This Coronet has sat right there in that barn since 1985. It’s listed on craigslist in Locust Grove, VA for a very reasonable $1,600. The second owner purchased it in 1971 and gave to to his daughter in 1985. It was too hard to park so she did, in the barn. It’s a 318 A/C car, original and complete. It’s nice to see pictures of the car in its dusty, forgotten habitat.
It cleaned up pretty nicely. It also revealed what could be some spots that will need attention.
The interior looks serviceable. I don’t see any daylight through the floor. I only see two pedals, and a wide brake pedal, so it must be an automatic.
If there’s not much rust, what do you think this Dodge is worth? One could do the mechanicals, throw a blanket on the front seat and drive it. Or one could do anything from interior and brake improvements to full hot rod. A modern subframe with modern suspension, disk brakes and such will bolt right in. Would it be worth doing a full restoration? It will be interesting to see what you think.
Listing shows price is $6500.
I saw it a couple days ago for $1600. Seller must have become educated very quickly by mopar fanatics.
no way I would touch it for 6500.00
Mopars rust way too bad to take a chance.
No way you could go wrong at 1600. A steal. No w 6500, that would be a push restored to me.
Someone who watches way too much Barret Jackson educated this guy, $2500 would have been a good selling price IMO.
I was thinking that 2500. to 3000 maybe, but there is somebody out there that will buy it, that is the bad part. They will get in over their head, and stop doing anything to it let it set a bunch of years and then try and sell it and then it won’t be worth the trouble, seen it to many times.
Mopars’ plain jane sedan.. Good car to restore as a driver, but not worth what the muscle versions are pulling down these days.. These are big bodies and parts are available.. I’ve seen the inside of this guys’ barn before in another car sale.. Just can’t remember which car.. May have been this one just a while ago..
Good car.. Good find..
Probably get bought by someone to make a “proTouring” thing out of it. Not much “value” to it as is. But hot rod it and auction it off. Me? I’d drive it as is as much as possible. just to have an old car to tinker with. 318 was respectable enough in my old 71 Dart. How fast do you need to go in an old car…? But these “mainstreamers” make good fodder for hot rodding and you’re not destroying a true “muscle car” in the process. I just hope it goes to a good home, no matter what they do to it.
I’m not sure where those who comment on this site learned to place value on cars, but it appears it was someplace in about 1982. First, this isn’t a base ‘Coronet Deluxe’. Because it is a hardtop, it must be either a Coronet 440 or 500 (which does not refer to the engine size).
Second, it appears to be in good-very good unrestored condition. Meaning on the standard scale of 1-6 (1 being perfect, 6 being basketcase), it is somewhere between a 3 and a 4.
The 500’s are worth a bit more than the 440’s, as shown below from Old Cars Price Guide. Since this car appears to be unrestored, it actually meets most criteria for a 3 and is probably a bargain even at the $6500 asking price. However, the unknowns do impact the value a bit, and IMO, as it sits, it’s easily a $5k-$6k car all day long.
1968 Coronet 440
2d HT 6: $700 5: $2,100 4: $3,500 3: $7,880 2: $12,250 1: $17,500
1968 Coronet 500
2d HT 6: $720 5: $2,160 4: $3,600 3: $8,100 2: $12,600 1: $18,000
3) VERY GOOD: Completely operable original or “older restoration” showing wear. Also, a good amateur restoration, all presentable and serviceable inside and out. Plus, combinations of well-done restoration and good operable components;
or a partially restored car with all parts necessary to complete it and/or valuable new old stock (NOS) parts. This is a “20 footer.” That is, from 20 feet away it may appear perfect. But as we approach it, we begin to notice that the paint may be getting thin in spots from frequent washing and polishing. Looking inside, we might detect wear on the driver’s seat, foot pedals and carpeting. The chrome trim, while still quite presentable, may have lost its sharp, mirror-like reflective quality it had when new. All systems and equipment on the car are in good operating order. In general, most of the vehicles seen at car shows are in number 3 condition.
4) GOOD: A drivable vehicle needing no, or only minor work to be functional. Also, a deteriorated restoration or a poor amateur restoration. All components may need restoration to be “excellent,” but the vehicle is mostly usable “as is.” This is a driver. It may be in the process of restoration or its owner may have big plans, but even from 20 feet away, there is no doubt that it needs a lot of help.
You are so right Walrus. These old old guys are quite out of touch from reality. Love to here they’re stories but Alzheimer’s is creeping in for many of them I fear.
@The Walrus
So, this car that has been parked for 31 years is considered a #3. Completely Operable and all systems and equipment are in good operating order?
Exactly, a 4 at best.
I wish Barn Finds would stop putting apostrophes where they’re not needed, e.g.: “it’s dusty, forgotten habitat”! Just sayin’…
Thanks for catching that!
For $1600 I would have picked it up and made it a driver. A quick run down to UHaul for a truck and trailer. Only 90 minutes away. At $6500, it might take them a while.
Jan.. I have a degree in English from Northeastern University.. What’s the problem with apostrophes??????
Want to discuss it???
Jan….I have a degree in “Ohwiseguyeh” and I graduated from Whatsamatta U. Mn.
I think it was very sexist of Jesus to have 12 apostrophes and possibly only one “woman” apostrophe!… You just can’t have enough “apostrophes.” Just sayin’…
My sister had a 69 Coronet…500 if I remember the model correct. . It had buckets, console, and posi as I found out while racing my brother Bill, who was driving mom’s 68 Impala Custom on our trip to a funeral in Superior Wisc. Mopar won. This 68 looks like a bargain to buy and dump in a 440, etc,…just sayin’.
Which is it, 6500 or 1600………….This would be the car i would want my 16 year old daughter to have as her first car. Looks descent enough as a hardtop, heavy enough to protect from fender benders, and not too expensive to make dads wallet shrink really fast and for long period of time…..
He has poor pictures for one, but being a VA car, it ” might” not have a lot of rust one would have to wonder if it was stored properly , or just driven in and left . No need to make a ” clone” out of it although giving it some modern niceties would be good to me the paint looks so so if it isn’t oxidized too badly just buff it out, or a new paint job black wall radials …. good to go wouldn’t win any trophies, but would attract a lot of attention at a cruise in
I see 1 apostrophe , the rest are quotation marks……..
This is hot rod 101 fellas and not a refresher course in HS english…
But if it’s that important , why dont we just leave them nasty little thingamabobs outta dare altogedda?
Mike , you are a man after my own heart on that idea
The 68 Coronet is my Favorite car. I’m a Mopar guy and my Dad bought a new Red on white 68 R/T 440, 727, when I was 5. He sold it, soon after, because the insurance was too high.