able to drive this Convertible with the top down, feeling no shame about its interior presentation.
If you’re like me, you can picture yourself behind the wheel of this 1968 Coronet 500 Convertible, soaking up the rays on a cloudless day. Whether this is cruising effortlessly through the countryside or along that beachfront boulevarde, it sounds like a tempting proposition. Sadly, it won’t be me who experiences that pleasure, but it could be you. With warmer weather around the corner, I wouldn’t blame you if you decided to follow it further.
As someone living in SoCal, I’ve never understood the idea that you don’t need A/C in a convertible. Try putting that top down at noon in July in the San Fernando Valley. Great in Spring or Fall, but not in high Summer.
Uh…Jack, in `68 you got burned to a crisp by the sun just as easily as you do today. Maybe if you didn’t listen to so many tree-huggers growing up you’d realize how stupid your comment is. But hey–go ahead and believe! It’s how ‘suckers’ are born every day!
I don’t get the “tree hugger” part of your comment Will Fox. As someone that grew up in the 60’s, l know that I get burnt by the sun much quicker now than I did back then.
Can I get an amen? Do I hear a hallelujah?
I have made extra effort to find the rarest of muscle over the years, muscle with A/C.
Among many others, I have had two Tri-Power, 4-speed, A/C convertible Corvettes. I am currently (slowly) restoring a 1968 442 convertible, fact. A/C, fact. 4-speed! I had a 1969 GS400 Stage 1 convertible w/fact. A/C.
Even though the presence of factory A/C in a muscle convertible makes for the rarest of the rare, not to mention a manual transmission, there just doesn’t seem to be the interest given to the same car in a non-A/C version.
Ferrari and Lamborghini both came with A/C in the time period. Their cars would have been useless, unless on cold days, without it. They made plenty of horsepower and revved to the moon.
The only excuse that I can determine is the Ricky Racer syndrome. The factory just didn’t wanna.
If you’re going to race a muscle car seriously, you’ll have to strip out the interior and under hood amenities anyway. What’s the difference?
One is more usable than the other. Heavens!
Makes no sense to me. Rare is rare.
When I was about six, I made the error of asking my Dad while looking at a 1957 Cadillac convertible why anyone would want A/C in a roofless car. The look I got from the adults told me of my faux pas and I shut up.
Good for you Euromoto – now don’t forget there are still places on Earth (even in these global warming days) were convertible owners are happy just to be able to drop the top 2 or 3 times a season without having to wear a jacket.
So why the h… do people living such places even own ‘verts at all you may ask… I can attest that driving topless on one of those few days is nothing but priceless – even when it results in a cold
Especially on a car like this where it has been modified anyway – why hot spend a few more bucks and add A/C to make it appeal to more people?
It’s a convertible, not a 0 – 60 strip scorcher.
Nice 440 upgrade 👍
Now that is the ULTIMATE COOL car. Top down ,cool color,a large V8 under the hood .Can u just say CRUZE with it .
Curious why it has an R/T hood on it?? Adornment??
68 and 69 Coronets are my favorites. Some cars don’t look good as verts. This Coronet looks great in any body style.
Great car. First thing I would do is upgrade the brakes. My 1969 GTX would fly, but in today’s traffic, manual drum brakes are questionable to say the least. That car was all go and no whoa.
Mother Mopar nailed it with the top irons form in 1966 for the B-body cars, that carried all the way to 70. Combined with the sharp edged bodies, particularly the more curvy Dodge, and damn ! …. they had a fine looking car ! The one-year-only tiny porthole marker lamps were even a great styling touch to a Federally mandated regulation. The yellow/black color combo accents it all to advantage, as do the chrome magnums.
I would do without the 440. Opting instead for a 383. I built a near identical all-black 66 nearly 40 years ago, and the 440 is excessive, delivering painful fuel costs for simple cruising, that the 383 would do just as well at 25+mpg, rather than the 11-14 a 44 will get you on a good day. The go-fast is not much better with the 440 for all the added cost.
Stunning car. I would happily park it next to my 66 any day ! 👍
Had one of these in triple green, hard top, 318 auto. Prettiest tail of all the Mopars. Alas, no A/C…traded it for a Corolla SR hatchback – with A/C. That was in 1984 – “Gotta new drug”, “Like a Virgin”. Those were the days my friends
Had the same. Never lost out of the hole in 50 + runs down the 1/4 mile in Englishtown NJ, Raceway Park running L/pure stock. Wound out at 1/8 mile and just shifting into 3rd gear as entering the traps. 727 shifts were great on it’s own. Best run was 16.3 sec