Clearly this beat-up Dodge has stories to tell. This was not “only driven to church on Sunday by its little old lady owner.” The five-slot mags up front, R/T grille badge, and oversize meats on the back suggest hard launches, tires boiling into smoke, and a strained live axle hopping in a desperate attempt to gain traction. The 1969 Dodge Coronet R/T in Wylie, Texas left the factory with a slate of go-fast goodies, and it’s absolutely worth saving despite being neglected for some time.
One look at this picture is enough to make anyone with respiratory allergies reach for their inhaler. Suffice to say nearly everything in sight needs to be replaced or refurbished. The green interior, front “buddy seat,” and four speed floor-shifter with no console all match up to the rusty fender tag. Credit the seller for showing pictures validating that the fender tag, VIN, core stamp, and trunk stamp all match and describe a legitimate R/T equipped as shown.
Ah, the B-body engine compartment, scene of countless hours of muscle-car wrench turning. You can almost hear the sound of pull-tab beer cans opening, stupid jokes, and knuckle-busted cussing. This engine block code does not match the car, but it’s listed as a 440 cid (7.2L) 375 HP Hi-Po engine like the original. With no description of its condition, consider it a fused block of immovable metal.
My grandparents owned a ’69 Coronet sedan in double-gold, and I’ve got a soft spot for these R/Ts, the ultimate expression of a family car turned to the dark side. Originally white with green interior and a green vinyl top, this Stripe Delete R/T might have passed for a 318 car, especially de-badged. Drop the hammer, though, and the A33 Track Pak four-speed would stand up and make itself known. Thanks to the fender tag decoder at realdash for some details.
The Track Pak added the heavy duty four-speed transmission, Hurst shifter with a wood grain ball, the 9 3/4 inch Dana rear axle with 3.54 gears, heavier leaf springs, a performance distributor, and an upgraded fan and radiator. Check out more details at Moparts. While the 3.54s might seem modest for drag racing, ’60s street tire technology made traction a greater challenge than today, and the 440’s torque and power did no good unless you could hook.
This furrowed brow and R/T callout surging to fill up your rear-view mirror meant business. Though not the flashiest B-body muscle car, this Coronet R/T had the right stuff to throw down on a Friday night or a Saturday and the strip. The listing here on eBay invites you to Make offer or seal the deal for $19,800 with one click of Buy It Now. The going rate for a rusty Mopar muscle car is generally between $15k and $20k, with myriad factors affecting the right price on a given day. Let’s hope this one goes to someone who begins work immediately so we don’t write it up again when their restoration dream fizzles out. Would you keep this original R/T white and green or change it up?
I absolutely love the weirdness of this Mopar. Restore it right back to white/green/green, full wheel covers, whitewalls and all!
It’s too bad these are so cost prohibitive to restore. This car is so unique and cool it’s one of the few I can still light up at the thought of the restoration project.
Hope someone feels the same way and actually does it…….. :)
All cars are expensive to restore, not just Mopars.
But try pricing Mopar parts compared to your typical common Chevy parts though. Body panels, but almost everything else, too. The point is that Mopars almost always cost considerably more to restore, and aftermarket parts are usually more expensive also. It’s just the result of having a smaller market due to fewer cars being built to begin with.
Restore a C3 Corvette, then get back to me on the meaning of “expensive”
Leave the colors alone for me.
Since its non original then rebuild the engine with a bigger bore and cam it up along with heavy duty clutch and pressure plate.
Put 3” pipes and run the crap out of again to enjoy it ..
Nice write up ..
I thought it looked familiar. I remember seeing it in one of Dennis Collins YouTube videos. At least the Dana 60 and 4spd are still there.
Steve R
If old cars could talk. Like Todd mentioned, I bet this one could tell a few exciting stories. Thumbs Up on the write-up! Enjoyable read.
Very worthy of a restoration. Very unique optioned as well as beautiful with the white on green. Alot going for this car and it’s very solid compared to some. Priced pretty reasonable IMO.
Hate that Barn Finds has to push these dealers car but this is a little rare with that stripe delete – hard to see those littel R/T badges and the little bulge hood when it pulled along side of you back then.
That trac-pak was all business so no wonder the factory block is gone.
What Gary said.